Moving to the Philppines for nursing education?

suzanne4, RN · Jan 21, 2006

It is hard to get into programs there, and you will need to be able to speak Tagalog for most clinicals. The other issue that you have is that you will need to complete a full four program there vs. just a two year program here.

Not very logical. And it would not save you any time in the end either, as a graduate a foreign nursing school, you will need to go thru the process of getting your curriculum approved, where you do not have with the US schools.

I would check out Puerto Rico or another US territory first, such as Saipan or even Guam.

nrswnabee · Jan 21, 2006

Short story: How feasible would it be for a U.S. citizen to move to the Philippines temporarily for a few years to take the necessary classes and pass the boards, and then move back to the U.S.?
Long story: I have lived in the urbanized and very beautiful city of Portland, Oregon for all of my life. I am interested in a nursing career, but it is very hard to get accepted into the nursing programs in this entire Northwest region. The very close and excellent public university (OHSU) has an acceptance ratio below 20%. The community colleges in the area all use lottery systems with year-long waitlists. The private universities are quite expensive as usual.
Therefore, I have to start preparing backup plans if the public university doesn't work out, and that is very possible. One plan was staying where I am now and shelling out huge cash for private university. The other was moving to a less urban, less interesting part of the U.S. where their nursing schools aren't so fricken full. Then the idea occured to me that maybe I could move to somewhere beyond the U.S.
I work as a CNA at a nursing home here. I have come to enjoy the company of the filipino nurses and aides (and my heart fell for a certain filipina, but she is now gone). One nurse whom I refer to as 'Ate' wants to take me to the Philippines so she can use her influence to find me a wife, since I am almost 20, male, and quite single. But in all seriousness, I think I could like the place and the people.
How expensive would it be to live there and attend school for however long it would be? I am talking all expenses, travel rent tuition food recreation etc. Would it be more expensive than just private university here? Think $20,000 easy. I am certainly ready to make a big change in my life, as I have no strong connections with people here aside from my mostly loving family :)
This is just an idea that I would like to entertain a bit. On the outside it sounds pretty bizarre, but I would really like to know if it could be possible, and logical. Any responses are appreciated!

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yes, it's cheaper to study in the philippines---tuition, rent..cost of living given that you have dollars to pay for everything. dollar exchange may be about usd1=P55.

generally, the medium of instruction in the phils is english (although they are changing now to use of filipino for i believe in elementary level and some subjects taught before in english now being taught in filipino/tagalog....social studies, etc.). for college, which includes nursing, i think it's okay if you only use english as teachers conduct classes in english. you'd only need to speak tagalog if relating to a patient who can't speak english which actually is rare. most filipinos do speak english.... you can actually ask anyone on the street in english and they can answer you. just don't expect impeccable english all the time, though.

this is not to say you should study in the phils. you may have other options suited to your situtation here in the us. you may try other states....about long lists of nursing programs, have you tried inquiring directly with the department in-charge? the one i'm attending right now also had the same "reputation" but when i asked them, i found out that there is no such list. people refer to waiting lists as made up of those who applied but didn't quite make the cut so their names were carried over to the next round of applications. not true. each year, every wannabe needs to turn in his application. if they don't make it, then they can always try again...if their grades don't sit well with others, then there's always the option of taking courses under another program (say general studies) creditable to nursing (say, anatomy, microbiology, psychology, etc...), making good grades and submitting your application with an improved gpa altogether. you may want to explore this possibility instead of very expensive universities. you can always that after adn, right?

just my thoughts.

IseeU_rn · Jan 22, 2006

You're already here, why leave? People in the Philippines would probably trade to be in your shoes. Even though they say the admission is competitive, try to apply still. I recommend applying to more than one school so you'll have choices in the end. If going to a private university is financially impossible, try applying for a loan. visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ There would be more options for you since you're a US citizen. You don't have to pay these loans while you are in school and you start your payments 6 months after you graduate. Trust me, you'd have a job before then. Be resourceful and check out the net for info on universities and community or private colleges in Oregon. THe only thing about applying out of state is that you'll have to pay non-resident tuition for the 1st year and the cost adds up. My roommate in college was from Hawaii and she paid almost double of what I was paying as a resident. If you do decide to go out of state, you'll need to stay for a year in that state (change your address to that state) so you'll get the resident tuiton. Goodluck and welcome to the fun world of nursing

wincha · Jan 22, 2006

why wouldn't you just move to another area of the usa to go to nursing school rather than going to another country?

