Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA)
The Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA) is an examination that assesses nursing knowledge and practice. It evaluates your practice against the Entry-Level Competencies for Registered Nurses in Manitoba. These are the minimum level of competencies required for entry-level registered nurses in a variety of practice settings.
On this page
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About The clinical competency assessment process
Registered Nurse CCA
The CCA is an opportunity for you to demonstrate how your knowledge and practice matches what is expected of registered nurses to deliver safe and competent care. All registered nurses must demonstrate that they can meet the entry-level competencies.
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CCA components
The assessment is currently made up these components:
- Written diagnostic exams
- Clinical Judgment Scenarios (CJS)
- Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Please note that a Remote Delivery option for all components of the CCA is under development.
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Preparing for the assessment
The CCA looks at entry-level competencies; it does not look at expert levels of nursing practice.
Even if you have practiced in a highly specialized area, your knowledge and practice is being compared to entry-level competencies. You will likely need to refresh your entry-level knowledge before you take the CCA.
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Assessment areas
You may be asked to complete assessments in any or all of the following areas:
- Ambulatory care
- Community health
- Emergency care
- Geriatrics
- Medical
- Mental health
- Obstetrics
- Palliative care
- Pediatric and adolescent health
- Surgical
How to apply
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Internationally educated nurses
If you are an internationally educated nurse looking to be a registered nurse in Canada, you begin your application through the National Nursing Assessment Service. After the NNA has received all required documents from you and has reviewed your file, they forward it to the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba. The CRNM reviews the file and determines which components of the CCA you must complete.
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Canadian educated nurses
If you are a nurse educated in Canada, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba identifies the need for a CCA and sends the referral form to the Assessment Centre. The CRNM determines which components of the assessment you must complete.
Authorized Prescriber CCA
The Authorized Prescriber (AP) Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA) provides nurses the opportunity to demonstrate their prescribing knowledge, skills and judgement in practice. It is an examination used to assess an individual’s practice for gaps in their ability to meet the Competencies for Nursing Authorized Prescribers in Manitoba.
CCA components
The assessment is made up these components:
- A written diagnostic exam
- Objective-Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE)
Additional information is available on this site and on the College of Registered Nurses and College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses websites:
Assessment
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Authorized prescriber reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne pathogens clinical competence assessment
You will be assessed for competencies grouped under the following headings:
- Assessment and Diagnosis of Client Health/Illness Status
- Pharmacotherapeutics and Other Therapeutic Interventions in Client Care
- Professional Responsibilities and Accountabilities
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Authorized prescriber diabetes health clinical competence assessment
You will be assessed for competencies grouped under the following headings:
- Assessment and Diagnosis of Client Health/Illness Status
- Pharmacotherapeutics and Other Therapeutic Interventions in Client Care
- Professional Responsibilities and Accountabilities
For more information, view the sample OSCE video.
Written exam details
Overview
The RN Clinical Competency Assessment Exams and the AP Clinical Competency Assessment Exam are computer-based written examinations.
You will find them online within the University of Manitoba Learning Management System which is called UM Learn (also called Brightspace or D2L).
Exams are written at home, in a quiet private space. If you do not have a quiet private space in your home, you may choose a different location. However, you must be alone at all times while writing your exam(s).
Exams are monitored and recorded using a webcam and a program called Respondus Monitor, which will note any abnormal movements or talking. Also remember the contents of all exams are confidential and therefore nobody else can see your computer screen while you are writing.
In your exam room you may have:
- Calculator
- Clear bottle of water
- Pencils
- Scrap paper (one sheet)
To pass the written exam you must achieve a minimum score of 65%.
Technical requirements
You will require:
- Laptop or desktop computer
- Web camera (internal or external)
- Reliable broadband internet connection
- Windows 10, 8, 7 or Mac os x 10.12 or higher
If you do not have a computer with these specifications, you may borrow a laptop from the College of Nursing with Respondus Monitor already loaded. You may pick up the laptop the day prior to your exam(s) and return it the day following completion. A $100 refundable deposit is required.
Confidentiality and conduct
Upon booking an AP CCA, candidates will be asked to read and sign a confidentiality agreement stating that they will not disseminate or reveal any content of the CCA. Breaches include, but are not limited to:
- Comparing client and candidate responses with colleagues
- Sharing exam content
- Posting case information or exam questions online
- Cheating or dishonest behaviors during the exams
NOTE: Any breach in confidentiality of AP CCA material may lead to disciplinary and legal measures, including invalidating your results. CRNM or CRPNM will be notified of any breaches.
Resources
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Nursing skills videos
These videos demonstrate how to perform common nursing skills. The skills depicted are based on current evidence-based practice research and guidelines as well as policy and procedures specific to the region. Site specific policies may vary.
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Canadian Nurses Association
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College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
Additional resources for Authorized Prescribers
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- College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
- College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba
- PHAC STBBI Guides for Health Professionals
- Cancer Prevention and Screening for Healthcare Providers: CervixCheck
- Manitoba Health STBBI– Communicable Disease Control
- WRHA Healthy Sexuality & Harm Reduction
- SOGC Clinical Practice Guideline – Vulvovaginitis
- SOGC - HPV Information
- CATIE – HIV & Hepatitis C
- SOGC Clinical Practice Guideline – Canadian Contraception Consensus
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- Canadian Paediatric Society – Contraceptive Care for Canadian Youth
- WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use
- U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use
- WHO Postpartum Family Planning Compendium
- International Consortium for Emergency Contraception – Medical & Service Delivery Guidance
- AAFP – Provision of Contraception – Key Recommendations from the CDC
- PHAC – Canadian Immunization Guide
- Manitoba Health – Immunization
- WRHA – Regional Immunization Manual
- WHO – Family Planning
Contact us
For more information about the Clinical Competence Assessment, please contact:
Kimberly Workum
kimberly.workum@umanitoba.ca
College of Nursing
Helen Glass Centre for Nursing
89 Curry Place
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry Campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
204-474-7452
204-474-7682