Working in Canada BEFORE sitting CRNE?

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Specializes in Intensive Care and Coronary Care.

Hi there RNs.

I am an Aussie trained nurse, currently booked in and studying for the February 2009 CRNE in Vancouver. I have a job offer from a Vancouver hospital, commencing March 2009.

Would it be wiser to work first in Canada for a few weeks or months BEFORE sitting the CRNE,

or,

have I.E.Nurses's found they have passed it okay without having worked in Canada, solely from studying on their own in their home country?

(I realise around 50% of I.E.Ns pass the CRNE on 1st attempt!)

Thanks all.

IEN's: by the way a great website to help you find employment in Vancouver & the surrounding area http://www.nursevancouver.com

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Specializes in Emergency nsg.

hi lilmisswongy.....

it all depends on how stable you are financially.If you have no such problem ,i would advice you to focus on CRNE first as you have only 2 months for prepration,,

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Specializes in Emergency nsg.

And yes i am also IEN,,worked in australia for 2yr,migrated to canada last year .I passed CRNE this Oct without working here first.It would be of help if you could manage to take a prep couse...as CRNE format is really different from Australian registration exam...

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Specializes in med/surg.

I only worked a few weeks before sitting the recent CRNE - I passed but I think in hindsite a little more time would have meant less stress. On the plus side I'll get paid a better rate now quicker than if I'd waited until Feb or June!

If you're here you can go to prep classes but if you're confident you can study on your own then go for it. The CNA book is the closest to the actual questions but the exam really has much trickier questions than the book (or their on-line test) has.

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Specializes in Maternity.

Hi!

I'm an aussie trained nurse as well and I just came to Canada this year in June. I think I read the same thing you did bout the 50-50 pass rate for IEN's but the pass rate has gone up quite a bit now (something like 70% if you look at the stats for Feb/June, 2008 if that makes you feel any better).

Although I did start working here in June (I did the exam in Oct), I don't think you really need to work before taking the exam...they only suggest it so you will be somewhat familiar with their terminology when you do the exam. But saying that, if you study quite a bit I think you can pick it up through the text books and doing the prep guide anyways.

Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Intensive Care and Coronary Care.

Hi all

Thanks for your responses! Keep them coming!

I could start work in March 2009, then sit the June 2009 exam.

My issue is it would be my last and only chance to sit the exam if I did it june, because my 24 month CRNBC file will be destroyed in August 2009 (cause CRNBC give you 2 years to get your exam and 250 hours supervised work completed).

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Specializes in Maternity.

Wow...you're brave for cutting it so close... on one hand I think having that extra option to do the exam again in June is good just in case. But then again... we need to be thinking positive thoughts right now!

Well if you need any help with studying, I have a copy of most of the notes that have been handed to me so I'll be happy to email you what I have.

:)

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Specializes in Intensive Care and Coronary Care.

from theSeeker: "Well if you need any help with studying, I have a copy of most of the notes that have been handed to me so I'll be happy to email you what I have."

Dear TheSeeker: Thanks for offering your help. I really appreciate it and will definitely accept the much needed help! We are however both on 6 posts. So I will get in contact with you after we both have the required minimum of 15 meaningful and helpful allnurses posts!

I am occupying the next 2.5 months before the 4 Feb 2009 exam with just reading prep guides (Lippincott and unfortunately an 8 yr old CNA guide) and random recommended textbooks, but it's hard to absorb much when you are just studying willy-nilly.

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dear seeker,

i'm also ie nurse & going to take the crne in february 2009 in toronto.

i'll appreciate if you could send me via email your notes to my email:

thanks in advance.....:bow:

mod note, as per terms of service please do not post email addresses

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Dear Seeker,

I am also from Australia planning on sitting the CRNE exam in Feb. I will not be working prior to sitting the exam ... getting a little nervous!

I would very much appreciate it if you could send your notes to me also!

Thank you!

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Specializes in Maternity.

welcome to BC! For sure. Well right now, I think we need some certain number of thank you's until we can do any private messaging so when that comes around, I'll forward it to you. What have you done so far?

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Dear Seeker,

I would really appreciate if you could sent me the notes as well.....

Thanks.....:yeah:

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