Nursing Competencies
Tested on the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam
The nursing competencies required for entry level nursing practice form the basis for
the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam.
Competency statements describe what nurses do. An "entry level" competency describes what is expected of a nurse when starting out
in professional nursing practice.
If you are applying for nursing jobs in Canada the employer will expect you to have
some or all of these competencies when you start.
There are no secrets about the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam.
It is based on 148 competency statements that reflect entry level nursing practice in Canada.
- Professional Practice - There are 28 statements in this category that describe what the nurse does as an autonomous and self regulating professional.
They reflect skills, attitudes, and judgements needed for leadership, management, political action, critical enquiry, self directed practice and ethics.
- Changes in Health - These 79 statements describe the expected knowledge, skills and judgement of the nurse when working with
individuals who are experiencing an alteration in health status and require episodic treatment in hospital or some other institutions or setting in the
Canadian health care system.
The entry level nurse is expected to be able to deliver care to individuals across the lifespan, from a wide diversity of cultures,
and in a wide variety of settings.
- Health and Wellness - The 27 statements in this category describe the knowledge, skills, and judgement expected of the entry level nurse when
promoting health and preventing disease both one on one with individuals and in communities.
- Nurse Client Partnerships - There are 28 statements in this category. They describe the knowledge,
skills, attitude, and judgement required for establishing, maintaining, and terminating a therapeutic relationship
and reflect the Canadian culture of establishing collaborative relationships with clients
and building capacity in individuals, famlies and communities.
The competency statements are not kept secret and you can view all of the nursing competencies at this link.
Explore the difference between a technical and a behavioural nursing competency statement.
Go back to Canadian Registered Nurse Exam
The Nursing Profession Entrance Test in Canada
