SEC/CCA: US educated Nurses in Canada (Manitoba)?

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I'm looking for anyone who has been educated in a nursing program in the US and is now an RN in Canada.

I graduated last summer from an accelerated BSN program (one of the top in the state + already had a Molec. & Microbio B.S) in the US and moved to Manitoba immediately. I was initially told by the CRNM that I shouldn't have a problem getting through registration and getting GN status since I am a new BSN grad from the US, and therefore would only have to write the CRNE. They are now requiring me to write the Clinical Competence Assessment (aka SEC) to determine my competency to practice as a GN.

When I went to find out more information, here is what they told me:

1) the website states that as an IEN, your documents will be assessed for competency. IF competency cannot be determined, they will send you for a CCA.

2) The CRNM has no way of determining the level of education if you attended a nursing program outside Manitoba. So basically, everyone applying as an IEN has obviously studied outside Manitoba, in which case they have to take the CCA.

Unfortunately they don't tell you this until they assess everything altogether.

Has anyone taken the CCA/SEC and passed??? Do you have any advice?

I am concerned that this maybe a set-up in the sense that they give out only very broad general categories to study (i.e. everything in nursing) and I wonder if anyone actually passes. Seems pessimistic to think this way, but I'm worried that I might fail - not because I'm not a good nurse, but because they want to make money by having me take some classes at community college. Similar thing happened to my husband in his profession and he was pretty much told that it was because he's international and the universities make a lot of money by making him retake classes.

I understand that Canada and the US are 2 different countries but I just wish there was some reciprocity. Right now US nurses are being treated pretty much as if they had been educated in a third-world country - there should be some kind of reciprocity. I read the article "IEN - v. important: read this first" and I have to disagree in that the US definitely has higher standards of care & is more high-tech than Canada - I know personally because I volunteer at the "best" hospital in Manitoba so I see things for myself.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

It isn't just the US that has to meet Canadian standards many nurses from the UK, EU, Philippines and Australia just to name a few have to meet the same requirements, it doesn't mean you are coming from a third world country. It is the same for Canadian nurses going to the US they still have to meet state and immigration requirements before they can work in the US.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

If you feel that we are inferior to the US in standards and care why do you want to work here? Seems odd to be putting down the country you are applying to work in. You complain we have standards but say we are second rate to the US?

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@SilverDragon: I know it's not just the US, I'm just saying it's strange how nursing boards don't seem to have a preference for nurses educated in western countries. Like the UK distinguishes between nurses educated within the EU to those educated outside. I agree that all nurses have to meet the requirements of the country & province they are applying to work in.

@Loriangel: I'm not trying to put anyone down, just saying that it's not necessarily true that Canadian Standards are higher than US as that article implies. I'm here because I recently got married. I'm pretty surprised by some of the things I see in the critical care settings compared to what I saw in the US. I'm sure that both the US and Canadian health care systems have their issues & I'm sure boards of nursing everywhere are working towards increasing standards of care. Maybe it'll be a good thing if IEN's like myself are able to gain the best from both experiences and be able to implement changes to increase standards across the board.

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How many working hours are you porting? If you are a new grad with little to no paid employment history of course they are going to want to test your competency.

Canada has been badly burnt over the last few years with IENs coming with degrees that have very limited skills and experience. Manitoba just wants to see that you know your stuff before they turn you lose on the public.

What you observe as a student nurse are very different from what you see as a working nurse. You also have to learn that Canadians have a different outlook inregards to healthcare, how it's funded, how it's provided. The insurance companies don't rule your health up here.

Oh, and Canadian nurses are governed by Colleges NOT boards. You want to work in Canada you have to play by the rules.

You're not in Kansas or where ever anymore, toto.

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Yes I completely understand that Canada wants to test my competency. I'm really not trying to be arrogant and claim the US is better than Canada. It is just frustrating that I was initially told by an advisor at CRNM that I wouldn't have to take the CCA because I was educated in the US and then they changed their minds a few months later. I'm not arguing about having to follow the rules & regulations of the Nursing Colleges in Canada. That's why I'm still here & studying for the CCA instead of going back to the US.

My concern is in regards to the Clinical Competency Assessment (SEC) itself. Has anyone personally taken the CCA/SEC and passed? I would appreciate any advice from anyone who was educated in the US and got licensed in Canada.

I'm really trying to pass the CCA so I'd prefer if the replies were focused on that rather than an explanation of differences in US vs. Canadian nursing!

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None of the Americans I've worked with have had to do SEC but then they came with years of experience.

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Thanks Fiona,

From what I was told by the CRNM, it seems to be relatively new. They're trying to make almost all US educated nurses take it unless they have exceptional background experience (they gave me the example of a nurse with 10 yrs+ ICU experience) - it's more to do with the education difference than the level of experience.

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Taz,

Have you successfully passed your CCA? I am a US grad with 8 years experience and I am scheduled for my CCA too =( apparently they are making everyone do it now? Oh well!!! hoping for the best. any feedback would be appreciated!

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ag202051,

Yes I passed the CCA and CRNE and just got my license! Having in there, it just takes a loooong time. I took the CCA in April, had to wait until Oct to sit for CRNE and then got licensed last week. If you're from the US, you should be absolutely fine in terms of your skills and experience. I studied from Saunders' NCLEX review book to review med-surg and general nursing knowledge - I found it was well worth the time to review all those disorders you may not have dealt with in a while & plus it's a big confidence boost. Know the major disorders in depth as well as normal lab values (remember the Canadian lab values are different to the US). Recall your nursing process, med calculations, discharge planning, etc.

The area I would focus on most is practice CRNE questions - the exams in the CCA are in CRNE format, which is VERY different to NCLEX. You can find practice questions in the CRNE prep guide (100q per book, do at least the 2010 and 2005 ed.); there are several other CRNE review books you can use to familiarize yourself with the questions.

The College should have a link to answer questions about the CCA. DO THE PRACTICE SECTIONS ON THERE! The format is VERY similar for the scenarios, triple-jump, etc. The actual scenarios will be different on the day of course, but knowing the format and understanding what they are asking will make your life much easier!

Don't go overboard with your studying - remember that you are just being tested against a new BSN grad in Canada so you just need to pass. I know I definitely made some mistakes but I passed and was approved for CRNE straight away so it's not designed to fail!

Search around this International forum, there are many posts specific to CCA prep. I know some of us have put up quite detailed posts with study guides and textbook references. If you have specific questions, I'll try my best to help!

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