Guide in Applying for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE)

In a post last month, Pinoy R.N. reported the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announcement on their website about Canada's move to adopt a Provincial Nominee Program to facilitate the entry of immigrants to its labor force.

Canada's move was seen largely as a welcome development for filipino nurses looking for alternative foreign employment opportunities in the face of the current visa backlog in the United States.

The question in everyone's mind now is, "So, how do I become a nurse in Canada?"

This blogger did some reading and here's what I learned:

Requirements for Internationally Educated Nurses

1. To become a nurse in Canada, one must have a nursing degree that included theoretical and clinical experience in the areas of medicine, surgery, obstetrics (maternity), pediatrics (children's nursing), psychiatry (mental health), as well as gerontology and community health. (Some territories may require additional schooling)



2. The nursing degree must have been earned after a secondary education (high school).


3. The applicant must be proficient in both written and spoken English to ensure safe nursing practice.


4. The applicant must have a nursing license in good standing in the country where the nursing degree was earned.


5. The applicant must have worked as a nurse for at least 1125 hours in the last 5 years. (Not required in some territories)

Application Process for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE)

1. To write the CRNE and become registered in one of the provinces or territories in Canada, applicant must apply to the nursing regulatory body in that province or territory.



2. The regulatory body will provide the applicant with the application forms needed and will be informed about the application process. It will also advise the applicant of eligibility to take the CRNE and inform the same of upcoming CRNE dates in the relevant jurisdiction.

3. All authority to take the actual CRNE and become registered is given by the nursing regulatory bodies. Links to Canadian nursing regulatory bodies are found at http://www.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/about/members/provincial/default_e.aspx

Just like in the United States, application processes and requirements may differ from province to province. Completing online nursing programs and receiving a degree may not be applicable in certain areas. So, be sure to visit the individual nursing regulatory body's website when applying to sit for the CRNE.

Canadian Licensing Authorities:

Alberta - http://www.nurses.ab.ca/Carna/index.aspx

British Columbia - http://www.crnbc.ca/

Manitoba - http://www.crnm.mb.ca/

New Brunswick - http://www.nanb.nb.ca/

Newfoundland and Labrador - http://www.arnnl.nf.ca/

Northwest Territories and Nunavut - http://www.rnantnu.ca/

Nova Scotia - http://www.crnns.ca/

Ontario - http://www.cno.org/

Prince Edward Island - http://www.arnpei.ca/

Quebec - http://www.oiiq.org/

Saskatchewan - http://www.srna.org/

Yukon - http://www.yrna.ca/

Source: Canadian Nurses Association

(Thanks to Breech for article inputs and the list of links to individual licensing bodies.)

EB-3 Dates Jump to January 2005

RETROGRESSION UPDATE

The U.S. Department of State released its March 2008 Visa Bulletin a few days back and it reflected a significant update on the priority dates for the EB-3 visa category.

Those petitioned under the EB-3 visa category before January 1, 2005 can expect movement on their visa processing anytime soon.

The EB-3 employment visa is an immigrant visa which allows foreign nationals who are skilled workers, professionals or other type of workers to enter into the U.S. to obtain permanent residency.

The EB-3 category includes:
1. Professionals with a baccalaureate degree (EB-3A);
2. Aliens with at least two years of experience as skilled workers (EB-3B); and
3. Other workers with less than two years experience, such as an unskilled worker who can perform labor for which qualified workers are not available in the United States (EB-3C).

TV Report: DoLE and DoH Seek Measures to Abate Pinoy Nurse Migration

A television report said that the Department of Labor (DoLE) and the Department of Health (DoH) were seeking measures to address deteriorating patient care in the country by making it difficult for filipino nurses working in government hospitals to migrate and seek employment abroad.

ABS-CBNś Bandila reported that the measure was necessary to address the chronic lack of nursing and medical personnel in government hospitals and the continuing deterioration of patient care in the country.

However, it was unclear as to how the two agencies planned to implement the measure.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Nurses Association called the proposed measure as unfair saying the government should not prevent nurses from seeking better employment abroad considering the lack of career advancement opportunities locally.

Related Article:
Nursing Shortage in the Philippines: The Real Score

Total Lost Revenues From JPEPA Could Pay For Salaries Of RP Nurses

By IBON Media

REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION

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The Philippine government could actually keep Filipino nurses from going abroad by utilizing revenues it would otherwise have foregone under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

The average monthly salary of a nurse in the public sector is some P10,000. Government employs around 20,000 nurses, and even if we increase their salaries to P50,000, it would only cost the government P1 billion. This is less than one-tenth of the estimated P10.6 billion in tariff revenues foregone annually with the target tariff eliminations for the Philippines under JPEPA.

