SG steps closer to China and North Korea online

Sometimes reality is strange, even stranger than fiction. See the following news story extracted from the Associated Press.

See also commentary on the policy by LIFT (who emigrated to UK and is now a British citizen) and ASingaporeanSon (who emigrated to Australia). This Canada-based Singapore-citizen has nothing to say, except *face-palm*.

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SINGAPORE TO REQUIRE NEWS WEBSITES TO BE LICENSED

By HEATHER TAN — May. 29 4:40 AM EDT

SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore's government says a new policy will require online news websites to be licensed, a move that is being criticized as a form of censorship in a country where media outlets are already strictly controlled.

The policy will require websites that report regularly on Singapore news and have at least 50,000 visitors a month to obtain annual licenses, the city-state's Media Development Authority said in a statement Tuesday. They also will be required to remove content found to be in breach of MDA standards within 24 hours of notification.

"This is censorship, plain and simple," said Lee Kin Mun, a Singaporean social and political blogger who is more popularly known by his Internet persona, "Mr. Brown."

"Trying to regulate the Internet is like trying to grab jelly; the tighter your grip on it, the faster it leaks out of your hand," he said.

The MDA said the new policy, which takes effect Saturday, would place news websites "on a more consistent regulatory framework with traditional news platforms which are already individually licensed."

It said it would "impose financial penalties or suspend or revoke" the licenses of any websites that do not comply with any of the conditions.

The MDA singled out 10 websites, nine of which are state-owned, with the exception being Yahoo Singapore. It said the new policy also may be extended to netizen websites and foreign news sites covering Singapore news.

To receive a license, a website will have to post a performance bond of 50,000 Singapore dollars ($39,400). This is similar to current requirements for niche TV broadcasters in Singapore.

"Our mainstream media are subjected to rules. Why shouldn't the online media be part of that regulatory framework?" said Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim. "I don't see this as a clamping down. If anything, it is regularizing what is already happening on the Internet and making sure that they are on par with our mainstream media."

But The Online Citizen, one of the bigger netizen alternative news websites in Singapore, said it may shut down if the new licensing rules are imposed on it.

"In the event that the new licensing rules are extended to TOC, we will have to reassess the viability of continuing the website in light of the significant financial and legal liability the new rules impose," it said in a statement.

Yahoo Singapore said it would wait to receive the license conditions before commenting on the new measures.

Media is strictly controlled and regulated in Singapore, with lobby group Reporters Without Borders ranking the Southeast Asian city-state 149th globally in terms of press freedom.

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See also The Online Citizen's statement on the new MDA ruling. Yahoo! Singapore also reported on the responses by Singaporeans on the new MDA ruling.

GNIE: RN job search - Update 4

Update based on the grapevine, as of today: Of our cohort of 26 GNIE graduates who passed the CRNE (i.e. eligible for full practicing licence with the CRNBC), 14 (or 54%) have found Registered Nurse jobs.

Acute care: 7 (including 1 in private agency)
Residential care: 3 (including 2 in private agencies)
Home nursing: 4 (all in private agencies)

Notes:

• The above data is amongst those that we know/hear from.
• Since some of the above are in casual or part-time jobs, some are holding more than one job. 
• In order to avoid double-counting of those who are holding more than 1 job, I have simply classified each person holding multiple jobs in only 1 of the following category (in order of decreasing priority): Acute care, Residential care, and Home nursing.

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As for me, I received a casual RN job offer from a home nursing organization. [This is in addition to a casual Care Aide job offer at a residential care facility.] I am very thankful to my references, it seems that they tilted the hiring strongly in my favour. The recruiters from both agencies sounded really happy and told me that they received "wonderful" and/or "very good" references of me when they called me for the job offers.

GNIE: RN job search - Update 3

Update based on the grapevine, as of today: Of our cohort of 26 GNIE graduates who passed the CRNE (i.e. eligible for full practicing licence with the CRNBC), 13 (or 50%) have found Registered Nurse jobs.

Acute care: 5 (including 1 in private agency)

Residential care: 4

Home nursing: 4 (all in private agencies)

Notes:

1. The above data is amongst those that we know/hear from.
2. Since some of the above are in casual or part-time jobs, some are holding more than one job. 
3. In order to avoid double-counting of those who are holding more than 1 job, I have simply classified each person holding multiple jobs in only 1 of the following category (in order of decreasing priority): Acute care, Residential care, and Home nursing.

