The next examination of the Order of Nurses of Quebec scheduled for March should be postponed, according to the conclusions of the investigation by the Commissioner for Admission to the Professions.
The last exam which allows future nurses to enter the profession was unusually low in September with a pass rate of 45%.
This failure rate had been strongly denounced by the candidates, who considered this exam to be problematic.
Commissioner M.e André Gariépy advances two hypotheses in his report: methodological flaws in the exam and training that does not adequately prepare candidates to succeed.
Normally, students are excluded from the path to admission to the profession after three failures.
In September, 200 future nurses failed.
In the midst of a labor shortage, but especially because of the glaring lack of healthcare professionals, the commissioner believes that it would be unfair to permanently dismiss them.
Me Gariépy exceptionally recommends allowing them another attempt.
It also proposes to give them back the status of candidate for the exercise of the nursing profession, a status that allows them to work temporarily in the field.
The Order has not yet reacted to the publication.