Vitalité Health Network supports the recommendations of the Commissioner of Official Languages regarding the NCLEX-RN exam

Bathurst, May 14, 2018 – Vitalité Health Network supports the recommendations made by the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick in her recent investigation report regarding allegations of deficiencies in the French version of the nursing profession registration exam, the NCLEX RN. In light of her investigation, the Commissioner namely concluded that the French-language version of the exam, adopted by the Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB), clearly places Francophone candidates at a disadvantage.

The President and CEO of the Network, Gilles Lanteigne, believes that the linguistic rights of nursing students have to be upheld. “The goal of this exam is to thoroughly assess the knowledge of candidates in order to train qualified health care staff that will be able to provide our patients with quality care. Someone’s language preference should never interfere with the nursing profession admission process,” he stated.

Mr. Lanteigne reiterates his full confidence in the nursing program offered by the Université de Moncton. “Graduates from that program have long proven themselves in our health care facilities and elsewhere in the country,” he added. “Changes have to be made to correct the current situation, and it is clear that we have to look at the NCLEX-RN exam. Before the adoption of that exam, the failure rate of Université de Moncton graduates was much lower than what we are seeing today.”

Still according to the Network, the situation has reached a peak that worries administration. “We are currently facing enormous challenges in terms of the nursing workforce that require us to deploy extra efforts to address that reality. A reduced admission rate to the nursing profession as a result of a language issue clearly does not help our recruitment efforts,” he added, stating that in 2015, less than half of candidates passed the NCLEX-RN exam.

The Network encourages the NANB to quickly implement the Commissioner of Official Languages’ three recommendations to prevent this unfair and unfortunate situation from lasting any longer. “I am confident that with good will, it is possible to find a solution and give equal chance to succeed to all candidates, whether they choose to write their exam in the language of Molière or that of Shakespeare,” concluded the President and CEO of New Brunswick’s Francophone health authority.