Often we get asked what the difference is between the Canadian nursing exam (CRNE) and the American Nursing exam (NCLEX). This is often quite confusing for people, especially for international nurses who may have written the NCLEX before moving to Canada and are looking at writing the CRNE.
Here are a few key differences:
Exam Delivery:
The CRNE is still a written exam. Students write the CRNE in classrooms that are invigilated by members of the provincial colleges. It is a pencil to paper exam (or pencil to scantron exam).
The CRNE is only offered in Canada, so students must travel to Canada to write the exam.
The CRNE is offered 3 times a year, spring, fall and winter.
Candidates must answer all questions
The CRNE: Students cannot bring a calculator to the exam
While the NCLEX is a fully automatic exam, which is delivered via computer. Students go to a designated testing site to write. Their information is taken at the door, they must ensure they have left all their belongings in a locker and they are monitored on video camera. The questions are answered on the computer and the student hits submit at the end of the exam.
The computer stops the exam automatically after the minimum number of questions have been answered and the computer is >95% sure the student will pass the exam (based on a statistical analysis).
Due to the exam format, it is offered at various locations internationally.
The NCLEX is offered throughout the year.
The NCLEX: Students can bring a calculator to the exam.
Exam Questions:
The CRNE: Focuses on application of knowledge and critical thinking. It does assume (to a point) that the candidates already have in depth clinical, physiological and pathological knowledge. It wants to see the candidate apply the knowledge. Many questions are psychosocial, or require the nurse to choose the best answer out of a possible 2 "correct" responses.
The CRNE is designed to test the nursing competencies
On the CRNE clients are defined as: individuals, families, groups and communities.
The NCLEX: Focuses on pathology and physiology. There are also questions on the American health care system.
NCLEX questions are used to test nursing knowledge, and application of knowledge with the intent to meet the individual clients needs.
On the NCLEX, client is defined as individuals, groups or families.
In general, although the pass rate is higher on the CRNE than on the NCLEX, students state they find the CRNE more difficult. This is because the CRNE is designed to test the critical thinking of the student, so when the exam is completed it is difficult for the candidate to determine if they were successful or not.
For more information about the CRNE, students can visit the CNA website.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
PRIMED Education: now approved CRNE tutors!
We are pleased to announce that PRIMED Educational Associates founders, Marlene Burrows and Laura Housden have been approved through CRNBC as official CRNE tutors.
CRNBC approval requires that the tutors have had past relevant teaching experience, graduate education, able to demonstrate lesson plans that meet the CRNBC competencies of a newly graduated nurse and references that indicate proficiency at teaching. CRNE tutors are reviewed annually.
Many graduates and international nurses look for CRNE tutors to help support them during exam preparation.
As well, students who have been unsuccessful on the CRNE in the past, may be required to obtain additional exam support in order to re-write.
If you are a student who would like some additional exam support, please visit PRIMED Education.
CRNBC approval requires that the tutors have had past relevant teaching experience, graduate education, able to demonstrate lesson plans that meet the CRNBC competencies of a newly graduated nurse and references that indicate proficiency at teaching. CRNE tutors are reviewed annually.
Many graduates and international nurses look for CRNE tutors to help support them during exam preparation.
As well, students who have been unsuccessful on the CRNE in the past, may be required to obtain additional exam support in order to re-write.
If you are a student who would like some additional exam support, please visit PRIMED Education.
Friday, September 18, 2009
CRNE Exam Questions..Isn't there more than 1 right answer?
One of the most common concerns we have from students is that the CRNE exam often appears to have more than 1 right answer in the list of choices.
Lets work through an example:
Question:
1. Jonathan is a 4 year old boy who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. His family appears to be coping well, but they tell you they feel as though they are alone, and can't speak to their friends about their experiences. Which of the follow responses would be most appropriate?
a. "I can see you are upset, would you like to talk about it?"
b. "You seem to be coping very well, I know things are difficult now, but most families say things improve with time"
c. "It is important to remember that although diabetes is difficult, it is not as terrible as some of the other diseases that can effect children"
d. "Many families find it helpful to speak with other people who have experienced similar feelings or circumstances, would you like me to arrange for you to speak with one of these families?"
First, lets look at option a.
"I can see you are upset, would you like to talk about it?"
Good Points: This is often answer students choose. It is the first answer, and it appears to be supportive, open ended and appears that the nurse is approaching the family in a caring way.
