National Council of State Boards of Nursing Extends Electronic Licensure Exam to Canada

Last week, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) announced that the NCLEX-RN® Examination, a RN licensure exam used in foreign countries for the purpose of domestic licensure in the United States, was chosen by ten provincial nurse regulatory bodies in Canada. The adoption of this electronic exam in Canada has the potential to drastically change the nursing workforce in both Canada and the United States, as nurses would technically be licensed to work as a RN in either country. In response, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has expressed disappoint with the choice made by the provincial regulatory bodies as they fear that many qualified Canadian nurses may be lured by the promise of higher paying positions in the United States. Additionally, the CNA fears that licensure content specific to Canada may be excluded from the exam and thus, lower the quality of care in Canadian healthcare facilities.

Click here to read the NCSBN's press release.

Click here to read the CNA's response.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing Launches Interactive APRN 'Map'

Earlier this morning, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) launched a new feature on their website that contains information regarding states' laws and regulations that affect Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. The website, which is a graphical depiction of the United States, includes information about APRN's scope of practice, certification requirements and title used to represent APRNs in each respective state.

Click here to access the interactive map.

Click here to read more about the NCSBN's consensus model for APRN regulation.