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I am not amongst the lucky ones above, but I am still happy for those who are successful.

Watching B.C. provincial elections

I can't believe the I am staying up to follow the B.C. provincial elections. Until today, I had the "I am not a citizen" and therefore it is not my issue attitude (albeit I am aware of some of the local political issues discussed). But then logging onto Facebook this evening and watching my Canadian friends' Facebook comments about the election results as they unfold was rather interesting.

Still waiting for the final riding: Vancouver-Point Grey. It is an important one, given that it is the incumbent Premier Christy Clark (Liberal) vs David Eby (NDP, note: not NDP's leader). Interestingly, NDP is leading at this moment, but it is a close fight, pending 2 more polls' reports.

[For the Singaporeans reading this: Imagine PAP securing enough seats to form a majority government (i.e. more than 50% of the parliamentary seats), but PM LHL loses his seat to an opposition challenger (who is not even the leader of his/her opposition party).]

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[Update on 15-May-2013 at 01:08AM based on Yahoo! News.]

NDP David Eby (10,162) won Liberal Christy Clark (9,377) by 785 votes at Vancouver-Point Grey. [Click here for the Metro news report.]

Hmm, is it time for a new Premier? Or will there be a by-election with Liberal represented by Christy Clark (e.g. via "resignation" of a lower-ranking Liberal MLA who won)?

B.C. (Canadian) politics is interesting indeed.

Canadian goose / Volunteerism

Just to share a short video of a Canadian goose that I took last week at Stanley Park.

Yes, I think the goose knew I was there, but it was nonplussed about it. IMHO, it helped that I walked up very slowly, calmly and steadily towards it; and also that I was "down-wind" (i.e. the wind was blowing from the goose towards me). Yes, at one point I laughed in my heart at the mental images that if I were not a vegetarian, this would be a good opportunity to spear* the goose and have roast goose! [*Note: I am not suggesting for anyone to do that, for the Canadians treasure their wildlife.]

Canadian Goose

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Last week, I visited various Metro Vancouver tourist attractions thanks to the free pass I received from volunteering with one of these attractions. IMHO, the free pass (for a fortnight) is such a good way to show appreciation to volunteers during BC's Volunteer Appreciation Week.

[2013 Volunteer Appreciation Week

- A fortnight's free pass]

The spirit of volunteerism is strong in Metro Vancouver. [Note: For an idea of how ingrained volunteerism is in the Canadian culture, see the news article below.] For many young Vancouverites, besides contributing to causes that they believe in, it is a way to get references and community experience for their future resumes and/or take a peek into potential careers.

Many newly-arrived immigrants do not instinctively understand the value of volunteering: 

• how it can open up new worlds/opportunities/careers for them, 
• how it can help them break out of their ethnic ghetto, 
• how it can be a part of their process of learning about the Canadian society and integrating with it, 
• how it may be useful to have some Canadian community contacts (especially since many in such social/charity/volunteer organizations are open-to and supportive-of immigrants), and 
• how it may possibly lead to the hard-to-acquire Canadian experience and/or references.

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[Extracted from Yahoo! Finance Insight, dated Wed 24-Apr-2013.]

Volunteering worth $50 billion to Canadian economy

By Brenda Bouw | Insight – Wed, 24 Apr, 2013 11:29 AM EDT

Volunteering not only makes you feel good, turns out it’s also good for the economy.

A new report from TD Bank has pegged the economic value of volunteering in Canada at $50 billion each year, or about three per cent of Canada’s GDP, which is the same size as the Manitoba economy.

“The economic value of volunteering demonstrates that it is possible to get more than what you pay for,” said the report’s authors, TD economists Craig Alexander and Sonya Gulati.

“Put simply, $50 billion represents a lot of value. It is too large to simply dismiss.”

The report marks National Volunteer Week in Canada, which runs from April 21 to 27, and celebrates the estimated 13.3 million volunteers across Canada.

While some might argue volunteering is just free labour, others see it as a way to advance skills or provide selfless acts that allow them to give back to the community.

TD argues volunteerism provides economic value that is “very real,” yet “seldom noticed and rarely discussed.”