Low salaries are the reasons why the country has become the leading exporter of nurses globally with 85% of all employed Filipino nurses actually working abroad. But this exodus of health workers has taken its toll on the health system, with 200 hospitals closing and 800 more partially closing in recent years due to lack of nurses.

The tariff revenues foregone under JPEPA could potentially go far in improving the salaries of public sector nurses and in the hiring of new ones. These would go a long way in improving the shortage of nursing care in the country.

.....

IBON Foundation, Inc. is an independent development institution established in 1978 that provides research, education, publications, information work and advocacy support on socioeconomic issues. It has become known locally and internationally for its in-depth researches that promote a better understanding of social concerns and explore alternative programs that serve the interests of the Filipino majority.

BusinessWeek: Are Nursing Shortages Causing Deaths?

A nonprofit group's report says more immigrant nurses and training programs are needed to ease patient suffering

By Moira Herbst

The U.S. is facing a severe nursing shortage, and it's causing increased death and illness for American patients, says a report released on Sept. 5 by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), a free market-oriented nonprofit group. As baby boomers are aging and require more care, the U.S. could face a shortage of one million nurses by 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Relieving patient suffering amid the growing crisis will require both investment in U.S. nursing training and boosting the numbers of immigrant nurses admitted to the country, says the NFAP study.

Read full story at BusinessWeek

Related Links:

Nursing Shortage in the Philippines Article

National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) Report

Filipino Nurses in UK Face Possible Deportation

A dozen filipino nurses, working as senior carers, in Cambridge, United Kingdom face possible deportation after the Home Office refused to renew their work permits according to a report by the Cambridge Evening News.

Home Office officials also announced they will no longer issue work permits to foreign nationals for senior carer positions after the position has been taken off the list of shortage occupations.

"We treat each work permit renewal on a case-by-case basis and cannot comment on individual cases. The shortage list is made up of roles where professionals within the industries involved have told us there is a chronic shortage of applicants." A Home Office spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, local city official David Howarth has taken the cudgels for the filipino nurses. "These are qualified and hardworking nurses who came to this country at our request and they are now simply being discarded. This is not the way to treat people doing a very important and difficult job." He said.

In a letter to Minister of State for the Home Office, Liam Byrne, Howarth said, "This policy seems unfair and ill-judged and I hope your department will reconsider it. This decision will lead to a shortage of carers.

Many of the nurses have lived in Cambridge for four years after being recruited to help ease staffing shortages in 2003.

New Zealand Health Board to Hire Filipino Nurses

The Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB), a government health board in New Zealand, plans to hire filipino nurses for Auckland according to a report by GMANews.TV

CMDHB is one of the largest providers and funder of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare in Australasia, serving the people of South and East Auckland in an area that stretches from Otahuhu to Port Waikato.

Representatives of CMDHB will be coming to the Philippines on the third (3rd) week of September to interview applicants and may deploy qualified applicants to New Zealand as early as October.

Qualified candidates will initially be issued visitor visas to do a competency course for eight weeks before they can take exams and eventually register as a nurse in New Zealand, according to Japhet Vailoces, a Filipino clinical nurse educator at the CMDHB’s cardiology and neurology department interviewed by GMANews.TV

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CMDHB representatives are reportedly working out a direct-hiring scheme with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to eliminate possible abuse and exploitation by private recruitment agencies. They are also seeking an exemption from paying the US$450 recruitment fee prescribed under the standard recruitment agreement of the POEA.

U. S. Department of State Revises July 2007 Visa Bulletin; Retrogression is Back

RETROGRESSION UPDATE

The U.S. Department of State (DoS) today (July 2 in the US, July 3 in the Philippines) issued a revision on its previously released July 2007 Visa Bulletin effectively retrogressing all employment-based visa numbers.

Last month, the U.S. Department of State released its July 2007 Visa Bulletin reflecting all employment-based visa petitions becoming "current" beginning July 1, 2007.

However, the sudden backlog reduction efforts by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices during the past month have resulted in the use of almost 60,000 employment-based visa numbers.

This means that the nurse visa retrogression is again in effect.

Related Links:

• Department of State Bulletin Update for July 2007
• USCIS Notice

Related News:

• Retrogression Lifted Temporarily (June 14, 2007)
  

IELTS to Implement Changes in Test Band Score Reporting

After consultation with test takers, teachers, Recognising Organisations and other stakeholders, the International English Language System (IELTS) will be implementing a revised band scoring system.

