2023-06-21 14:37:22
(Montreal) While it is still trying to solve the deep problems surrounding its exam for access to the profession, the Order of Nurses of Quebec (OIIQ) announces new measures of flexibility.
Posted on June 21
Ugo Giguere The Canadian Press
Among the arrangements unveiled in a press release on Wednesday, the OIIQ will once once more allow candidates for the nursing profession (CEPI) to take their turn at the next session scheduled for September.
Those who choose not to register for the exam will not be penalized by adding a failure to their file.
This same choice had been offered to CEPIs during the most recent evaluation session last March. According to data obtained from the OIIQ, 630 of the 2,803 candidates called had skipped the exam.
Three other measures are offered to candidates, including the “possibility of benefiting from another attempt at the exam” for those who have already accumulated the maximum number of three failures or who have exceeded the deadline.
For those who decide to try their luck on the exam this fall, they will have more time to answer all the questions.
Finally, in a gesture that seems above all justified by the serious shortage of manpower affecting the health network, the OIIQ will maintain the “right to practice as a CEPI for people in a situation of definitive failure “.
In its press release, the order presents these relaxations as its “action plan” to promote the success of candidates.
According to a quote attributed to President Luc Mathieu, these actions are intended to demonstrate that the institution “is committed to remedying as quickly and efficiently as possible the issues raised in connection with the exam pass rate”.
In addition, tools will be made available to people who will try their luck on the exam. We want to help them “become familiar with the form, content and conduct of the exam” as well as “consolidate their knowledge”, we can read.
They will also have access to the topics covered and to the table of specifications used for the selection of questions.
In order to properly support the candidates, the OIIQ says it has ensured the collaboration of the National Directorate of Nursing Care and Services and the Nursing Care Directorates (DSI).
The storm surrounding the OIIQ admission exam began in the fall of 2022 when an abnormally low pass rate of 51.4% on the first attempt was announced. In the next round, in March 2023, the first-attempt pass rate was slightly higher at 53.8%.
An investigation by the Admissions Commissioner revealed serious flaws in the exam methodology. The commissioner openly questioned the validity and reliability of the tool.
In response, the OIIQ took steps to adopt the American national exam known as the NCLEX-RN. An exam already used in most other Canadian provinces, but whose French translation has failed.
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