Graduating from nursing school is no less than an accomplishment. After all the hurdles and long hours of study, it’s good to find yourself closer to your goal. Well, after proving your competency in the classroom, you must pay attention to being equally competent as you begin your professional journey by planning to study nursing courses in Canada. Nurses with a vision of working as a Registered Nurse must know that it’s important to meet the basic requirement of clearing the NCLEX examination.
NCLEX Meaning and its Importance in Nursing
The nursing association mandates the National Council Licensure Examination, famously known as the NCLEX, to assess a candidate’s eligibility for practicing entry-level nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) developed the exam and has continually updated it since its inception in 1982 to maintain high standards and reflect current nursing practices. Before you can even consider scheduling or planning where you want to take the NCLEX, you must first apply to your respective provincial or territorial regulatory body. This initial step involves a thorough review of your credentials, ensuring you meet all the necessary prerequisites.
The NCLEX is only open to students who hold an accredited nursing degree from a recognized institution, emphasizing the importance of a robust educational foundation. The exam itself divides into two types: the NCLEX-RN for Registered Nurses and the NCLEX-PN for Practical Nurses. The exam designers meticulously crafted each version to evaluate the competencies required for safe and effective nursing practice.
For instance, the NCLEX-RN focuses on a range of topics including safe and effective care environments, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. These categories are essential as they cover the broad spectrum of knowledge and skills needed in various healthcare settings. The exam holds significant importance because it critically benchmarks newly licensed nurses, ensuring they possess the clinical judgment and decision-making abilities necessary to provide high-quality care.
By understanding the history and structure of the NCLEX, nursing students planning to study nursing courses in Canada can better appreciate its role in safeguarding public health and advancing their professional careers.
Why is NCLEX essential for Nurses from the Philippines
If you are a registered nurse in the Philippines, and have successfully completed your nursing education, then acquiring a nursing license is a step you must not forget. Students who opt for nursing courses in Canada and USA must choose programs that help in proving their eligibility for the examination. Once you successfully clear the exam, you can begin your entry-level practice as a nurse.
International Career Paths for Filipino Nurses
The NCLEX serves as a standardized benchmark that ensures all nurses meet the required knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective care. For Filipino nurses aspiring to work locally, passing the NCLEX boosts credibility and opens up opportunities in top-tier hospitals and healthcare institutions within the Philippines. It signifies that you are competent and capable, aligning with international standards of nursing practice.
Countries like Canada and the USA require foreign-educated nurses to pass the NCLEX as part of their registration process. This means that if you choose to pursue nursing courses in Canada, then selecting programs that prepare you for the NCLEX will significantly enhance your eligibility for the examination.
This not only expands your career horizons but also often comes with better compensation packages and professional growth opportunities. Additionally, having an NCLEX certification makes you a more competitive candidate in global healthcare settings, providing pathways to work in diverse environments and gaining invaluable experience.
In summary, passing the NCLEX is an essential milestone for Filipino nurses aiming to establish a successful career, whether they choose to stay in the Philippines or venture internationally. Ensure you select nursing courses in Canada that align with this goal, paving the way for a fruitful and rewarding nursing career.
Importance of NCLEX Exam in Canada
Nurses and aspiring nurses must know that Canada is a country with favorable conditions for healthcare professionals. You can easily enroll for affordable nursing courses in Canada that provide pathways to nursing registration.
One essential aspect of this process is the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), which is a pivotal step for anyone seeking to practice as a registered nurse in Canada.
The NCLEX tests the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for safe and effective practice as a new entry-level nurse. It ensures that all nurses meet a standard level of competency before they start their professional careers. For nursing students, understanding the structure and content of the NCLEX is crucial. The exam covers a wide range of topics, including safe and effective care environments, health promotion and maintenance, and psychosocial integrity.
Canadian nursing programs structure their curriculum to prepare students for the NCLEX. They offer comprehensive coursework and practical training that align with the competencies tested in the exam. Additionally, many institutions provide prep courses or study materials specifically geared toward the NCLEX, making it easier for students to achieve success.
Successfully passing the NCLEX opens up numerous opportunities in the Canadian healthcare system, where there is a high demand for qualified nurses. This demand ensures job stability and provides a platform for career growth and specialization in various fields of nursing. Therefore, for nursing students aiming to build a rewarding career in healthcare, Canada presents an excellent opportunity to achieve their professional goals.
Steps to take the NCLEX-RN exam in Ontario
Toronto, the capital of the province of Ontario has a high number of international nursing students who want to work as Registered Nurses in the country. Well, now you might also want to know the process of becoming a Registered Nurse in Ontario.
To begin with, study one of the nursing courses in Canada like BSc Nursing and then consider the process lying ahead of you. In Canada, nurses don’t get licensed for the whole country. Each nurse is licensed in one province at a time. Before you begin, note that each province has a different set of requirements and different application fee for the exam. The first step is to check if you meet the registration requirements. Once you meet the requirements, you can apply for the registration examination in Ontario.
