Did you know....

I just received my February edition of Canadian Nurse.  One of the sections I love to read is the "Feedback".  In this section there were to comments from RN's about our Canadian RN entry-to-practice exam.  This is the exam all nurses must write in order to become a Registered Nurse in Canada.

The two RN's who wrote in talking about these exams and how 10 of Canada's RN regulators selected the U.S. based National Council of State Boards of Nursing(NCSBN) to develop a new computer-based RN entry exam for Canada.  The NCSBN would bring the existing American exam to Canada for the purpose of licensing new Canadian nurses.  Is it me or doesn't this seem a little odd to you.  Why would we want another country to write and control our entry-to-practice exam?

What I find sad is that I didn't know anything about this until I read it in the Canadian Nurse magazine.  So I started to do my own research to find out what this is all about, and what I have found is that the Canadian Nurses Association have come up with a Declaration ensuring a Canadian solution for the RN entry exam.
This declaration only came out in December 2011. 

The CNA believe that by choosing the U.S. based organization which delivers the American exam NCLEX, raises question as to the exam being applicable to Canadian nursing and our health-care system.  I couldn't agree more.  I for one don't understand how an American based company can write an exam which is applicable for our Canadian health care.  This sends my antenna's rising.  I can't help but wonder if our health care leaders have an agenda which they want to keep from the Canadian public.

The CNA have come up with seven principles they feel are essential to any negotiations
(I have copied these from the CNA declaration)
1. The decision must not have a negative impact on Canada’s RN recruitment and retention strategies.
2. Canadian exam data and personal information must not be subject to the USA Patriot Act and must be housed and protected in Canada according to Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
3. The new computer‐based RN entry exam must promote, maintain and align with the curriculum of Canadian schools of nursing.
4. The new computer‐based RN entry exam must reflect the unique character, qualities and values of the Canadian publicly funded, not‐for‐profit health system, including:

•  a focus on primary health care, health promotion and injury/disease prevention;

•  Canadian legislation that affects nursing practice, such as the requirement to report child abuse;

•  respect for Canada’s cultural diversity and societal values, such as the inclusion of the health needs of Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples, social justice and a focus on the determinants of health; and

•  the Canadian Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses.

5. The new computer‐based RN entry exam must reflect 100 per cent Canadian content.
6. RNs from across the country representing all domains of nursing must continue to
participate in the development of the new computer‐based RN entry exam.
7. Canadian francophone RNs must continue to develop 25 per cent of the new
computer‐based RN entry exam questions in French, and must continue to
Please check out the Canadian Nurses Association
.
In the current edition of the Canadian Nurses magazine there is a card that you can sign if you disagree with our Canadian exam being sourced to the NCSBN.

If you do nothing, please at least read about what is being proposed and stay informed.