Adoption of NCLEX-RN for licensure in Canada: Faculty concerns and implications for nursing education

Abstract

This paper highlights questions about Canadian nurse regulators' adoption of the U.S.-based NCLEX-RN examination, effective 2015, as the only route to initial registered nurse licensure in all jurisdictions, excluding Quebec. The decision for this change was made by the Canadian Council of Registered Nurses Regulators (CCRNR), an umbrella association of CEO's of provincial regulatory bodies in collaboration with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Adoption and implementation of this new policy was accomplished by the Council of each provincial regulatory body. This change, representing the first international adoption of NCLEX-RN, was deemed successful by CCRNR and NCSBN. However, the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) described the decision as unilateral and unwise, questioning the applicability of NCLEX-RN in the Canadian context, citing significant French language translation issues and unacceptable pass rates. Both authors have had extensive academic nursing experience in U.S. and Canada. Both had many conversations with Canadian colleagues who described the impact on nursing education as disastrous. Most of our American colleagues knew nothing about this change, but once informed, expressed some concerns similar to those of their Canadian counterparts. We suggest that international adoption of a US-based examination for initial licensure merits wider discussion by nursing faculty here and abroad.

Keywords: Canada; NCLEX-RN examination; Nurse education; Nurse licensure.