CGFNS Increases Fees for VisaScreen™ and Other Services

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) anounced through its website the increase in the fees collected for different services offered. The table below summarizes major services offered by CGFNS and the corresponding price increase.

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Click here to see full schedule of fees effective May 1, 2006.

It has also announced policy changes for length of time applications may remain open, time limit for receipt of payment, and refunds.

Effective May 1, 2006, applicants applying for the CGFNS Certification Program, Credentials Evaluation Service and VisaScreen™ will be given 12 months to meet the requirements of each program. Orders for these three services that have not resulted in the rostering of an applicant to take the Qualifying Exam for the Certification Program, that have not resulted in the issuing of a Credentials Evaluation Service report, or that have not resulted in the issuing of a VisaScreen within 12 months of the application date will be closed.

Once an order is closed, an applicant can re-apply and pay a second year re-application fee. Re-application orders will remain open for 12 months starting from the date the re-application order is placed. A re-application order cannot be placed until the previous order has been closed.

In addition, CGFNS now requires payment in full within 60 days of application date. Applications received without a payment will be deleted if full payment is not received within 60 days of application date. The applicant will have to fill out a new application and submit the appropriate full price to place a new order.

Finally, CGFNS has instituted a "no refund" policy for its Certification Program, Credentials Evaluation Service and VisaScreen™. Individual consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis if a refund is necessary due to a CGFNS error.

Working as a Registered Nurse in the United Kingdom (UK)

The following are the requirements that each foreign-educated candidate needs to meet in order to be eligible to work as a registered nurse in the United Kingdom (UK):

• IELTS (English Proficiency Exam)
• Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC Decision)
• Appropriate work permit (c/o Prospective employer)
• Appropriate visas for entry to the UK
• Standing offer of work in the UK (c/o Prospective employer)

A detailed information on the steps is provided here.

Free NCLEX Practice Tests

The key to adequate preparation for any examination such as the NCLEX is having a solid knowledge of fundamental concepts as well as critical thinking skills. Becoming test-wise is one way to fully utilize core concepts in taking examinations.

To develop one's test taking strategies, it is but imperative to take as many practice questions as possible.

Listed in this article are web links to free NCLEX practice tests.

• ExamCram Practice Test (250 questions with answers & rationales)
• 4Tests.com: Kaplan Test Prep (49 questions with answers & rationales)
• Testprepreview.com: NCLEX Practice Test (25 questions with answers)
• TestTrade.com NCLEX Sample Questions (20 questions with answers)
• NCLEX-Pass.com Sample Questions (14 questions with answers)
  

This list will be constantly updated so do check this page regularly. Press CTRL D on your keyboard to bookmark this page.

NurseCalc® 4-in-1 Online Nursing Calculator

NurseCalc® is a 4-in-1 handy online tool for Nurses and other Medical Professionals. Features include:

• Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Interpreter for determination of Acid-Base Imbalances.
• IV Rate Calculator for determination of Intravenous Infusion Rate in mL/Hour.
• IV Drip Rate Calculator for determination of Intravenous Infusion Drip/Flow Rate in Drops/Minute.
• IV Infusion Time Calculator for determination of time needed to complete an Intravenous Infusion.

To launch/use NurseCalc®, click on the image at the sidebar.

Take NurseCalc® with you. Install the mobile version to your Windows Mobile Device.

Download Smartphone version.
Download Pocket PC version.

Thanks to Gerard-Peter Carreon, Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), for creating the mobile phone installer and for hosting the download. Check out GPcarreon's blog at www.gpcarreon.com.

2005 NCLEX-RN Passing Rate for Internationally-Educated Candidates

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In the 2005 NCLEX-RN examination statistics, the Philippines continues to be the top source of foreign or internationally-educated NCLEX-RN candidates with 9,181 examinees taking the exam for the first time in 2005. The passing rate for internationally-educated candidates is 43.7% . In simple terms, for every 10 foreign or internationally-educated candidates taking the examination, only 4 examinees pass the NCLEX-RN examination.

A more detailed statistical data is available here.

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IELTS New Re-Take Rule

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the english language proficiency exams recognized by the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (IHCP) for application of the VisaScreen™.