For example, it cites opportunity cost for spending a limited resource, “in this case, time – on unpaid work as opposed to paid work.” An example is gaining a skill that better prepares someone for a paid job in the future. There is also value in the generation of social capital, or the “intangible benefits associated with volunteering,” the report says.

TD came up with the $50-billion figure by calculating the estimated 2.1 billion hours worked at average rate of $24 per hour. The data is based on the 2010 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, from Statistics Canada .

The $50-billion figure is “conservative,” TD says, because it doesn’t include capital investment, for example. The total is also said to be roughly half of the value of Canada’s non-profit sector, as estimated by Statistics Canada.

“If the value of volunteer work were a company, it would be in the league of the largest firms in Canada listed in the S&P/TSX Composite Index – on the basis of market capitalization – sandwiched between corporate giants like Suncor Energy and the Canadian National Railway,” the report says.

While TD sees the report as a fitting way to celebrate National Volunteer Week, the authors addressed the potential “passionate rebuttal” that putting a dollar figure on volunteerism may be considered “distasteful and/or disrespectful.”

“It is short-sighted not to appreciate this perspective and to flippantly ignore the passionate rebuttal to economic valuation,” the report says.

“Despite the skepticism attached to the exercise, putting numbers to volunteering does help to demonstrate the societal and economic importance … Comparison and context enable us to understand and protect volunteering which is generally overlooked and its importance dismissed at first glance. An economic lens fosters appreciation for a crucial element of the social fabric that binds the community together.”

National Volunteer Week began in 1943 as a way to draw attention to the contribution women made at home during the Second World War, according to Volunteer Canada www.volunteer.ca

Canada has enough nurses Re: FSWP visa

[Update as per 26-Apr-2014 CIC news release: Effective 01-May-2014, "Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses" (3012) and "Licensed practical nurses" (3233) are now eligible for the FSWP.]

I have IENs (internationally educated nurses) asking me about migrating to Canada. Just FYI, with effect from today 4th May 2013, the new Federal Skilled Workers Programme (FSWP) takes effect. If you take a look at the occupations listed, Canada has enough nurses.

Here are 24 skills wanted according to the CIC (Canadian Immigration and Citizenship) website above.

• 0211   Engineering managers
• 1112   Financial and investment analysts
• 2113   Geoscientists and oceanographers
• 2131   Civil engineers
• 2132   Mechanical engineers
• 2134   Chemical engineers
• 2143   Mining engineers
• 2145   Petroleum engineers
• 2144   Geological engineers
• 2146   Aerospace engineers
• 2147   Computer engineers (except software engineers/designers)
• 2154   Land surveyors
• 2174   Computer programmers and interactive media developers
• 2243   Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
• 2263   Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
• 3141   Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
• 3142   Physiotherapists
• 3143   Occupational Therapists
• 3211   Medical laboratory technologists
• 3212   Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants
• 3214   Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
• 3215   Medical Radiation Technologists
• 3216   Medical Sonographers
• 3217   Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists

I will probably comment more on the Canadian immigration policy in future. Have to focus on my "real life" for now.

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[Addendum 08-Aug-2014] 

On 26-Apr-2014, CIC issued a news release for FSWP and FSTP list of wanted skills and quotas that took effect on 01-May-2014. Nurses have returned to the list of wanted skills.

• Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (3011)
• Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
• Licensed practical nurses (3233)

To put a long story short, rules change. Thus, I recommend those keen on migrating to Canada to do their own research, check the CIC website for news releases regularly (especially around April yearly where they release their fine-tuned list of wanted skills), and be prepared to apply ASAP once the quota is available.

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[The following article is extracted from Yahoo! Finance Canada dated 06-May-2013. Note: A full-time job is one that requires 30 or more hours of work per regular work week.]

Temporary work in Canada on the rise
By Jennifer Kwan, 06-May-2013

There is a steep rise in the proportion of temporary work in Canada, especially in the areas of nursing, information systems analysts and consultants and financial services clerks.

That's according to recent data by job search site CareerBuilder.ca, which focuses on the top 10 fastest-growing temporary jobs in Canada based on percentage growth.

