Wednesday, October 21, 2009

CRNE Questions and Answers

CRNE Questions and Answers

What is the CRNE?
The Canadian Registered Nurses Exam (CRNE) is a multiple choice exam consisting of approximately 300 questions, which partially assesses your level of competence prior to entering nursing practice.

Why do I have to write the CRNE?

"The purpose of the CRNE is to protect the public by ensuring that the entry-level registered nurse possesses the competencies required to practice safely and effectively". (CNA, 2009).

How do I register to write the CRNE?
In order to register for the CRNE, you must first register with your provincial/territorial nursing regulatory body. See contact information below.

BRITISH COLUMBIA
College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia
2855 Arbutus Street
Vancouver BC  V6J 3Y8

Tel: (604) 736-7331
Fax: (604) 738-2272
E-mail: info@crnbc.ca

ALBERTA
College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta
11620 - 168 Street
Edmonton AB  T5M 4A6
Tel: (780) 451-0043
Fax: (780) 452-3276
E-mail: carna@nurses.ab.ca

SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association
2066 Retallack Street
Regina SK  S4T 7X5

Tel: 1-800-667-9945 / (306) 359-4200
Fax: (306) 525-0849
E-mail: info@srna.org

MANITOBA
College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
890 Pembina Hwy
Winnipeg MB R3M 2M8

Tel: (204) 774-3477
Fax: (204) 775-6052
E-mail: info@crnm.mb.ca

ONTARIO
College of Nurses of Ontario
101 Davenport Road
Toronto ON  M5R 3P1

Tel/Tél. : 1-800-387-5526 / (416) 928-0900
Fax/Télécopieur : (416) 928-6507
E-mail/Courriel : cno@cnomail.org

QUÉBEC
Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec
4200, boul. Dorchester Ouest
Montréal QC  H3Z 1V4
Tel/Tél. : (514) 935-2501 / 1-800-363-6048
Fax/Télécopieur : (514) 935-1799
E-mail/Courriel : inf@oiiq.org

NEW BRUNSWICK
Nurses Association of New Brunswick 
165 Regent Street
Fredericton NB  E3B 7B4

Tel/Tél. : (506) 458-8731
Fax/Télécopieur : (506) 459-2838
E-mail/Courriel : nanb@nanb.nb.ca

NOVA SCOTIA
College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia
Suite 4005
7071
Bayers Road
Halifax NS  B3J 2A8

Tel: (902) 491-9744
Fax: (902) 491-9510
E-mail: info@crnns.ca

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Association of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island
53 Grafton Street
Charlottetown PE  C1A 1K8

Tel: (902) 368-3764
Fax: (902) 628-1430
E-mail: arnpei@pei.aibn.com 

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Association Of Registered Nurses Of Newfoundland And Labrador
55 Military Rd
St. John
’s NL  A1C 2C5
Tel: (709) 753-6040
Fax: (709) 753-4940
E-mail: info@arnnl.nf.ca  

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Registered Nurses Association of the
Northwest Territories and Nunavut 

Box 2757
Yellowknife NT  X1A 2R1

Tel: (867) 873-2745
Fax: (867) 873-2336
E-mail: nwtrna@theedge.ca 

YUKON
Yukon Registered Nurses Association
204 - 4133 - 4th Avenue
Whitehorse YT  Y1A 1H8

Tel: (867) 667-4062
Fax: (867) 668-5123
E-mail: yrna@yknet.ca



How much does the CRNE cost?
The fee is $600 dollars (Canadian).

What are the exam due dates, and what are the locations I can write in?
The exam dates are:
  • Feb 3 (Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond)
  • June 2 (Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Victoria, Kamloops, Castelgar, Prince George, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Terrace)
  • October 6 (Vancouver Surrey, Richmond, Kamloops, Nanaimo)


More about what the CRNE actually examines coming soon…






Sunday, October 18, 2009

Immunology: Reviewing the basics

The Canadian nursing examination often includes basic questions on immunology and vaccinology.   
To prepare for the exam, the basic principles of how vaccines work should be reviewed, as well as the following definitions:


-Active vs Passive Immunity
-Antibody
-Antigen
-Lymphocyte
-Active vs. Passive Immunizing agents


The Canadian RN exam often reflects the current healthcare situation in Canada.  When West Nile was prominent, the exam began to have some West Nile questions.  After SARs, some SARs questions were on the exam.  Looking at the current health situation, it is likely that H1N1 questions will also start showing up on the examination.  


