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?
Hi everyone! i'll be having my sec assessment this coming january 2010. its only 2 days and its a focused assessment (med/surg). Can anyone give me tips to review or ideas on how this assessment will work? Im really nervous about this, i just graduated last 2008 and a newly registered nurse last feb 2009 in our country with no hospital experience yet. i dont know what will happen. my only background is my student nurse experience during duty days in hospitals and that's it. but im willing to take some courses if they told me too.
do you know what is the longest re entry program in kwantlen university? is it 1 or 2 years? i hope its just 1 year though. thanks so much! hope to hear from you guys! please i need some positive motivation! its getting stressing as the days go by. :)
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Hi... sorry, this is rather late reaction.... you have mentioned that your SEC invitation expired last February. How much did they give you? have you take the SEC assessment already? thanks a lot for your reply...
The poster you quoted (AsiaRN) stated that the invitation expired this coming February ie 2010. The post also indicated that the member had NOT done the SEC, since it's a one-time assessment that reveals areas of weakness that require further education. S/he was looking for advice on what to do after the SEC but before being given the green light to work as an RN.
Hope somebody can enlighten me this....
Pass SEC assessment -> can I work already while preparing for the CRNE?
Fail SEC assessment -> take refresher course??? How long? Do I pay for the tuition fee?
thanks a lot.....
Hi everyone! i'll be having my sec assessment this coming january 2010. its only 2 days and its a focused assessment (med/surg). Can anyone give me tips to review or ideas on how this assessment will work? Im really nervous about this, i just graduated last 2008 and a newly registered nurse last feb 2009 in our country with no hospital experience yet. i dont know what will happen. my only background is my student nurse experience during duty days in hospitals and that's it. but im willing to take some courses if they told me too.
do you know what is the longest re entry program in kwantlen university? is it 1 or 2 years? i hope its just 1 year though. thanks so much! hope to hear from you guys! please i need some positive motivation! its getting stressing as the days go by. :)
Did you read the threads on SEC FAQ - Substantially Equivalent Competence (SEC) Assessments and CRNE FAQ: The Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) ? Since you're asking about BC, I'll make it easy for you. You can work under an interim permit as an RN at the graduate nurse level while awaiting the CRNE. BUT, and this is really important, it will be VERY difficult for you to find an employer at the present time. BC has drastically reduced the number of new nurses they're hiring.
The re-entry course for internationally educated nurses at Kwantlen is a 24 credit hour program, which can be done in a single year. The individual refreshers/remediators can be done in a single semester. Be aware that there is usually only a single intake of new students to these programs, in the fall. There are financial assistance programs available but the cost of the courses is typically borne by the individual.
I am scheduled to have my SEC assessment this coming April 23 and 26, 2010...Does anybody here have already done with their SEC ? Do we have a chance to find an employer in BC after the SEC assessment?
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Well, since you can't even be registered in BC without succeeding at the SEC, it's obvious that you have to have that to be employed... Having said that, there aren't a lot of vacancies in BC right now that would be considered suitable for an IEN with work permit requirements, like full time work. And there's not a lot of money in the system for importing nurses these days.
I was scheduled to take the SEC Assessment this coming March 2010 at Kwatlen University in Surrey BC,
I already have a visa in going there since i'll be coming from Singapore,
It's my first time to be in Canada and I don't know anybody there.
I am hoping that maybe some of you guys are from the area, pls advice me on where to stay ( are there transient rooms for rent, like for a student? I did check some hotels but I was hoping I could find less costly place for I have a tight budget considering I will shoulder all the expenses in going there. ) and how to get there from Vancouver Airport.
to avkon and to others who are done with SEc assessment, please give us tip and recommendation please...is it worth to spend time and money for the SEC?
I am scheduled to have my SEC assessment this coming April 23 and 26, 2010...Does anybody here have already done with their SEC ? Do we have a chance to find an employer in BC after the SEC assessment?
Thank you:nurse:
Hi have you secured your TRV, I'm also scheduled on April27& 28. Do you have a place to stay?
I was scheduled to take the SEC Assessment this coming March 2010 at Kwatlen University in Surrey BC,
I already have a visa in going there since i'll be coming from Singapore,
It's my first time to be in Canada and I don't know anybody there.
I am hoping that maybe some of you guys are from the area, pls advice me on where to stay ( are there transient rooms for rent, like for a student? I did check some hotels but I was hoping I could find less costly place for I have a tight budget considering I will shoulder all the expenses in going there. ) and how to get there from Vancouver Airport. I would really appreciate your help.
Thanks a lot in advance
I'm also scheduled March, this week actually! And I just started studying today, I just can't concentrate so I'm cramming to the last mminuts...I'll seriously going to have a horrible day... I'm fine with the written but the interview and stuff is really scaring me...
Btw, try translink.ca to know how to go there. It'll be easier if you already have a place to stay though. I went there today, just looked for the registration room...I hope it'll be fine...
I tried the triple jump and interview scenarios and I have an idea how it goes but what about OSCE? I really don't have an idea like what procedures do they usually ask you to do? it is just one procedure or a lot? i saw some equipment that I wasn't able to use so I'm really nervous about that...How long does it OSCE takes?
Btw, is the assessment one-on-one or not? I hope there's only one assessor...
leone1224
1 Post
Hi everyone! i'll be having my sec assessment this coming january 2010. its only 2 days and its a focused assessment (med/surg). Can anyone give me tips to review or ideas on how this assessment will work? Im really nervous about this, i just graduated last 2008 and a newly registered nurse last feb 2009 in our country with no hospital experience yet. i dont know what will happen. my only background is my student nurse experience during duty days in hospitals and that's it. but im willing to take some courses if they told me too.
do you know what is the longest re entry program in kwantlen university? is it 1 or 2 years? i hope its just 1 year though. thanks so much! hope to hear from you guys! please i need some positive motivation! its getting stressing as the days go by. :)