Dear Sumoud,

Thank you so much for your question. At first I was pleased, then I felt regret wishing it did not take so much time and energy to create what I have created for the CELBAN. It has taken me 5 years to create CELBANPrep, 3 years to create and perfect it through 5 online versions. Yet each day, as I worked on CELBANPrep I knew that there were people like you preparing for the SEC. Do I have resources? I do, but they are all in my head and will take some time to create. So where you thank me for the time and effort I have spent assisting nurses, your question identified the limit for what I have created… filling me with more desire and ambition to continue on my path to create more even resources. So thank you for reminding me that I still have work to do.

At the same time I want to congratulate you on making it past the English Proficiency exam. I hope you celebrated that landmark! Also congratulations for your SEC seat… that you only have to write one part. This speaks greatly of your experience and knowledge.

Let me tell you what I do know.

It is important to note that the SEC is unlike other exams. It is not about a score or a mark. It is a competency exam designed to identify your gaps in knowledge. What this means is that the results are used to determine if you need to take upgrading, and if so in which subjects. Nursing education for Canadian nurses covers all areas, so a Canadian RN is a generalist at the beginning. The SEC has been created to determine if you have the education/experience in all areas. If not, they will recommend that you take a class.

The SEC is not required in all Canadian provinces. Actually it is mostly in Western Canada. Let me tell you a bit about the history. The SEC is relatively new. It was created as a result of the statistics for Internationally Educated Nurses taking the CRNE: only 50% were passing. Since the creation of the SEC and other programs for IENs the percent of IENs passing the CRNE has increased to more than 70% passing rate.

So, while many people are frustrated by the process, how long it takes to become a nurse in Canada, I have come to see that each step has actually been created to assist IENs in obtaining success.

You are right. There are very few resources for the SEC. Mount Royal College has some information about the SEC. There is information about the Triple Jump and the OSCE.

It is important to note that both the Triple Jump and OSCE are common testing processes here in Canada. OSCE’s are used in most health professions: pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical doctors. They are a form of role playing, where you are the health practitioner talking to a patient. The room has required resources in books or medical instruments. There is also an assessor. To get a better idea use OSCE as a search term on youtube. You can also search OSCE Nursing.

The triple jump us used in Canadian Nursing schools, and has been adapted for the SEC. For more resources, go to your local university where Canadian nurses are taught. Go to the medical library and and ask the reference/information desk about information on the triple jump. In BC your public library card allows you access to the university library collection. Ask for more information at your local library about how this works.

Once you complete the SEC, you may be required to take some courses. You will also be required to work as a Graduate Nurse, for 225 hours, if you do not already have these hours in Canada or the US. At that time you will be able to register for the CRNE.

As for the question about employment, I am confused about where you are right now. Are you in Canada and BC now?

Does this help?
Kim
P.S. If it is alright with you I will copy and past your question on Dear Kim so it is searchable and others can read both the question and answer. KK

Dear Sumoud,

It is 11:22 pm at the end of a very long day at the end of a very full week. I was about to sign off, after marking CELBANPrep Writing assignments, when I saw the comment. Just reading the first few lines motivated me to reply. Me too. I too hope and pray that those who understand the plight of immigrants coming to Canada continue to create ways to make the path more smooth, taking out the stones in the path, and removing the fallen trees. I hope that I will continue to be blessed to assist others in fulfilling their dreams as that is my dream. You are so right, when we assist others we are doing what we have been created to do.

Sigh, at the same time I wish I had more resources at my disposal so that I could do so much more.

I am grateful for your reply. Now I understand. When it comes to your writing your verb tenses go back and forth, so I was not sure where exactly you are living. It would be good for you to see if you can get a hold of some Advanced Grammar Books. You will benefit greatly from taking time to work on this, to increase your success when in Canada and to assist people in understanding you better. This will decrease the stress and burden of adapting to Canadian culture. So, Sumoud, where are you from originally. As I understand it UAE is multicultural.

You have two different types of questions: immigration/employment and the RN licensure process. In a way, they overlap. I applaud your desire to do research, many many people have suffered disappointment and disillusionment from either being under informed, poorly informed or wrongly informed.

I met a woman that had been in Canada for only one week. She came to me to find out how to become a nurse, thinking she would be able to practice immediately. So she had been told by immigration officers who were ill-informed themselves. I had to be the one to tell her the truth, shattering her hopes and her dreams. That memory remains with me, solidifying in me a desire to share whatever information I have in the hopes that people I meet do not “have unrealistic high hopes by not understanding the limitations.”