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Under the new system, band scores in the tests will be scored in full and in half-bands. The old IELTS scoring system used full bands for the tests except in listening and reading, which is scored in both full and half-bands.

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This means that in the old system, an examinee may score 7 or 8 in the writing and speaking tests. Under the new system, scores will increment or decrement by half band so the examinee in the same tests may score 7.5 or 8.5.

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The changes, taking effect July 1st this year, will only affect the reporting of the band scores and will not, in any way, affect how the tests are rated.

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IELTS is jointly managed by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) through more than 350 locations in 120 countries worldwide. Close to 5,000 organisations around the world recognise the test for education, immigration and professional accreditation purposes.

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Retrogression Lifted Temporarily; Senators Looking to Revive Stalled CIR Bill

RETROGRESSION UPDATE

The US Department of State has released its Visa Bulletin for July 2007. The bulletin includes a summary of available immigrant visa numbers. Effective July 1, 2007, all employment-based immigrant petitions will become "current."

This means that the backlog in the issuance of immigrant visas to qualified nurses is over albeit temporarily.

The Hammond Law Group (HLG), a law firm specializing in immigration cases, explains the bulletin's implication to nurses.

What does this mean?

For applicants waiting for interviews at the consulate: The foreign national may proceed with the consulate interview after the National Visa Center or the consulate schedules an interview. It is expected that it will take the NVC some time to begin issuing appointment dates, as there are thousands of cases that have stacked up during the period of retrogression.

For applicants with labor certification approvals: the foreign national may proceed with concurrent filing of the I-140 and I-485 applications.

For applicants with approved I-140 petitions: The foreign national may proceed with the I-485 Adjustment of Status or consular interview, depending upon which option the foreign national is choosing.

For applicants in the U.S. on temporary status who are eligible to bypass labor certification (e.g. registered nurses, physical therapists, National Interest Waivers, Exceptional Ability Aliens, etc.): The foreign national may proceed with concurrent filing of the I-140 and I-485 application.

However, the relief is only temporary and may only last until October this year as the category is always over-subscribed as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is only allowed by law to approve approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visa petitions annually. Moreover, dependents are also counted against the yearly quota.

Meanwhile, Key Republican and Democratic senators are reaching for a deal to resurrect their stalled immigration compromise by requiring that some $4 billion be spent on border security and workplace enforcement.

U.S. President George W. Bush met with key Republican leaders in Capitol Hill this week to rally support for his pet bill.

Passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill is largely viewed in the healthcare industry as a long-term solution to the recurrent problem of nurse visa retrogression.

June 2007 Nurse Licensure Examination Results Due in Three Weeks

The labor department said Saturday that they plan to release the results of the June 2007 two-day Nurse Licensure Examiantion three weeks from today.

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Labor Secretary Arturo Brion added that four lawyers, representing the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), will be observing the partial retake of tests III and V by approximately 11,000 examinees of the compromised June 2006 Nurse Licensure Examination.

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The CGFNS, in February, announced that June 2006 Nurses will only be issued VisaScreen Certificates after a successful retake of tests III and V.

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The CGFNS/ICHP VisaScreen Certificate is a US immigration requirement for healthcare professionals educated outside the United States.

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Meanwhile, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chair Leonor Rosero assured that security measures are in place to avoid a repeat of the incident. “All security measures, all precautions have been emphasized to the new BON and PRC employees. Huwag nila pabayaan para hindi magkaroon ng problema uli (We stress to them they should not let their guard down so there will be no problem)," Rosero said in an interview on dzRB radio, a government-run station.

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78,797 nursing graduates registered for this year's Nurse Licensure Examination held in various cities across the country.

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Retrogression Drags On As US Senate Withdraws Controversial Immigration Reform Measure

Retrogression Update ...

The debates in the United States Senate on the proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) bill bogged down less than three hours ago after Democratic leader Harry Reid withdrew the controversial measure.

The move came after Republican Senators voted twice within nine hours to block the measure from moving towards a final vote.

"A group of Senate Republicans has irresponsibly turned its back on border security and the 12 million people who are living in the shadows of our society," said Reid.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell meanwhile complained, "I think we are giving up on this bill too soon."
...
Reid pointed out that the bill was not dead yet. He pledged to carry on working to pass an immigration reform bill but added, "We are finished with this for the time being."