Licensed practical nurses topped the list and is an occupation that has ballooned by 60 per cent, representing some 296 jobs, since 2010. Information systems analysts and consultants ranked second, with a 44 per cent increase, while bank and insurance clerks was third on the list with a 43 per cent increase.

Still, employers appear split on their hiring intentions. Half of nearly 300 employers surveyed say they plan to hire temporary or contract workers sometime in 2013, Ross Levadi, director of staffing and recruiting at the job site, said in a statement.

But at the same time, Levadi said nearly two in five employers also say they plan to transition their temporary workers into full-time roles at some point this year.

Other jobs on CareerBuilder's list include: landscaping and grounds maintenance workers, purchasing and inventory clerks, records management and filing clerks, payroll clerks and light duty cleaners. Registered nurses and computer network technicians also made the list of fastest-rising temp jobs.

Temporary work appears to be here to stay, growing at a faster rate than permanent work, according to a Globe and Mail report on Monday. It cited most of the growth in temporary work over the past decade and a half has been among young people and mostly in education, culture and the accommodation and food services sector.

Statistics Canada data showed the number of temporary workers in Canada hit a record two million last year, amounting to 13.6 per cent of the broader work force. Since the recession, temporary work has risen at more than triple the pace of permanent employment, the report noted.

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[The following article is extracted from Yahoo! Finance Canada dated 03-May-2013. Note: A full-time job is one that requires 30 or more hours of work per regular work week.]

Nurses, IT analysts among top 10 fastest-growing temp jobs

By CBCnews.ca, Fri, 3 May, 2013 3:13 PM EDT

Despite Canada’s bleak employment numbers in recent years, there has been an increase in jobs such as nursing, banking and landscaping — as long as you’re a temporary worker.

Job search site CareerBuilder.com released a list Friday of the top 10 fastest-growing temporary jobs in Canada based on percentage growth.

Topping the list are licensed practical nurses, an occupation that has grown by 60 per cent — or 296 jobs — since 2010.

Information systems analysts and consultants come in second, with a 44 per cent increase — or 541 jobs added.

Financial clerks, including bank tellers and insurance clerks, are third, with 163 new jobs added, a 43 per cent increase.

Rounding out the top 10 are: landscaping and grounds maintenance workers, purchasing and inventory clerks, records management and filing clerks, payroll clerks, light duty cleaner, registered nurses and computer network technicians.

"There is a myth that temporary positions are just that, temporary, but nearly two in five employers say they plan to transition their temporary workers into fulltime roles sometime this year,” said Ross Levadi, director of staffing and recruiting at CareerBuilder.com.

Unemployment rates across Canada

Precarious employment, which includes contract, part-time, self-employment or temporary work, is becoming more common, according to a report by the Law Commission of Ontario.

"Over the past several decades there has been a significant increase in part-time, temporary and casual forms of work. This type of work lacks security and provides workers with limited benefits," the December 2012 report reads.

Canada’s economy shed 54,500 jobs in March, the worst month for Canadian employment since before the last recession, in February 2009.

GNIE: RN job search - Update 2

The nice thing about living in Metro Vancouver is that one can meet friends by chance on the street and decide on an impromptu evening together. Over dinner, we updated each other about our job search status.

Of our cohort of 26 GNIE graduates who passed the CRNE (i.e. eligible for full practicing licence with the CRNBC), 9 (or 35%) have found Registered Nurse jobs.

• Acute care: 3 
• Residential care: 3 
• Home nursing: 3 

That is amongst those that we know/hear from. I have yet to catch up with some of the other classmates in recent weeks. After looking at the statistics, we were happier. Happy for those who managed to secure jobs.

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For myself, a theme song from an old Singapore TV series comes to mind. It is a show about migrants from China to Singapore during the early twentieth century (i.e. 1900's), when China was in chaos after the fall of the Qing Dynasty and Singapore was still a British colony. All 4 of my grandparents belong to that category, especially my paternal grandparents who arrived as poor immigrants. Having spent my early childhood with my paternal grandparents, I believe I have inherited their grit.

[Note: I am reminded of that recently when my friends talked about our hike up the Stawamus Chief (my young friends are still impressed by my drive to complete the climb despite my lack of previous physical training), and also when I shared with another friend about my episode of pneumonia.  

Aside: I feel very lucky and blessed to have known my paternal grandparents personally.]