Q1. whether i wont require course(i hope ) or i will post the SEC assessment, WILL I BE ABLE TO WORK? is this the case? as you mentioned it will be required that i work 225 hours as graduate nurse.
Answer: You can work if you have the right documentation. (See what I wrote on becoming an LPN, which can also be applied to becoming an RN. Also read The difference between an LPN and an RN.) You can not work as a visitor. Without a license you would have to get what is often called a “survival job”. Survival jobs do not get paid well, but often people are able to improve their English and learn more about the culture. Positions include: service industry as a cashier, janitorial services, driving a taxi or bus. Often Internationally Educated Nurses get positions such as Nursing Assistant/Personal Care Attendant. As unlicensed positions, the pay is relatively low. It can be demeaning and disheartening for many who come from a successful career having gained a degree of status or material wealth.

Q2. when you say 225 hours, over here we work 8 hours shifts , so does that apply in Canada? if it does it means i only have to work for about 29 days?
please correct me if am wrong?
Answer: In many provinces there is a period of time where you are required to work on a practicum. As a teacher it is unpaid. As a Graduate Nurse, you are paid. You can only get these positions if you have a temporary license, which would be issued after you complete the SEC and any required courses in Alberta and BC. Shift work in hospitals is long hours, and many GN’s do not have time to study for the CRNE. I have known some IENs who have gotten to this stage, but who were not able to secure a GN position. Shifts can be up to 12 hours. Once an RN: working evenings means an increase in pay; working weekends means an increase in pay; working evenings on a weekend means an even greater pay increase per hour. People can work more than 225 hours, and this number may change over time, as long as they have the temporary license and the position is offered/available. (For example if people do not pass the CRNE they can continue as a GN after paying for an extension, but there is a limit to the number of extensions.)

Q3. and those hours are they paid for ?if so do you have an idea on how much/ hour the pay is? or those hours are considered as part of the assessment till writing the CRNE
Answer:Yes, paid. Check what I wrote about RN and LPN.

Q4. if that is the case will work be arranged by CRNBC or IEN ? or i will be the one arranging for working the 225 hours in Canadian hospitals or clinics?
Answer. I do not understand the question. CRNBC is the College of Registered Nurses of BC. They are the administrators of the licensure process: doing the paperwork when it comes to verifying that you are a registered nurse, and you do have experience as one; verifying your English score results; determining which SEC exam you take (there are many versions); determining which courses you will take, and at which facility/college/university; requiring the 225 hours as a GN, and confirming your score on the national exam, the CRNE. An IEN means Internationally Educated Nurse. You are an IEN. As I understand it you get your temporary licence from CRNBC, (or for other people the provincial college of nurses). Then you must apply for GN positions at hospitals. These positions are also sought after by Canadian nursing students, and are posted on hospital websites. Like any job, there is competition. Depending on your schooling requirements, in some situations, this may be arranged for you.

Q5. oh, and if in case i am required to take courses, does that mean i can sit for the CRNE after taking the course/s and working the 225 hours? or ill have to be assessed again ?
Answer. The order is English>Documentation>SEC>Upgrading courses based on the results of the SEC>GN 225 hrs>CRNE. The only people I know of who have had to take the SEC again, for re-assessment are those who failed the CRNE three times. Usually this happens for people who were admitted to the process before the SEC was required, or they only took one of the five SEC exams. Upon re-assessment they have had to take all five exams, and often end up taking 8 full time (3 credit) university level classes.

Q6. once i am able to work the 225 hours as a graduate nurse, that means the i might be assigned to any area ( i mean surgical/medical or peds…..?
as i have 12 years of experience in operating theaters as scrubbing/circulating nurse will that give me an option to be assigned to OR for example?.
Answer. As I mentioned, Canadian nurses are trained as generalists. In the UK nurses are specialists. As a result even IENs from the UK have been known to take the SEC and courses they did not take while doing the specialist program. The clinicians can be in various areas. Some times a specific area may be identified for an individual… and that may be different from what is required of someone else. The process is very individual in that way. (At least from what I have heard and understand.)

Are you assuming you are only writing one of the SEC exams, is that what the CRNBC told you? The SEC can be one day/one exam up to 5 days/5 exams.

