Position Statement - #1 - Nursing Students Concerned with the Release of the First Round of NCLEX-RN Results

Sep 21, 2026

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Position Statement #1 outlines the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association’s concern about the release of preliminary NCLEX-RN results and a decline in passing averages provincially and nationally. It connects outcomes to assessment fairness and alignment with Canadian entry-to-practice competencies, including equity for Canada’s bilingual population. Background traces the shift from CRNE to NCLEX-RN in 2015 and highlights stakeholder concerns regarding values, cultural competence, and language representation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Progress

Recommendations

Position Statement \#1 Nursing Students Concerned with Release of First Round of NCLEX-RN Results Submitted: October 21st, 2015 As the national voice of nursing students across Canada, the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) is concerned for our current and future nursing students following the release of the preliminary National Council Licensure Exam-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN®) results. As there has been a concerning decrease in passing averages both provincially and nationally, CNSA is advocating for our 29,000 members across Canada who are the future of health care. The nursing community must ensure that all students are being examined using a proper assessment tool that effectively measures our Canadian entry-to-practice competencies and is equitable for our bilingual nation. With a nursing shortage that has lead to serious implications to the health care system, we must address these concerns with urgency and strength. Background In 2011, Canada’s ten regulatory bodies announced the formation of a contract approving the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the current administrator of the American NCLEX-RN®, to be the new administrator of Canada’sentry-to-practice nursing exam. As of January 2015, the NCLEX-RN® has replaced the long-standing Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) as the official entry-to-practice examination for nursing students. Well-founded concerns from Canadian stakeholders regarding the harmonization of the NCLEX-RN® are related to the following national elements: (a) appropriate reflection of the Canadian health care system values; (b) consideration of cultural competence with respect to Canada’s First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations; (c) proper reflection of Canadian nursing programs; and (d) representation of Canada’s two official languages. Despite these concerns from stakeholders, the NCLEX-RN® was officially implemented in Canada with less than desirable outcomes for our students. Nationally, 4,701 nursing students wrote the NCLEX-RN® between the months of January and June 2015. The pass rate for candidates who wrote during this period is 70.6%, which is lower than the American pass rate of 78.3% ([http://www.ccrnr.ca/assets/main-report-canadian-nclex-rn-pass-rate-analysis-q1-q2-2015.pdf](http://www.ccrnr.ca/assets/main-report-canadian-nclex-rn-pass-rate-analysis-q1-q2-2015.pdf)) . Considering the pass rate is approximately 10% lower than the previous CRNE, the CNSA feels immediate actions must be taken to ensure all Canadian nursing students are being fairly examined and provided with the proper preparation resources. Progress CNSA has worked hard to be a resource and support for our members by offering the document,“Tips for Nursing Students: Preparing to Write the NCLEX-RN®,” which includes general information about the exam, question structure/format, and tips when writing a computer-adaptive test (CAT) . Both a resolution and position statement on NCLEX-RN® advocacy were passed at our 2013 and 2015 National conferences, which has engaged our members in the conversation of entry-to-practice examination, and encouraged our stakeholders and schools to have an active role in these changes. These statements have helped shape the activities, goals, and objectives of our organization, and have created a dialogue with our regional and national stakeholders around the introduction of the NCLEX-RN® . Understanding the financial responsibility that comes with purchasing NCLEX-RN® prep resources, we have also provided our members with a discount on Lippincott NCLEX-RN® materials. Companies who prepare NCLEX-RN® preparation tools are also offered the opportunity be a part of our Regional and National conferences in order to provide information and resources to our members, while answering questions and concerns at the same time. Recommendations The NCLEX-RN® constitutes a major change in entry-to-practice in Canada, and it is critical th

FAQs

What issue does CNSA raise in its Position Statement #1?

CNSA expresses concern after the release of preliminary NCLEX-RN results, citing a concerning decrease in passing averages across Canada and across provinces.

Why does CNSA argue the NCLEX-RN should be more equitable for Canadian students?

CNSA emphasizes the need for an assessment tool that accurately measures Canadian entry-to-practice competencies and is equitable for Canada’s bilingual nation, including appropriate representation of official languages.

What recommendations does CNSA make regarding support for Francophone students and exam language?

CNSA requests immediate creation of proper NCLEX-RN preparation tools for Francophone students and calls for a third-party revision of the current NCLEX-RN to ensure appropriate French translation and equal opportunity for success.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ivy