oneLoneNurse · Jan 22, 2006

Short story: How feasible would it be for a U.S. citizen to move to the Philippines temporarily for a few years to take the necessary classes and pass the boards, and then move back to the U.S.?
Long story: I have lived in the urbanized and very beautiful city of Portland, Oregon for all of my life. I am interested in a nursing career, but it is very hard to get accepted into the nursing programs in this entire Northwest region. The very close and excellent public university (OHSU) has an acceptance ratio below 20%. The community colleges in the area all use lottery systems with year-long waitlists. The private universities are quite expensive as usual.
What about Canada ?

eliza_mae017 · Jan 23, 2006

hello Blue:nurse:I am a nursing graduate here on Saipan. I would suggest check out some of the US territory such as here on Saipan.. Its a US COmmonwealth, to be able to enter to nursing program here is easy.. I graduated with 3.5 gpa. I am filipina but my parents is here soo, i took my nursing here. As for me, am international student soo, am $130 per credit... For locals here since they are US resident, they are $60 per credit or Above now...

My family is in average type of living, whats good here oN Saipan.. In the college, they won't force u to pay the whole tuition fee for this sem for example. You can pay half then have a promissory note .. But promise to pay it before the end of the semester... And thats how I graduate, and am thankful about that........ In the philippines, its a good country, people are nice, but in terms of nursing education.. U really have to think about it twice, since "YES" its cheap but i guess it will take 4 yrs to graduate, and lots and lots of test that u have to pass first before u will be qualify to work in the US.

As for u coz ur a US citizen already, of course nursing practice in the philippines i think is not the same as US nursing practice.... Besides here u can graduate with AA Nursing degree...

SO think about it, its up tooo yOU! :nurse:

KatieBell · Jan 23, 2006

moving somewhere else in the US will not increase your chances of getting into a program, even "Less interesting places" have the same competitiveness.

Going overseas would not be a choice. There are so many options out there. I just accepted a job that actually is going to forgive my loan (Pay it for me up to 10,000 USD) and there are other things to assist with your education, some hospitals wil hire you as an UAP and then support your nursing education in exchange for your agreement to work for them for a length of time after graduation.

Theres a lot of ways to do this.

ustegrl · Jan 23, 2006

It must be frustrating for u that living up to ur dreams is hard to fulfill. U can only decide for urself. I graduated in the philippines and now working in a big hospital here in SF. I think going to the philippines is a good idea to take up ur nursing. Not only the tuition is way cheap compared to US...u'll have a very strong nursing background. The education program in the philippines is way challenging than US...and from where i graduate, some of the students were also US citizens and believe me, they survived...all our teachers are very fluent in english...and compared to taking ADN vs BSN, its best that u take 4 yr course coz nursing is a difficult course, u need a good foundation to be really competent.It takes time to develop that skills, knowledge and attitude. HOw else can u get all that within 2 yrs? And believe me, most hospitals prefer BSN than ADn. That's just my input.

good luck to you!

IseeU_rn · Jan 24, 2006

Hi, I understand and respect ustegrl's opinion, but I have some opinion I'd like to share as well....I'm not an ADN, but I do work with some nurses who graduated with an Assoc. degree. Most ADN nurses are very good with clinical skills because that's where they focus their schooling versus BS nurses, we learn about extra stuff such as research, etc. Don't get me wrong, I think they are important classes, but as a newly hired new-grad wouldn't one rather be able to do an IV than to explain how the Holistic Conceptual model of nursing works? ADN nurses are more proficient with skills, and studies have shown that ADNs are more prepared entering a job (because of this), than a newly grad BSN. Of course, after a while we, BSN nurses catch up as we learn the skills. But they (ADNs) also have what we had in nursing school, such as pathophys, pharm, etc. Theirs is just more focused and specific. We would probably know more about a certain topic, but theirs is more nursing specific. None of those half hour physical exams we don't really do in real life. Plus, they could always pursue a BS degree in time. After that, who's to distinguish them from the rest of the BSNs?Competency comes with practice and increasing exposure to an experience, not just being able to pass a test or two (in my opinion). Even the clinicals on a 4 year course wouldn't suffice to make one a competent nurse. My preceptor ones told me, you'll forget mostly what you've learned in nursing school, most of what you'll learn and remember is what you do now, when you're working. I believe that, beause I'm experiencing it.I admire nurses who didn't graduate in the US because they undergo a more rigorous training to prove that they can practice here. I agree with you about having a good foundation, and there are schools here that could provide that, too, may it be a two-year or a four-year course. It's up to a person to build that foundation by studying hard and exerting the extra effort. As for hiring preference, it's a case to case basis. Some hospitals do prefer BS grads, but others (due to the shortage as well) don't really have a preference.

