Succeeding on the Canadian NCLEX-RN: Incorporating experiential learning approaches in the education of internationally educated nurses

Abstract

This study investigated the use of experiential education approaches in preparing internationally educated nurses (IENs) for the new registration examination in Canada, the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The research comprised a purposive sample of ten participants in their first term of the IEN program at a local university in Ontario. The participants (a) wrote a pre and post NCLEX-RN style mock exam and (b) participated in a total of six clinical case scenarios, each followed by a brief questionnaire. The nursing-care case scenarios focused on six different systems (respiratory, cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, abdominal, neurologic, and endocrine); each scenario was followed by ten questions that were answered using an audience response system, namely clickers. A paired t test was conducted to evaluate the impact of the application of both clinical-case scenarios and clickers on participants’ scores; results demonstrated challenges associated with the transition to the American-based NCLEX-RN as the new national exam in Canada.