Other english exams accepted internationally include the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test for International Communications (TOEIC) plus the Test of Written English (TWE) and Test of Spoken English (TSE).

In the past, candidates who failed the test were barred from immediately re-taking the test for 90 days. As a result, the application process for the VisaScreen™ is delayed by 3 months.

Beginning the 1st of May 2006 the policy on candidates re-taking IELTS will be amended. The restriction on re-taking IELTS within 90 days will be removed and candidates will be able to repeat the test whenever they wish.

The current restriction on repeating the test within 90 days at any centre will remain in place for all candidates until the end of April 2006. All candidates from May 1, 2006 will be able to repeat at the next available test, regardless of the date of their previous test.

Candidates will still be asked to indicate on their application form whether they have taken the test before. This information will appear on the Test Report Form and will only be used for monitoring purposes.

IELTS is jointly managed by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, British Council, and IDP: IELTS Australia.


Source: IELTS Website

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List of Non-CGFNS States

As tackled in an earlier article, several states have removed the requirement of taking CGFNS qualifying exams (Certification Program) prior to being made eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN® examination.

Non-CGFNS states include:

1. CALIFORNIA
2. ARIZONA
3. OHIO
4. NEW YORK
5. MARYLAND
6. GEORGIA
7. FLORIDA
8. ILLINOIS
9. SOUTH CAROLINA
10. HAWAII
11. NEW MEXICO
12. VERMONT
13. OREGON
14. NEVADA
15. COLORADO
16. KANSAS
17. TEXAS
18. MINNESOTA
19. ARKANSAS
20. SOUTH CAROLINA
21. KENTUCKY
22. NEW JERSEY
23. MICHIGAN (effective July 2007)

A chart released by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) showing CGFNS certification program (qualifying exam) requirements by each State Board of Nursing as is available here. The chart lists information gathered by CGFNS as of February 28, 2005.

For a complete list of State Boards of Nursing and their corresponding website addresses, visit the NCSBN website.

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Tips on Preparing for the Nurse Licensure Examination (Local Board)

• Four (4) gruelling years of academic and clinical training
• Five (5) Major Operation Scrubs, Five (5) Minor Operation Scrubs
• Five (5) Delivery Room Handles, Five (5) Delivery Room Assists, Five (5) Cord Dresses
• Countless Case Studies and Presentations
• Countless Nursing Care Plans and Nursing Assessments
• Countless Drug Studies and Defense
• Hundreds of patients across the life span with varying needs

These are a few of the things every nursing student needs to complete before earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. However, being conferred with a BSN degree is not enough for one to be allowed to practice Nursing in the Philippines.

As provided in Article IV, Section 12 of Republic Act 9173 otherwise known as Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, all applicants for license to practice nursing shall be required to pass a written examination.

Like any other examination, a thorough preparation is imperative to ensure one's success in the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination.

With the vast scope of nursing, one may get lost in the thick of preparations. Listed are a few of the important areas which should not be missed in reviewing for the local board examination.

Community Health Nursing. Get a copy of the book published by the Department of Health on Community Health Nursing in the Philippines. Most, if not all, of the community health nursing questions in the local board examination are culled from this book. Master the vaccination schedules, communicable diseases, community diagnosis, principles of home visit, and the bag technique.

Psychiatric Nursing. Brush up on therapeutic use of self (Therapeutic communication), defense/coping mechanisms, psychiatric drugs, and DSM IV.

Maternal and Child Health Nursing. Know by heart the concepts on Menstruation, Pregnancy and common pregnancy-related complications, Labor Process, Breastfeeding, Growth and development concepts by noted theorists.

Medical-Surgical Nursing. Review on the common diseases endemic to the Philippines. Know the patho-physiology, nursing assessment, nursing diagnosis and nursing management/responsibilities for each disease.

Nursing Ethics, Jurisprudence and Professional Adjustment. Get a copy of L. Venzon's book on Professional Nursing and the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 (R.A. 9173). Be familiar with laws that are related to and/or affect the practice of nursing in the Philippines.

It is also important to keep abreast with current events and general knowledge as questions on politics, religion, and sexuality have occassionally appeared in recent board examinations. A good way to do this is by reading newspapers as well as getting hold of copies of public speeches made by current and immediate past members of the regulatory board of nursing.

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