imenid37 · Jan 24, 2006

Try the University of the Virgin Islands. I think the website is uvi.edu. Best of luck to you. They do take n-clex and report a high pass rate on the test. Oh to be 20 again. I am twice your age. My daughter is applying to nursing schools now. I told her if she gets in, she will just have to ride out any homesickness, boredom, etc. as our local community collge has a two year wait list. Don't totally dismiss the private colleges/universities option. Many have lots of financial aid and many hospitals here in the East are doing tuition payback for new grads w/ loans in exchange for a work committment.

here2care · Jan 25, 2006

hi! i would like to really help you out with this situation. it seems that everyone has there own opinion. but if my personal experience can help you a bit or give you more insight, i'm glad to be of help.

(my short or long story) i've lived in California since "89. a US citizen. Graduated high school there and also took vocational courses which i finished and work with the course (98-2001)..

since i was born here in the Philippines, i'm sure our perspective may differ. but which i hope we both want to be a successful person someday...a few years back.... well, my main reason of pursuing my studies here because of a few hindrances from studying and putting my whole focus on the matter. one of which "working". you are currently working right? well, i've already experience the life of a working student. and personally, it was fun at first but at the end i can only priorities one thing at a time. for me... which was school. i had a grant. sure the government was going to help me out with that i highly appreciated for it. but i had to keep up a certain GPA. like i said, while i was a working-student. it only took a month for me to realized that i had to do something about my job. it was a big challenge coz i'm not so blessed with high IQ. i have to work hard to get from pt.A 2 pt.B. (if you can relate to that) the sad part is that i've only worked for this place for less than 5 months and i had a promotion already. now, i was really stuck between thorns. i had a grant and a work promotion. and the challenging part was that. i'm paying for this vocational course. the question is, who's going to pay for this, right? guess what i did? i became a full-time student and finished my course with a GPA of 3.7.(A- ave. 95%). the rest was provided by the Grace of God. Pray without ceasing!! you think i made the right choice? but then, this course wasn't enough for me. i still want to achieve more and that is to graduate from a bachelor degree. i came down here last 2001 to take up Optometry in Cebu. CDC. which is related to the vocational course i have taken there in SF. then later on found out that my being finish with a doctor degree, coming back there will only be honored as an assistant. so that was sad for my part. so i took a semester off and went back to Cali. and plan for my next step. and so i came across with nursing. since i was told left and right, why not take up nursing instead. you know if only knew this was going to happen i would have quit from there and go back to my minimum wage pay and but then regret for of my life time (maybe)for taking the 1st step and pulling it through to the end. but it didn't stop me there. that is why, i couldn't help but reply to your concern.

i hope my story will make you understand or see that its ok to go here and study nursing. i'm now second yr BSN, full-time. i'm leaving off of an allowance of $500 a month. were talking about that will pay for everything as i repeat everything. from apt. rent, food. misc. addition to personal expenses too. now tell me, with your work how much are you making a month? between 1-2 thou.? and i'm sure you spent 75% of that for yourself, right? and believe me, i know what i'm talking about.. i was once in your shoes. ( we could be different in that aspect) but i love to travel, that's why. hehe and i could barely keep my bank account happy.

anyhow, back to your concern. so is it expensive? for me i think not. as you can see from some of the msgs from the other forums, Philippines is one of the cheap country to finish education. i already justify that for being here.

if this break in can help you which i hope it will.. my personal research and studies..hehehe

if you start with: ( personal data)

$500 a month x 12 = 6000 a yr. or more if you like. $700??

35-40,000 pesos 1 yr. tuition x 4yrs. (BSN) = 140,000-160,000/53.30 1usd. $3,007.5 (BSN) course.

6,000

3,007.5

$9,007.5 x 4= $36,030 this is the total of 4yrs here in the Philippines.

with a BSN.. ??? is $9-10k a year too expensive for 4yrs.??

This may vary of where you stay or the way of life-style you will have here. so they say that most nurses start at the rate of 30-45k a year. so what is the comparison of a life-time achievement to 35-45k a year? Your yearly earning is just a beneficial for your our part. Personally, my main focus now is to finish an education. your still young, and my best advice is.. its self-explanatory. Education first while, your still young coz work and money will always be there where you left it.

if someone invented the time machine, i would have done this when i was at your age...

I Pray and Wish you all the Best!! God Bless in everything you do from here on now..

ps. hit me up if you need more info...