[caringnursenj]

And also, I'd like to add that I do believe that the Filipino Nurses who are working overseas are highly qualified. They pass through a very competitive and rigid hiring procedure. Take for example a Filipino Nurse who gets hired by a US facility. Before she even rakes in the money and gets appropriate documentation, he/she has to pass a language exam, CGFNS, NCLEX, and even a medical exam required by the embassy. Then there is the Visa Screen. If they are still not qualified after all these undertakings, then something must be wrong with the screening process and system---and not the nurses!

[Alexk49]

Originally Posted by caringnursenj

And also, I'd like to add that I do believe that the Filipino Nurses who are working overseas are highly qualified. They pass through a very competitive and rigid hiring procedure. Take for example a Filipino Nurse who gets hired by a US facility. Before she even rakes in the money and gets appropriate documentation, he/she has to pass a language exam, CGFNS, NCLEX, and even a medical exam required by the embassy. Then there is the Visa Screen. If they are still not qualified after all these undertakings, then something must be wrong with the screening process and system---and not the nurses!

]

Those are not nursing qualifications, if you cited that the nurse where board certified or a member of a Nursing Honor society you have me excited. When I have applied for positions, I have to provide professional and personal recommendations, how can a foreign graduate have these references checked? An agency is not a professional reference. Most jobs I have applied for I have had to have a physical , so the qualifications you are citing are routine practice.

[lawrence01]

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[john83]

Here's another "false hope" coming from a Philippine government link:

http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item.php?articleid=898

[pinoyNP]

If RNs in these first-world countries are being threatened by qualified Nurses from third-world countries that is why some are so fuming mad because they feel that their jobs are being taken away from them, then I believe that this thing should promote hard-work, professionalism, and dedication even more on their part.

Oh no you did not just say that! Although I wrote that in a joking manner, I seriously think that we should be very careful saying things like this. Part of the reason for the so-called nursing shortage is that many applicants to nursing programs are turned away even if they are qualified. Many schools in the US simply do not have enough slots and faculty to accommodate all the applicants. That's why you read stuff such as waiting lists, lottery systems, and point systems when it comes to nursing school admissions here. Do you think an American would find it fair that many US applicants for nursing programs are denied admission to these programs and yet we are clamoring for an open-door policy for foreign nurse employment? I think it's just fair for many Americans to question the hiring of foreign workers when there is enough people here who want to fill the job vacancies but are being turned away.

I would also try not to insinuate that American nurses should be more professional, work harder, and be more dedicated so that American health care facilities would quit hiring foreign nurses. You might be new here in the US but foreign nurse recruting became a short-term fix by many business-minded hospital administrators to alleviate the nursing shortage for many years. This did not really fix the root of the issue with the nursing shortage because many nurses left the profession burnt-out due to poor working conditions and unfair salaries. At the present time, most of the current discussion on fixing the problem of the nursing shortage among ANA and similar nursing groups do not revolve around supplementing the workforce with foreign nurses anymore. And that is absolutely bad for our nurses back in the Philippines. But then, this is their country and they can decide on whatever solution they want (by the way, this is my country now too ).

It is not the fault of the Filipino RNs if they want to seek a better life for themselves and their families---it is just a basic need, it is human nature indeed. But don't you ever wonder why and isn’t it interesting that these first world countries actually have policies for migration that opens doors to qualified nurses from other countries?

And I'm sure many Americans are aware of that and are sympathetic to your plight. However, remember again that America needs to look out for its own people first and foremost. America's responsibility is to safeguard each citizen's right to make a decent living. And this has not been more true as it is now with the current economic situation here and the fact that even though there is a so-called nursing shortage, many of the solutions proposed involve increasing enrollment in US nursing schools, funding educational programs at the graduate level to increase qualified faculty in nursing schools, and improving working conditions for practicing nurses. No mention of foreign nurse recruitment anymore, unfortunately.

[Alexk49]

pinoyNP, your post was excellent. I don't know how long you have been in the USA? But you write like a true American. You have taken your nursing career to the highest level. You are aware of nursing history and policy. You seem to be a credit to the nursing community.

My question, how can all nurses work together? It sounds like the Phillipine nurses are in a bad situation. They are getting misinformation and been taken advantage. How can the nurses on this forum help? Should we be writing to our congressional representatives and asking them to the American Embassey in the Phillpines educate the nursing student and nurses about the realities of a nursing future in the USA?

How can the Phillipine nurses effect change in their own country? Perhaps we should be helping find solutions in their home country rather than looking for an escape hatch out.

[suzanne4]

The US has never had an open door policy on immigration, there has always been restrictions to it with the number that could come in during any one year and that has not changed thru the years. Until a few years ago, most came here on the H1-B and then had to wait to be petitioned for the green card if their employer liked them down the road.

Passing of the exams and the medical exam has nothing to do with nursing skill at all, many recently have come here without any experience and it shows.

In the past, the local license and the CGFNS exam were required before anyone came here. It is only with the NCLEX exams being offered overseas that we are actually seeing things change.

[caringnursenj]

I am not new in the US and I am a US RN too. And yes, I agree that America's responsibility is to safeguard each citizen's right to make a decent living. But what I’m pointing out is that we cannot also pretend to be blind that globalization is happening and competition is getting tougher and tougher whether you accept it or not. Some people may not embrace it or accept the fact easily, but that’s okay---that’s your point-of-view. I never generalized and said that everyone is fuming mad and cannot accept it. I just said that I have come across SOME who think that way. Employment of foreign nurses do not just focus on Filipino Nurses---it also means employment of other Nurses from other parts of the world. It is true that there has always been a restriction to migration for the longest time ---in fact they are filtered and asked for certain qualifications that are set by each country. And although passing of the nursing exams and medical exams don’t have anything to do with nursing skills, the truth of the matter is no board of nursing in the US actually tests nurses for their skills/asks them to demonstrate it before they get their license. Just my opinion. There are no wrong or right answers. Peace out!

[suzanne4]

The issue is that there are less than 10,000 visas per year for those from the Philippines desiring green cards with employer petitioning and that includes dependents in that number. Total for the entire US is limited to 140,000. And with over 900,000 in school there now, and almost every other country requiring the local license as well as experience, there are going to be many that will never work in the field. And that is where the problem is to start off with.

[nieruth]

I suggest the NLE passing would increase to 90%