Evidence of meeting #104 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was students.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton, As an Individual
The New Brunswick Nurses Act gives the association authority in all matters relating to the regulation of the profession and all conditions to protect the public.
The Premier does not have that power. To get it, he would have to change the Nurses Act. That's what I've been told.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I think the Premier had a fairly timid response yesterday.
Now, the Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick, the SANB, wants to sue the Nurses Association of New Brunswick. What is your reaction to this?
Director, School of Nursing, Université de Moncton, As an Individual
This action was taken by students who tried the exam several times, including one student who tried it nine times. I have statistics. These are mostly people from Mrs. Landry's area. Several students attempted the exam up to seven times without passing. Students from her part of the country came together to say that was enough.
The fee for writing each examination must be taken into consideration. The registration fee is approximately $500 each time, not including travel expenses. There are other costs, although they are difficult to assess, namely, the mental effect of such a situation. Imagine how it feels to fail the exam seven times after successfully completing a difficult four-year undergraduate program.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
It's certainly terrible.
Ms. Pelletier-Simard, are there other provinces in Canada where students are having the same problem? For example, is this the case for francophones in Manitoba?
Director of Bilingualism and Translation, Canadian Nursing Students' Association
All students of universities who offer the program in French face the same problems.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
This has a direct impact on access to health care, as nursing students aren't becoming nurses. This is very serious.
Mr. Généreux, you may continue.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Ms. Pelletier-Simard, with a name like yours, I'd swear you're from my riding.
It is extremely unfortunate to find ourselves in such a situation. Your testimony is important today, because you are the future of the profession. You're telling us that, despite all your efforts as students, you aren't able to pass the entry-to-practice exam. In fact, as Mrs. Landry said, the failure rate is disproportionate compared to that of anglophones.
How did we end up in this situation when, in 2014, the success rates for anglophones and francophones were the same?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
I'm sorry to interrupt you, but the bells are summoning us for a vote in the House.
I ask for unanimous consent to continue the meeting for 15 minutes or so.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Is the vote in half an hour, Mr. Chair?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
The vote is in half an hour. We could continue for 15 or 20 minutes.
Does everyone agree?
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mrs. Landry and Ms. Pelletier-Simard, you could answer my question.
How did we get into this situation?
Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Shippagan campus, Université de Moncton, As an Individual
I can answer based on my experience.
The exam changed in 2015. It was a completely new exam.
Conservative
Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Shippagan campus, Université de Moncton, As an Individual
Yes, across Canada. The exam comes from the U.S.
Educational institutions had no decision-making power. The decision was made at a higher level.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Ms. Baker, who decided that this exam would be administered across the country?
Liberal
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
The decision was made by every regulatory body in Canada, except Quebec. They jointly decided to adopt the American exam. That said, the decision does in fact fall under provincial jurisdiction, even though it was made by all the organizations.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
You are saying that they came together and decided to change the exam.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
They must have some reasons for deciding to adopt a new exam. Do you know what the reasons are?
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
No.
They used to talk about having a computer adaptive exam, among other things. However, you have to remember that the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which sells the U.S. entrance exam, has decided to globalize it. It wants to sell the exam around the world, in countries where there is a fairly advanced health care system, such as Canada.
Liberal
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Ms. Baker, since I have very little time, I'm going to ask you, if it's possible, to answer my questions with yes or no. I want to make sure that I have understood the content of the documentation that we have. We have received you here before. I think it was in May of last year.
For Canadian nursing associations in the various provinces, the exam had the advantage of being in electronic format and faster. In addition, there is significantly less red tape to obtain the results.
Is that correct?
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
Yes. That's what they said, and I think now they are saying that—