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 have done my SEC. It wasn't too bad, mine was maternal-neonatal and child health. The exam is mostly multi choice. The practical is just showing them how you would care for patient, in my case prenatal assessment and postnatal assessment, and care planning. I hope this helps.
Amber
Hi amber-sport,
I just came back from my SEC Assessment in Alberta. It wasn't too bad.
Can you pls tell me how long it took for the SEC results? Hopefully you have them by now . If you don't mind to share, do you have to take any courses and how long?
It took 4 weeks for the results to be emailed out. I have to do the "Nursing in Canada" unit online, its not too bad. I have applied in BC but am having alot of trouble finding a job, there just isn't any. I am living in Vancouver at the moment, on a 2 year working visa, which i only have 18 months left. I might have to look into applying to a different province if something doesn't come up soon.
It took 4 weeks for the results to be emailed out. I have to do the "Nursing in Canada" unit online, its not too bad. I have applied in BC but am having alot of trouble finding a job, there just isn't any. I am living in Vancouver at the moment, on a 2 year working visa, which i only have 18 months left. I might have to look into applying to a different province if something doesn't come up soon.
Good luck
Amber
Hi,
Thanks for a quick reply. Good for u !
Well, you might want to check out Alberta then! I am moving to Alberta, Calgary, in a few months since my husband and I got Canadian Permanent Residency. I'm in the US now.
I met a few really nice IENs that already live in Clagray while at my assessment. Some of them work as Nurse Aid ($18) for now until they finish their SEC courses... Also, "Care West" in Calgary just built a whole new building so they are hiring... The word is that after Decmber 2010 the hiring freeze in Alberta will be over.
Once you get your BC license, maybe you want to apply for RN license in Alberta. Just a thought...
If you decide to move, we can get in touch via email.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Hi,
Thanks for a quick reply. Good for u !
Well, you might want to check out Alberta then! The word is that after Decmber 2010 the hiring freeze in Alberta will be over.
Once you get your BC license, maybe you want to apply for RN license in Alberta.
Best of Luck!
I don't know if that's such good advice. Remember that Alberta Health Services is the employer of about 85 % of all nurses in the province. The hiring freeze may well be lifted by December, but if the mediator in the current United Nurses of Alberta/Alberta Health Services negotiations succeeds in ratification of a new contract, Alberta Health Services will be required by contractual obligation to hire a minimum of 70% of all new Alberta nursing graduates for the next three years. That would be in the area of 500 new nurses per year... If they aren't able to hire that many in each year they will have to explain themselves to the union and to the mediator. So to me that suggests that there really won't be any available jobs with AHS for IENs at least until 2013. Non-union jobs outside of AHS don't pay nearly as well and there is NO protection for employees in this province if they don't have a union behind them.
I don't know if that's such good advice. Remember that Alberta Health Services is the employer of about 85 % of all nurses in the province. The hiring freeze may well be lifted by December, but if the mediator in the current United Nurses of Alberta/Alberta Health Services negotiations succeeds in ratification of a new contract, Alberta Health Services will be required by contractual obligation to hire a minimum of 70% of all new Alberta nursing graduates for the next three years. That would be in the area of 500 new nurses per year... If they aren't able to hire that many in each year they will have to explain themselves to the union and to the mediator. So to me that suggests that there really won't be any available jobs with AHS for IENs at least until 2013. Non-union jobs outside of AHS don't pay nearly as well and there is NO protection for employees in this province if they don't have a union behind them.
I realize that the times are tough everywhere these days, the economy is not doing that well around the world including Canada. But things will get better eventually. I find that people need to stay positive and finght for things they want in life, and if someone truly wants to be an RN they will find a way to get there.
I find most of your comments on this forum discouraging. I realize that you are Canadian and as you claim "you helped many people on this forum", however, I will try to stay away from your comments because I don't like your energy and pls try to do the same for me.
I don't think Jan is discouraging people, she's being factual and realistic. We work here and know what the situation is.
Since at least 2007 people have been stating they are coming to Canada to nurse. Yet, few actually arrive. The ones that have arrived had been recruited by specific health authorities for specified contract terms. The nurses recruited into the hospitals that Jan and I both work in did not live up to their resumes. Their contracts are ending and they are being required to return to country of origin unless they can find full time work. Considering the amount of $$$ invested by our employer they will try and retain them before hiring fresh arrivals.
Many American nurses came north and found us a strange lot. We're unionized, get paid sick time and vacation time. We've had to sit down and explain it to more than one American nurse, "no, you don't have to have surgery on your vacation time, that's what paid sick leave is for".
There have also been posters who have arrived in Canada under various guest worker schemes (nanny, housekeeper) who have expected to have their credentials accepted without evaluation and then cried foul when they have had to follow the rules and regulations.
Employment in Canada sucks right now. Just as it does in the US. We've seen the posts here from Americans saying hire American nurses first.
All Jan has been saying is being realistic about your expectations. Her views mirror those of most of the nurses I work with. Besides, if you make it here you'd better be nice to Jan, she's one of the union officials for RNs in this province.
Hi,i am an RN who has practised as a dialysis Nurse in Ireland for 2 yrs. Graduated in 2004. I was shocked wen they told me i had to do the SEC even tho i trained in Ireland. Getn over the shock, i av recently been sent a letter that i will have to do the SEC assessment for the GENERAL(MED/SURG). As i am very new to the canadian system especially the SEC, i wuld like any1 who has done this to please tell / inform / enlightem me specifically on how the assessment will be done and what they are looking for in a GENERAL(MED/SURG) assessment.I heard its a 2day assessment time so wat culd be assessed in this two days? I am trying to ascertain the coursework that the SEC is assessed on so as not to be caught unawares. Thanks!!
I was shocked wen they told me i had to do the SEC even tho i trained in Ireland.
Why? Canada is not Ireland.
There are specific requirements for a nursing license in Canada - why would you be shocked that they asked you to prove that you meet those requirements?
Getn over the shock, i av recently been sent a letter that i will have to do the SEC assessment for the GENERAL(MED/SURG).As i am very new to the canadian system especially the SEC, i wuld like any1 who has done this to please tell / inform / enlightem me specifically on how the assessment will be done and what they are looking for in a GENERAL(MED/SURG) assessment.I heard its a 2day assessment time so wat culd be assessed in this two days? I am trying to ascertain the coursework that the SEC is assessed on so as not to be caught unawares. Thanks!!
Well the first thing you would have to work on is your spelling. Really I am not trying to be sarcastic here but if you want to be regarded as professional here in Canada you have to be able to use the language, and/or know how to use a spell checker. When I typed this post there were at least a dozen spelling errors, but I made sure my spell checker corrected them because I want to make sure I present myself as a professional in these forums. I would expect you to do the same.
If you want to know what is required for the SEC then go to this website and find out.
I just came back from my SEC Assessment in Alberta. It wasn't too bad.
Can you pls tell me how long it took for the SEC results? Hopefully you have them by now . If you don't mind to share, do you have to take any courses and how long?
Thanx and good luck!
Hai!have you done your bridging to canadian nursing progrm
!
. If you don't mind to share, do you have to take any courses and how long?
FutureCanadian
10 Posts
Hi amber-sport,
I just came back from my SEC Assessment in Alberta. It wasn't too bad.
Can you pls tell me how long it took for the SEC results? Hopefully you have them by now
. If you don't mind to share, do you have to take any courses and how long?
Thanx and good luck!