"We are very close, at some point we are going to do this."

But a crowded Senate calendar and the looming Presidential elections complicates its prospects of being passed this year. The measure's chances are even murkier in the House, where Democratic leaders have warned that they don't plan to act on the divisive issue until the Senate has finished work on it.

ANA and NYSNA Throw Support Behind Embattled Filipino Nurses

The 26 filipino nurses and 1 physical therapist, facing criminal charges in New York for child endangerment, got the support of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA).

In a press statement released June 1, 2007. ANA and NYSNA jointly condemned the exploitation of immigrant RNs by unscrupulous U.S. employers and called for better enforcement of immigration laws.

ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, RN, MSN, CNOR said, "These brave nurses deserve the nursing community’s full support because they refused to remain in a situation where patients were being denied the kind of care and staffing they deserved."

She added, "The real patient endangerment lies in the deplorable conditions that led the nurses to leave."

NYSNA interim chief executive officer, Tina Gerardi, RN echoed Patton's sentiments. "This case may be just the tip of the iceberg. Nurses who come to the U.S. deserve to have their rights protected," said Geradi.

The NYSNA learned about the nurses’ plight last month and assisted them in getting a hearing before the New York State Board for Nursing after Sentosa Care, LLC accused them of professional misconduct.

"Those charges were dismissed by the state board. We are greatly concerned these RNs are now being prosecuted for the same actions." Gerardi added.

The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of America's 2.9 million registered nurses through its 54 constituent member nurses associations.

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The 'Sentosa 27' are expected to participate in the New York Philippine Independence Day parade on June 3 (June 4 in the Philippines), where they will receive support from both the Filipino and American nursing communities.

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Related Link:

American Nurses Association Press Statement

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Related News:

Online Petition for 'Sentosa 27'

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Proposed CIR Bill to Abolish 'Schedule A Category'

RETROGRESSION UPDATE

Good News: A few days ago, the US senate announced that they have reached a 'deal' on the polarized issue of Immigration Reform.

Bad News: The supposed deal eliminates the 'Schedule A Category'

Passage of a long-overdue immigration reform law by the US legislature would mean resolution of the retrogression affecting thousands of filipino nurses awaiting deployment to the United States. At present, visa issuance is on hold due to a backlog in visa numbers. This is called retrogression.

Nurses and Physical therapists are listed as 'shortage occupations' by the US Department of Labor in a category called, Schedule A. As such, an employer may file an immigrant visa petition (I-140) directly with the (USCIS) without first going to the US Department of Labor for a labor certification as required by state regulations.

The compromise reached last week by the US senate, however, removes this category and replaces it with a new "merit-based" point system.

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Also, the proposed increase in the H-1 visa quota does not sufficiently meet real world demands. The bill allocates an additional 115,000 H-1 visas to the current cap with 20% annual buffers not exceeding 180,000. However, it can be recalled that 65,000 visa allocations were used up within just a day after the USCIS started accepting applications in April this year.

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Click HERE to read the draft of the proposed CIR bill.

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Related News:

Deal Is Reached in Senate on Immigration (NY Times)

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Advocacy Link:

AILA Advocacy: Oppose Unworkable Measures in Senate CIR Proposal

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Online Petition for 'Sentosa 27'

An online petition has been launched in an effort to rally support for the 26 filipino nurses and 1 physical therapist facing criminal charges in New York for child endangerment after the group resigned en masse due to inhumane working conditions, labor law violations, and breach of contract by employer Sentosa Care, LLC.

The 'Sentosa 27' last year filed a case against Sentosa Care, LLC which resulted to a suspension of Sentosa's recruitment activities in the Philippines. However, the suspension was immediately lifted when former presidential chief of staff, senatorial candidate Mike Defensor allegedly interfered in Sentosa's behalf.
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The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), a national alliance of Filipino organizations in the U.S. with international networks, is spearheading the 'Justice for the Sentosa 27' campaign along with said health workers.
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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has also stepped in. Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said his office will provide legal assistance to the 'Sentosa 27.'
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Click HERE to sign the Online Petition.

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Related news:
Sentosa-hired nurses decry abuses (Philippine News)

Immigration Talks Underway Amidst US-Wide Rallies

RETROGRESSION UPDATE

United States Senator and Majority Leader Harry Reid has allocated the last two (2) weeks of the US Senate's May calendar solely for Immigration Debates in the wake of rallies on Tuesday (Wednesday in the Philippines) across the United States.