Immigration is an uncertain process: there are so many unknowns. Do your research, learn what you need, but don’t over think it. At one point or another you will simply have to make the decision and follow through. The people that I have seen succeed have succeeded because of their resilience, their determination, and their willingness to work hard. Patience and forgiveness are also great characteristics. There will be hard times, there will be disappointments. But is that not so of all of life? of marriage? or working?

And remember, always remember we as Canadians are imperfect people. We have a great country. We have many resources. We have such beauty in our nature. Yet we as a people are imperfect. As a social experiment where nations at war live side by side as neighbours there still is unrest. There is discrimination, there still is crime, there still is pollution, there is still family violence, and addiction has it’s impact on our people. Maybe not to the same scale as in other nations and places, but it does exist. We as a people are learning, and we are learning together. I think that is the biggest misconception people have when considering Canada. Don’t get me wrong. I love Canada. I love being Canadian. I love how well respected we are when we travel. But I am still saddened to see and hear discrimination among other things. Again, I write this so that you and others that read this still decide to come to Canada not with “unrealistic high hopes by not understanding the limitations” but with solid understanding as a foundation to perseverance and true and lasting hope. Dreams can come true here. It may take time. It may take money. But like any long term investment, it is worth it in the end.

Good night, Somoud

Sincerely,
Kim
P.S. Was that soon enough? 🙂

Sumoud,
I have not heard from you in a while. How are things going? Have things settled down, in your mind? Do you have clarity and purpose? Or do you still have more questions? Please keep in touch, Kim

Dear Sumoud,

I appreciate your reply. Although I try my best, I am not always successful in keeping track and tabs on everyone. I am so glad that I wrote to you when I did, with your exam so soon!

Being in Vancouver, make sure to take some time to sit by the ocean to calm your nerves. Then when your nervousness increases during the exam, remember the calm you felt. Breath deeply, and feed your brain the oxygen it needs.

There is no real reason to be worried about this exam. It is not about passing and failing. It is about assessing what you know and comparing it to a student graduating from a Canadian nursing program. There are very few situations where the education and experience of an IEN is equal comparison: exceptions are AU, NZ, US. I have even known RNs from the UK who have had to take this exam as their education system is different than ours: they specialize early so an RN does not have to know all areas of nursing, we generalize so nurses are educated in all areas. So there is no passing and failing only assessing and comparing.

What this means is there will be sections of the SEC where you do not do well. When this happens, protect your self confidence. Tell yourself that it is OK. Understand that the areas where you do not do well, you will be asked to take a course so that you can gain the knowledge.

Understand, too, that the SEC was implemented when the passing rate of IENs on the CRNE was only 50%. As a result of the SEC over 75% IENs pass the CRNE on the first attempt. At the end of the day the SEC is really there to help you to prepare for the CRNE by identifying your weaknesses and allowing you to turn them into strengths.

So know, there will be areas where you feel weak, but there will be areas where you feel strong. Simply do the best that you can.

There are also 3 components: multiple choice questions, OSCE and triple jump. When you are doing the OSCE, if you have to do one, simply do a role play acting as if you are the nurse. Make sure you are familiar with your surroundings and what is available for you to use. Remember that communication is key during an OSCE.

The best thing to do is to use this knowledge and information to strengthen your confidence and self acceptance. It is vital to be gentle with yourself: trust in what you know and accept what you do not know with grace and humility: a willingness to learn will allow you to prevent great barriers from arising.

Your babies will do fine. They are in a loving situation. Your intention is to give them good lives: no matter what this looks like you will work until it happens. So regardless of what happens during this exam you will continue to move forward with a strong intent.

The SEC is the halfway point… it will take time, energy and resilience to make it to the end. When you do it will be like childbirth: you will be able to forget the pain and rejoice in the present with hope for the future. I am pleased to be part of this journey!

Sincerely,Kim

Inshallah we will meet one day, Sumoud.

I am glad to hear more acceptance and confidence in your reply. Carry this forth with you. It will bear you up when you need it most. You can pray to Allah to protect your camel, but make sure to tie your camel up first.
Do keep in touch, and have a safe journey. Always remember to enjoy yourself: BC is such a beautiful place.
It has been a joy writing to you and receiving your replies. Reading your messages bring sunshine to my days!
Sincerely,
Kim