Within one week of your attempt, the CNO mails you your exam results. However, the registration process for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) varies as they need a clearance coming their way from National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS).
IENs must note that if they cannot provide an evidence of education or if they do not meet one or more requirements of the college, they may be asked to complete an additional nursing program in Canada to fulfill the nursing education requirement.
If you’re an Internationally educated Nurse, planning to work as a registered nurse in Canada, here is the application process you must follow.
Where can you take the exam in Ontario?
Pearson VUE is an administering body that conducts NCLEX examination all year round. In Ontario, you can locate the permanent test centers in Hamilton, London, Ottawa and Toronto. Then various locations set up temporary test centers throughout the year. To spot your nearest test center, you can also use Pearson VUE’s Test Site Locator.
Preparation Tips for NCLEX
When you strategize your study techniques, you are halfway there on the road to success. With the right preparation, NCLEX can be cleared in one go. Every nursing graduate must preferably write this exam as soon as they graduate because at that time you are accustomed to the idea of devoting ‘study hours’. One thing to keep in mind is that scoring A’s or 4.0 GPA in nursing school does not predict success on the NCLEX.
You must dedicate a minimum of two months studying the course material and getting familiar with the format of the exam. Also, before you decide to take the exam casually, remember that each of your attempt costs you CAD 470 (approximately). Therefore, it’s better to make your time and money worthwhile by studying dedicatedly for it. Further, we have some tips that can help you to prepare better for the examination.
1. Thoroughly understand the exam format
The NCLEX exam follows computerized adaptive testing format, which means that no exam is identical. It is only based upon the performance of the previous question that the next question is produced. A minimum of 75 questions are there which can go to a maximum of 265. To pass the examination, a candidate should stay above the pass line with 95% confidence interval. Well, if you wonder what the pass line is then Nurse.Org has explained it in detail right here:
“There is a horizontal line on an axis and we will call it the “pass line.” Anything above it is passing, and anything below it is not passing. You start exactly on the line at question zero, and each correct answer bumps you up a notch while each incorrect answer bumps you down a notch. With each correct answer, the computer will give progressively harder questions, to determine your peak knowledge. To pass, you must ultimately rise to a point above the pass line that demonstrates competency with marginal doubt. The test can end at any point when this determination is made, between questions 75 – 265, or at the maximum time allowance (6 hours).”
2. Keep the stressing elements away
Firstly, it’s normal to be nervous and anxious. Secondly, you can always remind yourself to be normal and stress-free in certain situations. The mere thought of appearing for an exam can make you stressed but you must push that momentary feeling aside and focus on the bigger picture. Remember, you made it through the nursing school so you can definitely make it through the exam. The key is to face the exam confidently and work towards achieving excellence in it.
3. Make a study plan
Everyone has a different style of learning and you can easily determine yours. Some need a theoretical approach to understand things, some need audio tutorials while there are others who find practical implementation easy. So determine your style of learning and based upon that, chalk out a study plan for yourself. Once a plan is in place, you must decide on the days you want to dedicate studying.
Set a schedule, arrange some days-off and get set going. One more important thing you must take in consideration is that once you have a plan, you also need to set your goals. Like, set the number of topics/questions that you aim to finish within the given time period. Boosting your morale will help you get more work done in a short span of time.
Well, if you are doubting the importance of creating a plan then you must know that studying aimlessly, without an order can sometimes lead to unintentional wastage of time. It’s not about the hours you spend studying, but how fruitfully you utilize your time.
4. Invest in reference books
When preparing for NCLEX, it is always a good idea to have some reference sources. The more study material you have, the broader your scope of learning is. Before buying a book or reading material, you must check the customer reviews and the content grid to check if it offers something new. One book that students must have as a source of reference is the “Medical Surgical Nursing” by Lippincott. Details about the book can be seen right here. You can also check with your friends and peers if they are following some different reference material. To sum it up, the more you invest in reference material, the better it is.
5. Solve practice questions
It’s good to practice a maximum number of questions a week before the examination. This is the best way to revise what you’ve been studying in all these months of preparation. Solving practice questions can help you in many ways. You can identify the questions answered incorrectly and then work on making your concepts strong. One more important way the practice questions help is by getting you used to the experience of computer testing.
Do not hesitate to re-appear
Candidates who do not clear the exam in the first attempt should not lose hope. Instead, they must re-appear for the examination with a better practice and planning. Failing the exam doesn’t mean you lack knowledge and skills. It means you need to match the difficulty of the questions.
If you fail, you’ll receive a diagnostic profile that evaluates your test performance. Read it carefully. You will see how many questions you answered on the exam. The more questions you answered, the closer you came to passing.
You can re-appear for the exam after a gap of 45 days after the initial administration. You must keep a check on how many attempts you are allowed. Chances of attempting the examination depend on which exam you are writing.
Moving beyond exam preparation tips, the best advice is to believe in your potential as it’s the first step forward. It’s normal to feel distracted initially, but passing the NCLEX brings you closer to nursing registration.