Currently the public health agency of Canada has a very good write up on H1N1 and the Canadian vaccine program.  


http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/faq_rg_h1n1-eng.php







Thursday, October 8, 2009

Nursing Education in Canada

In Canada, the entry to practice education required in all provinces and territories is a baccalaureate degree (exception Quebec and Yukon). This shift occurred during the early to mid 2000s based on much research showing that staffing with baccalaureate prepared nurses is associated with improved patient safety and positive patient outcomes. “One study showed a five-per-cent decrease in the risk of patient death for every 10-per-cent increase in the proportion of hospital RNs holding degrees. There have been similar findings for community-based health services; the health outcomes of people cared for by baccalaureate-educated RNs were significantly better. Better patient outcomes also mean cost savings for the health-care system (CNA, 2009, ¶2). In addition, a higher level of education makes the health-care system more efficient and accessible.


There are various structures of baccalaureate nursing programs within in Canada. Some schools operate year round, with no summer, so that students will graduate more quickly while others maintain some or all their summer semesters off. An increasing number of students have significant post-secondary education before starting their nursing degree, and many have already obtained a degree in another discipline (CNA, 2009). Please visit the following website for information on schools of nursing in Canada: http://www.cna-aiic.ca/nursingpgms/public_browse.asp

After completing a baccalaureate degree in nursing and working for a period of time, some nurses will return to school to obtain advanced certifications or degrees. For example, a nurse wanting to practice in a specialty area such as maternity, intensive care, emergency or operating room nursing needs to attend a specialty program that includes theory courses and clinical education to be able to work in that area.

Other nurses may want to study at a graduate education level to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree to work in advanced practice nursing. We will discuss this type of special nursing in an upcoming blog so stay tuned…
All nurses are required by their national and provincial regulatory body to engage in continuing education in order to provide competent care. This can be achieved by attending conferences, workshops, journal clubs and participating in other activities that encourage learning and straying up to date so that they will provide evidence-based nursing.

Friday, October 2, 2009

What is CRNBC?

Many nurses that are registering in Canada for the first time, whether they are Canadian graduates or international nurses may be a bit confused by the regulatory system in Canada.

In British Columbia (BC), nursing has been a self-governing profession since 1918. This means that nursing governs or exercises control over itself. This is accomplished by a provincial regulatory body. Every province has its’ own regulatory body. In BC the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC) regulates over 39, 000 registered nurses, nurse practitioners and licensed graduate nurses. Under provincial law, called the Health Professions Act, it is the duty of the CRNBC to protect the public by regulating its members.

CRNBC’s mission: Protecting the public through the regulation of registered nurses by registered nurses, setting standards, supporting registered nurses to meet standards, acting if standards are not met (CRNBC website, 2009).

More specifically, the CRNBC makes these commitments to fulfilling its mandate and mission:

  • Public Interest - To protect the public through the regulation of registered nurses
  • Self-regulation - To manifest the College's commitment to the privilege and responsibility of self-regulation.
  • Education Standards - To establish entry-level competencies that reflect practice requirements and to recognize entry and re-entry nursing education programs in B.C. where graduates meet these competencies and the College's Standards of Practice.
  • Registration Standards - To ensure that all registrants meet the standards for entry and re-entry into the profession and that these standards reflect British Columbia practice requirements.
  • Standards of Practice - To establish and communicate Standards of Practice that define the level of practice that registered nurses are required to meet.
  • Continuing Competence - To support registered nurses to understand and fulfill their obligation to uphold the Standards of Practice by maintaining their professional ethics and competence.
  • Practice Environments To work with registered nurses, health organizations and other stakeholders to create and sustain practice environments that support safe, competent and ethical nursing care for the public.
  • Complaint Process To provide an accessible and responsive complaint process to ensure that concerns about the practice of registered nurses are addressed in the public interest
    (CRNBC, 2009)
    Other activities carried out by the CRNBC include:

• Setting requirements to enter the profession of nursing

• Ensuring the standards of nursing practice are developed, monitored and enforced

• Require initial and annual registration to ensure safe, ethical and competent practice.

The CRNBC will support nurses to carry out their mission, and intervene when they feel nursing practice is questionable.