October 5, 2023

Yesterday, representatives of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ met with the directors of the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) to discuss the last report from the Commissioner for Admission to Professions and its consequences. They learned that not only are the exam results from September 2022 and March 2023 called into question but that the September 2023 results will be delayed given the recent involvement of the Office des professions du Québec (OPQ). 

“Not only did the OIIQ make competent candidates wrongly believe that they failed, candidates who took the exam again will be penalized anew by delayed exam results. We understand that the OPQ’s involvement impacts the OIIQ, but it seems like no one is thinking about the candidates who have been wronged twice now,” explained Julie Bouchard, FIQ President. 

The FIQ shares the frustration of candidates who failed again: the Federation is following the situation closely and will not allow any member’s rights to be violated. 

“The candidates for admission to the practice of the nursing profession (CEPI) are full members of the FIQ. We will defend their rights vigorously. If the Commissioner and OPQ believe that the raised passing mark since 2022 is unjustified, then we know that some members have been wronged. There’s no way that we will allow qualified healthcare professionals to suffer the consequences of a poorly corrected exam or of an arbitrarily raised passing mark,” declared Julie Bouchard, FIQ President. 

The Commissioner’s recent report states that the CEPIs had a lack of pedagogic support and guidance, as well as an excessive workload as they tried to prepare for the September 2022 exam. There may also have been a lack of exam prep material. The FIQ would like to point out that CEPIs have a right to working and practice conditions that support their learning and success in the exam. 

In parallel, the OPQ, which is responsible for ensuring that professional orders protect the public, believes that the OIIQ must promptly correct the problems with its exam. It is important to note that, despite the fact that the problems with the exam were reported over a year ago, during a pandemic, the government did nothing and let the situation drag on. 

“The most frustrating thing in this whole story has been seeing the OIIQ, OPQ and government waste time before doing anything. Qualified candidates have been questioning their own abilities for over a year. For some, that means they have spent a year wondering if they should stay in the profession. It’s unacceptable and shows the government’s lack of respect for healthcare professionals,” concluded Julie Bouchard.