BScN Equivalency Assessment and Recognition of Internationally Educated Nurses

Purpose: The BScN is the required degree for entry to practice in Ontario. The purpose of this element of the symposium is to present the results of an equivalency assessment recognition of nursing (EARN) project that tested for and recognized the knowledge, skills, and judgement that each IEN has acquired through formal education, as well as work and life experience. The objective of the project was to create a fair and transparent mechanism to test and recognize BScN equivalency in internationally educated nurses, identifying both gaps and strengths.

Methods:   Participants who met the criteria, self-selected to participate in a multi-method assessment process. Each participant had access to modular learning and an advisor. A Conceptual Matrix was developed and each assessment measure was matched to standards and competencies and validated by a team. Participants were assessed on 30 content blocks in 13 assessments (paper and pencil, interviews, Objective Structured Clinical Examination). The final project was evaluated using a program logic model. 

Results:   The presentation will review the development and measurement of the rigorous and fair assessment process and the supports for the 38 internationally educated nurse participants. Findings and the embedded program evaluation will be discussed.

Conclusion:  Recommendations from the study and program evaluation will be presented. Successes and lesson learned in using a prior learning assessment process for assessing competency will be discussed.