SEC assessment ? A JOKE !!

Published

One of my friend told me he has to go for SEC ( 2x subjects ) and he has 4 yrs experience. The other friend preparing for FEB CRNE exam and she has no experience , just graduated. Does it make sense ?? Does anybody know how do they access IEN application ? Any feedback.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

As to Alexk49's question about what Canadian nurses would have to do to obtain a license to practice in the Philippines... The Philippines will not license any nurse who is not a Philippine citizen who was also educated in the Philippines. In other words, even a Filipino citizen educated as a nurse in Canada would not even have their credentials assessed because they will never be able to obtain a license. Given what has been reported about the overwhelming surplus of nurses there, those very ones who are now hoping for North America to fulfil all of their dreams, neither would they ever have a hope of employment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What's new, filipino nurses are again a perfect example, even in Canadian forum?:banghead:, can we stick to the SEC assessment as a joke!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

We are seeing members other than Philippines post that they have to do sec. I may have to and I know of a couple of other UK nurses having to do it. It all goes on transcripts and training

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What's new, filipino nurses are again a perfect example, even in Canadian forum?:banghead:, can we stick to the SEC assessment as a joke!

I see your point, but the Filipino are the ones interjecting their nationality. I see it as an assessment for all. And as an American I think it is a program we should adopt. We require a similar program for physicians why not nurses?

The SEC is a work in progress.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We are seeing members other than Philippines post that they have to do sec. I may have to and I know of a couple of other UK nurses having to do it. It all goes on transcripts and training

Silverdragon are you feeling frustrated by this process. It seems you are stuck with getting your paperwork. I graduated in 1977, my school is now closed. I too would have issues getting my credentials looked at.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Silverdragon are you feeling frustrated by this process. It seems you are stuck with getting your paperwork. I graduated in 1977, my school is now closed. I too would have issues getting my credentials looked at.

It is frustrating, I know I am going to have problems as schools of nursings closed down and universities took over and a lot of them didn't keep the transcripts of the nurses before. Not sure why they couldn't either microfilm them or burn them onto discs. I do have a copy that they gave me several years ago but I can't really submit them however they have said if I do have problems and the university gives me a letter backing claim on transcripts been destroyed they may accept my transcripts with the letter. Going to be fun next week ringing them to try and get it all sorted

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg.

My school of nursing had closed down but I had no problems getting my transcripts done, it took time because the person asssigned to do the job wasn't doing it but once that was sorted I had no trouble.

Your training records should be held at one of your local Universities, I remember it was easy finding out which one but I can't remember how I did it now!! I think if your transcripts have been destroyed they may have broken the law & the NMC should be able to help you sort it out.

Going back to the topic, if you want to work in another country you have to jump through their hoops. No ifs buts or maybes, end of story. You can't gripe or complain because it's a choice you make, you don't have to go. Equally they don't have to take you. They want to make sure that they get the best nurses they can.

Put yourselves in the shoes of the Canadians, wouldn't you want to be happy that the nurse caring for you met the same criteria for practice as your local nurses?

Nurse training varies a lot from country to country, even from uni to uni! Nursing in another country is difficult at 1st (however good your English, however good your training) & you need to be at the top of your game to cope. This is the only way the Provinces can try to make sure they get the best. It's tough but that's how it is.

I was lucky, I didn't have to go through SEC but if they had asked then that's what I would have done. The CRNE is no judge of how good a nurse you are, it's not a good indication at all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I know of a few that lost their transcripts when universities took over, was told they was destroyed because no room for them. Will be ringing them tomorrow so will update you when I know something :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg.

I think that's really terrible SD - I hope you get it sorted!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Well they keep transcripts for 10 years so sent an email and will see what they say, they have a person dedicated to overseas transcripts so she should know what she is doing and I am just at the 10 year mark. Just knew this was going to be a headache

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in education.
OMG, we're talking about FIVE nurses?
That is five lives that did not need to be damaged and five people's families who will not be coming to Canada and 5 more empty positions in nursing......and we are already short. In my view that is 5 too many!!

I work with internationally educated nurses everyday and I have the best job in the world! I see them come into the health care system confused and dazed as to why they have to "upgrade" and then I see them saying thank you so much I had no idea what I needed to learn. It is so different here in Canada than....(pick a country)

Within the last two months I have had two former students come to see me and show me their pay slip and they made 50% more than I did last year.

It can be done,, and it should be done, but it must be done properly. Internationally educated nurses need support when they start working here. A lot of support in many cases.

Saskhealth made a big mistake in hiring 300 nurses into "lines" and providing no support for them whatsoever that I could see. And they failed these 5 nurses miserably. It breaks my heart because I know that it was not necessary.

Now back to the SEC or Substantially Equivalent Competency assessment.

Further research into this has revealed that this assessment is only required (in BC anyway) if a decision as to equivalent education and experience cannot be made from the paperwork, so I guess it would pay to have your paperwork in order!

Also please remember that a degree in nursing in Canada is the result of 16 years of education. 12 high school years and 4 years ( or semester equivalents) of university.

If you come from a country where you enter university after 10 years of basic education then you can expect your credentials to be scrutinized much more closely.

I wonder how the degree can be equivalent with 2 years less education?

There are some countires in Europe for example where you entered nursing school while still in high school and then graduated high school and nursing school at about 18 or 19. Graduates of these programs are being looked at very closely now. Someone who graduated from a program like that 20 or so years ago may be required to under go an SEC.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in education.

I never claimed to be a math major or maybe it was a typo!

Nursing education in Canada requires 16 years of education (not 14).

did I hit the submit button too soon??--oh well...I figured out how to edit!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion