Because of its proximity to Asia, the CNMI could become a major National Council Licensing Examination site for foreign-trained nurses. The government, however, needs to come up with procedures for these medical personnel, according to Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider.
Hofschneider said NCLEX could help the commonwealth generate more revenues.
NCLEX is a national nursing certification examination administered under the auspices of the U.S. state nursing boards.
Currently, an average of 100 nurses from foreign countries take NCLEX on Saipan every month, according to Victor A. Mesta, who administers the examination through a contract between the U.S. National Council of State Boards of Nurses and Prometric Thomson Learning.
Over 90 percent of these nurses is from the Philippines, said Mesta, who is also the director of Northern Marianas College’s Student Development Division.
If any foreign-trained nurse passes the examination, then she will be licensed to practice in the CNMI or in any other U.S. states and territories. However, each individual state has additional requirements.
Prometric started administering the NCLEX on Saipan in Jan. 2000.
According to Hofschneider, another company, Vue, would take over the administration of the examination on Saipan beginning in October.
Mesta said Prometric is closing doors on Saipan as the national council decided not to renew the contract with the center.
Hofschneider said there would have to be sufficient physical testing facilities if the CNMI wants to become a major NCLEX testing site.
He said assessing transcripts from many foreign nursing schools would strain the resources of the Commonwealth Board of Nurse Examiners.
“The CNMI Board of Nursing should either modify the current law to include procedures for foreign-trained nurses or generate regulations that govern the NCLEX testing of foreign-trained nurses,” he said.
These regulations should require the use of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Schools of Nursing or an independent credentialing firm, he said.
“In both instances, the cost of this certification would be borne by the applicant,” Hofschneider added.
The CNMI Board of Nursing issues licenses based either on reciprocity or on examination like NCLEX. The board authorizes qualified individuals to sit for the examination, and in return, it collects an $80 fee from the applicants.
