Canadian Experience Program for Internationally Educated Nurses

Canadian Experience Program for Internationally Educated Nurses
(CEPIEN)

Are you a Registered Nurse who is new to Canada and looking for Canadian experience to put on your CV to find employment in this province? Have you not yet found employment in Canada as an RN because you lack of RN experience in this country? CRMC has a program specific to your needs. You can gain RN experience at our facility through our CEPIEN program, which will transition you from internationally trained to a Canada-experienced RN. You will be able to use this to find employment as a Registered Nurse elsewhere after you complete the CEPIEN. In addition, you will gain hours necessary to renew your license with the CRNA. The nurse manager will help you to achieve all your competencies and build your CV and personal portfolio to maximize your chances of success at your next job interview after you complete the CEPIEN. This program is offered free of charge but it is non-remunerated! Please, note that this program is only available to internationally-educated RNs who have never worked as Registered Nurses in Canada before. Please note that we reserve the right to admit applicants at our sole discretion.

!!ATTENTION!!

Between July 1 and September 30 each year, we can only accept new applicants who have at least 450 hours of verifiable RN practice (from anywhere in the world) within the past two years. This requirement exists because, without these hours, it is not possible to renew the annual RN permit in Alberta. We strongly encourage all applicants to apply for admission to the CEPIEN as soon as they receive their initial RN permit from the CRNA and to NOT delay the application process waiting until the last moment before the next renewal period!!!

The program allows you to:

Understand the role of the registered nurse in the Alberta health care setting, according to the Scope of Practice for the Registered Nurse in this province
Consolidate entry-level RN skills and knowledge in the Alberta health care setting based on the CRNA's standard on Entry Level Competencies for the Practice of Registered Nurses and the CCRNR Entry Level Competencies (or ELCs).
Develop reflective practice through the building of an RN professional portfolio and reflective journal
Get Alberta RN experience so that you can find work in this province as a registered nurse
Maintain your nursing permit until you can find work in Alberta as an RN by providing you with currency of practice necessary to renew your RN permit

The program comprises a practical and a theoretical component spread out over 12 weeks of very intense learning. The practical component has 480 hours divided into 40 hours per week, 8 hours per day. The theoretical component includes 133 hours of the following online accredited courses that will help you to build on your knowledge and skills and improve your CV:

Fifteen learning modules from the CRNA - 15 hours
Consent Training in Health Care - 3 hours
Person-Centred Care in Nursing - 3 hours
Communication and Transcultural Factors in Nursing - 3 hours
Nursing Practice and Communication Skills - 3 hours
Patient Care and Hygiene in Nursing - 3 hours
Nursing Care Sepsis prevention - 4 hours
Fundamentals of Nursing Practice - 6 hours
Foundation of Nursing - 5 hours
Injection Techniques - 5 hours
Physical Examination - 3 hours
Digital Technology in Nursing - 3 hours
Diploma in Human Anatomy and Physiology - 15 hours
Diploma in Clinical Nursing Skills - 10 hours
Kidney Disease Essentials - 4 hours
Common Cardiovascular Diseases - 6 hours
Disorders of the Reproductive System - 3 hours
Introduction to Neurology - 3 hours
Pregnancy and Physiologic Changes - 3 hours
Introduction to Neonatal Nursing - 3 hours
Fundamentals of Pediatric Nursing - 4 hours
Caring for Patients with Learning Disabilities - 5 hours
Mental Health Nursing - 5 hours
Nursing and the Elderly - 4 hours
Palliative Care Nursing - 3 hours
The Nurse as Team Leader and Teacher - 4 hours
Nursing in Global Health - 5 hours

In order to complete all the online courses by the end of the CEPIEN, you should dedicate an entire extra day during each weekend (about 11 hours of study per weekend).

In order for you to apply for entry to either of the three options of this program, you must meet the following requirements:

You must be already licensed by the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta and hold a full and unrestricted RN license. A Graduate Nurse (GN) license is not accepted for this program
You must be one of the following
- a Canadian citizen (Canadian citizens will be required to send in a copy of their Canadian passport and Alberta Driver's Licence)
- a Permanent resident of Canada (Canadian permanent residents will be required to send in a copy of their foreign passport, PR card, and Alberta Driver's Licence)
- a US or Mexican citizen on a current USMCA permit (You will be asked to send a copy of your passport, USMCA permit, and Alberta Driver's Licence)
- an Israeli citizen on an Open Work Permit (You will be required to send a copy of your passport, Open Work Permit, and Alberta Driver's Licence)
You must be a resident of either Calgary, Okotoks, Diamond Valley, High River, Chestermere, Priddis, Airdrie, or Bragg Creek
Unless you have completed your BScN or BN in a jurisdiction where English is the only official language*, or you have completed a CRNA-approved Bridging Program in Alberta, you must sit the Duolingo English Test (DET) and obtain 130 points in each of the four components of the test within 6 weeks prior to admission to this program; those who score between 120 and 129 points may be considered if they successfully pass the interview with one of our Professional Development Liaison Nurses. Alternatively, you may choose to sit the Pearson Test of English (PTE) and obtain a minimum of 66 points overall (58-63 Listening, 59-64 Reading, 67-82 Speaking, 69-67 Writing); those who score between 55 and 65 points overall may be considered if they successfully pass the interview with one of our Professional Development Liaison Nurses. - WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OTHER ENGLISH TEST RESULTS FOR ENTRY TO THIS PROGRAM. (Remember to list Cranston Ridge Medical Clinic as the institution to receive your score)
You must pass our interview and all stages of our hiring process
You must obtain a clear FAMA-enhanced background check (applicants will have to pay $100 admin fee for this step)
You must be immunized by the first day of training - applicants may download the form here
You must hold a BLS license that is valid on the first day of the program from Heart & Stroke or the American Heart Association
You must sign the CRMC/CSDM confidentiality agreement
You must complete the WHMIS certification

If you are a prospective applicant and require more information, please contact our Professional Development Liaison Nurses listed below:

RN Reynalyn Yagyagan - reynalyn@cranstonridgemedical.com

RN Maria Valerio - maria@cranstonridgemedical.com

CEPIEN is a 480-hour program. The first 160 hours are completed full-time over four weeks (40 hours per week). After finishing the CEPIEN, applicants may choose to continue in the Post-CEPIEN Retention Program (PCEPIENRP). This option allows participants to keep their skills current, accumulate the practice hours needed to renew their licence, or complete requirements for a top-up degree while seeking paid positions elsewhere. The PCEPIENRP can be done full-time or part-time, with a minimum of 5 hours per week. This schedule ensures participants meet the 1,125-hour practice requirement over five years for CRNA licence renewal. At times, the PCEPIENRP may also be remunerated.

CRMC is also looking for other clinic partners to expand this program to other locations in Alberta.

Please note that if you hold only an RN Diploma (and not a BScN, BSN, or BN), it is very unlikely you will find employment in Canada as a Registered Nurse. You may still apply to this program; however, we strongly recommend that you complete the Post-RN Bachelor of Nursing at Athabasca University. You may also choose to remain in this program until you finish your RN-to-BScN top-up degree, as current nursing practice in Canada is required to complete the Athabasca program. The tuition for the Post-RN Bachelor of Nursing at Athabasca University is approximately $13,000 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Alberta.

* The following jurisdictions are considered to have English as their only official language for this program's admission purposes: