I am a Registered Nurse in the Philippines with one year experience in the Operating Room and 3 months experience in the General Medical/Surgical ward (prior to being assigned in the OR). I have filed my application with CRNBC and I have done my IELTS already.
Last week, I received a letter from CRNBC stating that for CRNBC to continue assessing my application, I must take a SEC assessment test (nursinginbc.ca).
My original plan was to apply for a Work Permit/BC PNP after I get my job offer after CRNBC states that I am eligible to write the CRNE. However, since CRNBC will not be able to assess me until I take the SEC, my plan is now all messed up.
I know what the SEC is about, what worries me is how to go about this. Obviously, I will have to go to Canada sometime this year (my deadline is Dec. 10, 2009) and take my SEC, probably on a Tourist Visa. What to do AFTER the SEC assessment is what bothers me. Kwantlen U. said it will take them 3-8 weeks to release my results, and CRNBC sait it will take them 1-2 months to assess the results. If I fail, I would have to take some coursework and retake the SEC, if I pass I would then be eligible to write the CRNE. The timeframe between CRNBC assessing my results and, assuming I pass, declare that I am qualified to write the CRNE is vague.
So why is this troublesome? Obviously, I will have to STAY in BC while I wait out how all these events work out. Going back home to the Philippines would not be financially sound; I cannot imagine going back and forth to Canada without putting my family into serious debt. So I am stuck in Canada WITHOUT work for AT LEAST 3 months.
To IENs who have to take the SEC, what are your plans? What do you plan to do as you wait out the results of this process?
To CRNBC and other regulating bodies, I know why you have to do this, but would it not be better if SEC were offered OUTSIDE Canada as well? Or maybe somewhere else along the application process, maybe after getting 350+ hours of supervised work? Do you know you are asking IENs to travel to Canada to take the SEC without secure employment or even permission to work? Please know that the fare alone to Canada is no small change for those of us in developing countries, at least assuring us that this can be a ONE TIME expense with work at the end of the line for us to pay off unavoidable debts would be a step in the right direction.
To immigration and visa experts, what do I have to do to be able to find and do work in Canada for these months? Can I apply for a Work Permit when I have an employer? Obviously I cannot work in the hospital, but any work for proper pay is fine, so long as the work (and my stay) is legal and the pay is proper. If I need to do coursework, will I have to appy for a Student Visa as well?
I've read some of your post. Are you a live in caregiver?
Im Mark, I'm a live in caregiver too and a nurse from the Philippines. I'm looking for someone in the same situation as I do. I'm a bit confused on how to be a nurse here in BC. Please email me at [email protected]
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi Annie,
I've read some of your post. Are you a live in caregiver?
Im Mark, I'm a live in caregiver too and a nurse from the Philippines. I'm looking for someone in the same situation as I do. I'm a bit confused on how to be a nurse here in BC. Please email me at [email protected]
Thank you.
You need to meet provincial requirements and once eligible pass CRNE as well as find a employer. If you are on a TWP then it is employer specific so you will need to get a new TWP
Read all your comments and I am just realizing that we are all in the same boat. I am a newly landed immigrant, just arrived a month ago. I tried to schedule for SEC assessment but IEN replied to say that it cannot be scheduled until next year (sometime 2nd or 3rd quarter) due to their backlog.
Now I am thinking if I should register with the CLPNBC and take the CRPNE too. Does anyone know if CLPNBC also has SEC assessment?
It seems like it will be a long process to get into the nursing field. What's worst is that I read all these blogs about not being able to find work as a nurse even when you are already licensed in BC? I don't really get it.
Isn't there an association of foreign nurses which is looking into this? Most of us are approved to migrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program as Registered Nurses and yet, you arrive in Canada and they make it so difficult for us to get into our field. Aside from a new immigrant adjusting to a new country, a new culture, extreme change in weather, prices of goods and cost of living, etc., the Canadian government and the regulatory boards do not realize that time and money are major considerations for this endeavor and most of us do not have the luxury of time to wait without earning a living. This is a major issue and I am surprised that no one is acting on it, especially if there is an association of Filipino nurses (or whatever nationality there is) which has been established to fight for the rights of nurse migrants. Does anybody know of such an association?
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Okay, a couple of things jump out here.
First: There is a backlog of people waiting for SEC in BC, and in most other provinces too. What does that say? That there are far more IENs looking for registration in Canada than the system can handle. The field is saturated.
Second: Sidestepping SEC by applying to become an LPN suggests looking for a shortcut. CLPNBC utilizes a different method of assessing credentials than CRNBC but that doesn't mean less stingent. And no, there is currently no SEC required for IEN-LPNs. But there haven't been that many LPNs looking to emigrate to Canada, especially from the Philippines because that designation for nurses doesn't exist there. The sudden increase in this sort of application has arisen as a result of those people being unable to meet the requirements to be RNs so they're defaulting to LPN. So I can foresee that soon enough the Colleges of Practical Nurses will be seeing a need for some sort of SEC.
Third: Having a permit to practice doesn't entitle the holder to employment. The number of out-of-work Canadian-born and educated nurses would be proof of that. Employment is NOT a right, no matter what you've been told.
Fourth: The Federal Skilled Worker program is also no guarantee of employment, unless the applicant has already been offered employment when they apply. Those who apply on speculation of breezing through assessment and falling into a stable, permanent well-paying job are the ones who complain the loudest when their experience is anything but.
Why is it such a surprise and annoyance that Canada has standards? The Health Professions Acts in each of the provinces determines what those standards are and how they are administered. The Canadian citizenry have a right to know that the people who are providing their health care are competent to do so and have the knowledge and skills to do so in the most ethical manner possible.
Where is it written that the Canadian government and regulatory boards are responsible for the wellbeing of those who seek economic asylum here? Yes, it takes a lot of time and money to wend one's way through the process. Who should bear the cost of that? If not the applicant, then who? Does the Canadian government have an obligation to provide for those who have invited themselves in? Even those who are qualified for the Federal Skilled Worker program are required to provide proof of their ability to support themselves and their families once they've arrived. Thousands of immigrants with professional credentials find ways to support themselves while going through the process of credentials-verification without expecting handouts.
By the way, migration and migrant both connote impermanence. Not the best first impression.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
To add what Jan has said this is one of the reasons why immigration expects you to have a certain figure in Canadian $$ in hand when you move so you can support yourself whilst looking for work if employment hasn't already been found. That is why I hate to see people post in a certain other thread about agency lending money just to meet immigration requirements. You still need to be able to support yourself when you arrive and look for employment.
Hi, i'm taking the SEC tomorrow @ Surrey. I'm not ready so i end up searching for possible situation if i got low score on the exam. Now , i know it is not easy to be a IEN in Canada. Cross my fingers for tomorrows SEC. Is there any updates here, if you guys took the SEC already? I'm in a panic stage right now.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
That isn't how SEC works. They are evaluating your knowledge base, skills, prioritization and communication on several levels, but it isn't a pass/fail result exactly. At the end of it they'll send you a letter that will tell you what you need to do to meet registration requirements and recommend where to go to upgrade your competence. Once you've done that upgrading satisfactorily then you're eligible for provisional registration.
mcpabustan8
26 Posts
Hi Annie,
I've read some of your post. Are you a live in caregiver?
Im Mark, I'm a live in caregiver too and a nurse from the Philippines. I'm looking for someone in the same situation as I do. I'm a bit confused on how to be a nurse here in BC. Please email me at [email protected]
Thank you.