Although the turn-out was lower compared to a similar rally held the previous year, rallyists are confident they sent a clear message to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have been struggling, with little success, to come up with a compromise on the contentious issue of Immgration Reform

An Associated Press (AP) report quoted one of the marchers, Shaun Harkin, "There's no reason a pro-immigration bill can't be passed. That's one of the messages being sent today," Originally from Northern Ireland, he has lived in the United States as a legal resident for 15 years.

US President George W. Bush has been known to be pushing for Immigration Reform. He reiterated his desire to overhaul Amerca's broken immigration system in a speech to graduates of a Miami College on April 29. "Here at Miami Dade, you know firsthand the contributions that immigrants make to our country," Bush said.

In a speech addressed to the clergy in Washington on May 3, Bush said, "I'm looking forward to working with both Democrats and Republicans to get a comprehensive immigration bill done this year."

He added, "We have a good chance to get it done. After all, America is a land of immigrants. Immigration helps renew our soul. It helps redefine our spirit in a positive way. "

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Related News:

NY Times Sees Possible Compromise on CIR Debates

NY Times Sees Possible Compromise on CIR Debates

RETROGRESSION UPDATE

The April 22 editorial of the New York Times spoke of "Touchbacks" and "Triggers" which are viewed to be potential areas of compromise in a much heated and highly polarized debate on US immigration reform.

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"Touchbacks" refers to the requirement that illegal immigrants leave the United States before re-entering on a legal footing within a six-year span.

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"Triggers" on the other hand, refers to provisions that would only take effect after certain pre-determined conditions occur like reaching the quota of a specific visa category similar to what happened three weeks ago when the H1-B visa cap was reached within a day after the USCIS started receiving applications.

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Also seen as a positive step to passing the Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) was a poll by USA Today/Gallup showing 78 percent of Americans favoring earned citizenship.

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While the editorial admits that the prospect of passing a new immigration law is difficult and would require hard compromises, it conceded that "the outlines of a bipartisan deal are becoming clearer."

This is good news to filipino nurses intending to migrate to the United States as the CIR includes provisions removing visa limits for foreign nurses until 2017.

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Related Link

New York Times Editorial: Progress on Immigration

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Retrogession Update: Two New Bills Introduced

The Hammond Law Group (HLG) announced the introduction of two (2) new bills in the United States senate believed to be beneficial to international healthcare workers, specifically nurses and physical therapists.

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The first bill is a re-introduction of last year's SKIL Bill (S. 1083). Introduced by Senator John Cornyn, it is co-sponsored by four other Senators. Among them, Senator Kay Hutchison, known supporter of Schedule A visa reform advocacies. Last month, Hutchison introduced an amendment to the 9/11 bill seeking to recapture 90,000 visas for foreign nurses and physical therapists. It was, however, deleted from the approved version of the bill.

HLG speculates that this year's new SKIL Bill will contain the same provisions as the previous one removing the cap for nurse visas.

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The second bill (S. 1092), seeking to raise the H-1 visa quota, was sponsored by Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel. Last week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said that H-1B cap was immediately reached one day after it started receiving applications.

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UPDATE: Full text of 2007 SKIL Bill

Philippines, Libya to Sign Health Agreement Next Week

The labor department said Wednesday that the Philippines and Libya are set to sign a health accord next week similar to the existing agreement between RP and South Korea.

Under the agreement, Libyan health services will hire more filipino health workers, including medical and nursing faculty.

Labor secretary Arturo Brion clarified that the sending of health workers will be exclusively done by both governments and not through any private recruitment agencies.

The Philippines also signed an agreement last week with Bahrain on an exchange training and recruitment program for Filipino nurses and other health professionals.

Some 8,000 Filipino nurses, construction workers and engineers are currently working in Libya.

POEA to Rule on Case vs Sentosa this Week

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is set to come up with a ruling on the case filed by filipino nurses in New York against Sentosa Recruitment Agency for violating the terms of their recruitment contract.

Salvador Tuy, the group's counsel, said Sentosa violated POEA recruitment rules and regulations by making the nurses work for Avalon Gardens, which does not appear in the POEA-approved contracts with Sentosa Recruitment Agency in Manila.

The case was filed April last year which resulted to a suspension of Sentosa's recruitment activities in the Philippines. However, the suspension was immediately lifted when former presidential chief of staff, senatorial candidate Mike Defensor allegedly interfered in Sentosa's behalf.

Tuy is urging the POEA to re-impose a preventive suspension on Sentosa to protect other Filipino nurses from suffering the same fate as his clients.

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