The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is shocked at the announcement by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) that NCSBN will bring the NCLEX-RN® exam to Canada for the purpose of licensing new nurses. This means that by as early as 2015, the current Canadian exam will no longer exist and new nurses could be writing an exam with no Canadian content.

"The Canadian RN regulators behind this decision indicated that this new computer-based RN entry exam will be Canadian," said CNA president Judith Shamian. "Given NCSBN's announcement, this appears to be false, and I am greatly concerned for our country's nursing students and the nursing profession."

According to NCSBN's announcement, the NCLEX-RN® exam is offered in 10 countries around the world for the purpose of domestic licensure in the U.S. The adoption of this exam in Canada could mean newfound mobility for registered nurses between borders.

"Instead of setting and maintaining standards that support the delivery of safe, quality health care to meet the needs of Canadians, the RN regulators have potentially made it much easier for the United States to recruit Canadian health-care talent," said Shamian. "I am at a loss to understand how this decision is in the best interests of Canada's health system."