新加坡電視劇 - [出路] 片頭
Singapore TV series - ["A way out"] opening sequence

Some food for thought for Singaporeans contemplating emigration: Although one old man despises most of us as descendants of (what he considers) "genetically inferior" coolies/farmers, he who was "born with a silver spoon" (and worked for the Japanese-Axis powers during WWII) will never know the true grit (of those coolies/farmers) that laid the foundation for the miracle of modern Singapore.

From the song lyrics:

走出去 就有路 [If one steps out, one will find a way.]

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Just FYI, the Chinese farmers' story is repeated throughout the world.

Covered Roots: The History of Vancouver's Chinese Farm

CRNE Prep Tips

Just to share, some notes from my previous CRNE preparation, especially for those heading to the 5-June-2013 CRNE. [Note: I gave my original notes away already.]

The following tips are mostly based on my handwritten notes taken during the FREE CRNE Prep Review held at St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, B.C. The review is usually held 3 weeks to 1 month before the CRNE. Google for it to register online.

I also heard through the grapevine that BCNU provides IEN CRNE tutoring at the BCNU office. Please check directly with BCNU for details. [Note: I did not use this service myself.]

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Source of notes:

CRNE - RN Exam Preparation for IENs 

15-Jan-2013 6pm-9pm at St Paul's Hospital

by Kathy Fukuyama (higgs at telnus dot net)

VCC Nursing Instructor and Professional Tutor

Recommended text:

1. Mosby's RN Orange-white-blue (topic-by-topic)

2. Mosby's yellow-green white blue

3. CNA Online Prep test (2 hours / 100Qn from exam bank)

MEMORIZE these lab values:

• pH Body Fluids 7.35 to 7.45
• PaCO2 35-45
• HCO3 26-22
• Lippoprotein: Cholesterol < 5, HDL > 1.55, LDL 2.5-4.5, Trigly 0.45 to 1.69
• Electrolytes range: Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, Phosphate
• Blood glucose: Random 4-6, Fast 3.3-5.8. Note: Hypoglycemia intervention taken depends on the blood glucose level.
• Hema: RBC, Hemoglobin, HCT (hematocrit), WBC, Platlets
• PTT: 25-35 sec
• PT: 11-13 sec
• INR: 0.9 to 1.2

Important topics to note:

• Shock: Neuro, hypo, anaphylactic, cardio, septic, hemodynamic 
• General Principles: Asepsis, Post-op pt teaching, Changes with age, Blood Transfusion (e.g. stop if lower back pain), IV therapy
• Cancer: Common types and Tx (breast, ovarian, lung, colorectal, prostatic). Risk factors, Colostomy and stoma care, change in body image, Teaching (e.g. increase fibre, stoma care, support group).
• Fractures: Types, alignment, external fixation care, cast care
• Hip replacement: teaching, fall prevention, home adjustment
• Bladder re-training: decrease incontinence, teach catherization, toilet by schedule, etc
• Bowel meds: bulk (methycellulose), stimulants (biscody), hyperosomtic (glycerin), softeners (docuosate), lubricants (mineral oil)

Other topics to note:

1. Analyze the CRNE blueprint :

• Competency Categories: Professional Practice 14-24%, Nurse-Client Relationship 9-19%, Health and Wellness 21-31%, Changes in Health 40-50%
• Taxonomy of Cognitive Ability: Knowledge/Comprehension 10+%, Application 40+%, Critical Thinking 40+%
• Contextual Variables: Client (individuals 40-50%, families 25-30%, groups/populations/communities 20-30%), Lifespan (pre-conception to birth, newborn and infant (birth to 12mth), young child (1-6yr), older child (7-12yr), adolescent (13-18yr), young adult (19-35yr), middle adult (36-64), older adult (65-79), advanced age (80+) -- Age 0-18yo 20-30%, 19-64yo 54-70%, 65-80+ 13-28%, Diversity (do not stereotype), Health Situation (continuum of health and illness), Practice Environment (any setting or circumstances within which entry-level RN practices)

2. Analysze the CRNE competencies: Found in the appendix of the CNA CRNE Prep Guide as a guide to contents/knowledge that will be tested

Pre-examination suggestions:

1. When doing practice Q’s, do not just aim to choose the right answer. Be able to explain the rationale for your choice to assure that you know the underlying *principles* well.
2. Practice MCQ exams using only pencil and eraser, they are the only stationery allowed in the exam hall.
3. Study in groups. [Note: Personally I did not do that, but my clinical preceptor and some of my classmates found group-study helps a lot.]
4. Check route to exam site in advance and preferably during the day of week and time of day when you're expected to travel to the site on the exam date, to gauge traffic conditions and have a realistic estimate of the required travel time. Have Plan A and Plan B if taking public transport, in case of trains/buses stalled due to weather or other issues.
5. Fulfill your physiological needs. Get enough sleep (whatever is your norm) the night before the exams. Eat breakfast on the morning of the exam. Empty bladder and bowel before entering the exam hall.

During the exam:

1. CRNE is composed of 180 Q for actual scoring, 20 Q for experimental purposes. Therefore do not panic if question seems weird. [Note: Indeed, I remember one of the questions being distinctively weird.]

2. Time management. 200Q/240min, roughly 1Q/min or 1min/Q, no breaks. [Note: I heard of those who did not finish answering all the 200 exam questions. It took a lot of time to read the long question stems, especially for those multi-part case-stems. And my English is decent, IELTS overall 8.0, reading 9.0!]

3. Underline keywords/values in exam Q. Especially for the multi-part case Q.

4. There will be around 60% Case Q. Case Q’s are independent of each other.

5. There will be around 40% Independent Q. Jump to independent Q at end of section if Case Q is taking too much time. [Note: Personally I did not jump to the independent Q’s despite the case Q’s taking too much of my time, but I did cut down on the time I spent changing my answers.]

6. Do not change answer on the 1st round. 2nd round is for answering any questions that you have skipped. If need to change answer, do it only in round 3 where one is guessing the answer. [Note: Personally I did not skip any question. Even if I had to make a wild guess, I still made the wild guess on the 1st round, just in case I don't have time to come back to the Q later.]

7. Rule of thumb when guessing: Avoid answer options with words "always", "never", "all", "every", "tell pt/NOK/etc". Choose "explore" choices/options with pt.

8. When communicating with pt's (family) doc, written form is better than verbal discussion. If verbal, always follow-up with written form.

9. Read the question root very carefully -- some ask for "FIRST thing the nurse should do" whereas others ask for "what MUST/SHOULD (*most important thing*) the nurse do?" Different answers depending on the question.

10. Remember to answer as if you're a new graduate nurse. Some things may be done differently in the reality of nursing units. But when answering the questions, assume you're working in the "la-la land" of CRNE where time and other resources are never constrained. [Note: And may I add, in "la-la land" all colleagues/managers will go all out to help each other.]

11. When answering questions, remember to base it on Canadian-wide policies, not provincial ones because CRNE is for all provinces except Quebec. A good place to find Canadian-wide policies is the Health Canada website.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

http://cna-aiic.ca

12. Good luck! [Note: IMHO, luck plays a part.]

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Passing mark: See CNA CRNE Bulletin 5 and Bulletin 6.

[Note: I found the exam hard and was expecting the possibility of failing, similarly for some of my classmates. But it turned out that I passed and so did many of my GNIE classmates. So don't fret too much if one's guts don't feel good after the exam.]

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For more helpful ideas, check out the CRNBC document "Information for Candidates who fail the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination" with contents:

• "Why do people fail the CRNE?"
• "How will I know that I am ready to retake the CRNE?"
• "Resources"

One knows oneself best. If necessary, consider paying for CRNE Preparation Tutorials. It costs around CAD1,000. 

[Note: Personally I did not use their services. IMHO, from my observation, it made a huge difference in a classmate's performance (pre-tutorial vs post-tutorial). All my classmates (I think there were 7 of them who took the CRNE in Feb-2013) who attended classes by someone who specializes *only in "CRNE Preparation"* (*hint hint*) passed the exam. That said, I have heard that there exist IEN(s) who attended the same classes but did not pass. I declare that I do not know the tutors nor do I have any vested interests in their tutorial services. So caveat emptor!]

Worst case scenario: If you're more comfortable with NCLEX-RN exam, wait until 2015 when CRNE will be replaced by NCLEX-RN.