Bad Points: Although this answer invites more questions, it doesn't address the families concerns. Remember, the family has stated that they feel alone, and that they can't speak to their friends about their experiences.
Ok, let's deconstruct option b.
"You seem to be coping very well, I know things are difficult now, but most families say things improve with time"
Good Points: Good points are hard to find with this response. You are acknowledging what you are seeing in the family, but you are not addressing the families concerns.
Bad Points: Again, you are not addressing the families concerns. Think about how the family would feel, they would most likely feel as though the nurse gave them the "brush off". The CRNE exam is designed to ensure that you are responding to the patient. So, Eliminate b as an option!
Now, lets look at option c.
"It is important to remember that although diabetes is difficult, it is not as terrible as some of the other diseases that can effect children"
Good points: I can't think of any! This is a complete brush off, and does not address the concerns of the family at all.
Bad Points: Option C is designed to be a dead give away. Remember, on a multiple choice exam there is often 1 answer that you can eliminate right at the beginning.
Finally, lets look at option d.
"Many families find it helpful to speak with other people who have experienced similar feelings or circumstances, would you like me to arrange for you to speak with one of these families?"
Good points: This question is both supportive, as well as responsive to the families concerns. Return to the original question...what is the family telling you? They are telling you they feel alone. Offering to connect them to other families is the right answer.
Connecting the dots.....
-Hopefully you would have been struggling to choose between a. and d.
If you read the question carefully, you realize that d is the response that best answers the families concerns.
This is just one example of a question that can confuse you on the CRNE Exam.
Make sure you read the question carefully and choose the response that best addresses the concerns of the patient, family, or situation.
If you would like to work through more of these types of questions, join us for our course, January 9th and 10th, 2010!
Lets work through an example:
Question:
1. Jonathan is a 4 year old boy who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. His family appears to be coping well, but they tell you they feel as though they are alone, and can't speak to their friends about their experiences. Which of the follow responses would be most appropriate?
a. "I can see you are upset, would you like to talk about it?"
b. "You seem to be coping very well, I know things are difficult now, but most families say things improve with time"
c. "It is important to remember that although diabetes is difficult, it is not as terrible as some of the other diseases that can effect children"
d. "Many families find it helpful to speak with other people who have experienced similar feelings or circumstances, would you like me to arrange for you to speak with one of these families?"
First, lets look at option a.
"I can see you are upset, would you like to talk about it?"
Good Points: This is often answer students choose. It is the first answer, and it appears to be supportive, open ended and appears that the nurse is approaching the family in a caring way.
Bad Points: Although this answer invites more questions, it doesn't address the families concerns. Remember, the family has stated that they feel alone, and that they can't speak to their friends about their experiences.
Ok, let's deconstruct option b.
"You seem to be coping very well, I know things are difficult now, but most families say things improve with time"
Good Points: Good points are hard to find with this response. You are acknowledging what you are seeing in the family, but you are not addressing the families concerns.
Bad Points: Again, you are not addressing the families concerns. Think about how the family would feel, they would most likely feel as though the nurse gave them the "brush off". The CRNE exam is designed to ensure that you are responding to the patient. So, Eliminate b as an option!
Now, lets look at option c.
"It is important to remember that although diabetes is difficult, it is not as terrible as some of the other diseases that can effect children"
Good points: I can't think of any! This is a complete brush off, and does not address the concerns of the family at all.
Bad Points: Option C is designed to be a dead give away. Remember, on a multiple choice exam there is often 1 answer that you can eliminate right at the beginning.
Finally, lets look at option d.
"Many families find it helpful to speak with other people who have experienced similar feelings or circumstances, would you like me to arrange for you to speak with one of these families?"
Good points: This question is both supportive, as well as responsive to the families concerns. Return to the original question...what is the family telling you? They are telling you they feel alone. Offering to connect them to other families is the right answer.
Connecting the dots.....
-Hopefully you would have been struggling to choose between a. and d.
If you read the question carefully, you realize that d is the response that best answers the families concerns.
This is just one example of a question that can confuse you on the CRNE Exam.
Make sure you read the question carefully and choose the response that best addresses the concerns of the patient, family, or situation.
If you would like to work through more of these types of questions, join us for our course, January 9th and 10th, 2010!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
CRNE Prep: Are you ready?
If you are studying for your CRNE Exam (CRNE), then you will need all the help you can get.
Luckily, we offer a two-day intensive course specifically tailored to nurses preparing for the exam.
Our course is made by nurses, for nurses. You can register online, or find out more information here:
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