Foreign Nurses from the Philippines

neriners · Feb 24, 2004

nurses:
please also be careful with the agencies that is helping. make sure that they are licensed and regulated. dont be taken advantaged, ok?
Good luck to the ones that are very excited to come out to the US or anywhere else....TIP #1: Learn how to drive, if you are immigrating to the US.
Hospital experience would be great, because it's more inter dependent-nursing out here, you report to the doctor what your pt status is, and you get tel order, etc...with independence, comes accountability and you have to be assertive and reliable. But alot of times, the nurse collaborates with other disciplines, but the case manager is the nurse...not the doctor.
NCLEX-RN will reformat some questions this APRIL, the fill in the blank, the hot spot and the multiple-multiple will be used...please review and be prepared. suggestions lang po. Good luck and God bless
RIA

hi ria! tnx for the message. may i know where are you working ryt now? any tips for the NCLEX - RN reformat? what book to read/review? are you in immigrant visa, did you bring your family with you (just in case, ur married and have kids)? thanks.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 24, 2004

docnapiv: You must complete the Visa Screen program via CGFNS as a requirement to getting a work permit to work in the US. Which for nurses, it means a green card. One of the requirements of CGFNS is that you have a license in your country to practice as a nurse. Are your dates correct that you graduated in 1988? Also in order for you to get a green card, you have to have an offer of a job from a sponsor, such as hospital or company. Have you been working as a physician for the past 15 years?

You can send me a PM if you would like.........................I am in Bangkok so I am familiar with most of the problems that are coming up with everyone.

Good luck.

kyutnurse · Feb 25, 2004

Attention: DOCNAPIV. I do not think you need to pass the CGFNS exam for some states, not all 50 states have the same nursing board, so the rules may be different from state to state. You have to contact the state board that you are going to, where did you take the board exam anyway? That is your original license...you will then transfer, or "apply for endorcement" for that license to where ever state you are going to practice as a nurse. I am not the info guru, I only want to share, ok?

As far as I know, all nurses coming in the USA right now automatically gets permanent resident status, I have met quite so many of them...already, I think it's very exciting for us Filipinos. Money wise, it really depends on where you go...you would probably start as new grad RN...then have internship (3-6 months) it depends on which specialty you want/available or assigned to. San Francisco rates starts as 33 per hour as a new grad RN, please bear in mind approx 30% of your money you will never see here in the USA grabehh ang taxes....(Federal Tax, State tax...etch) Also, the rent is quite expensive and super mahal ang bahay in San Francisco..super dami ng filipinos though....and it's hard to be homesick, when you are sorrounded by max's, goldilocks, and alot of filipinos to hang out with...California have strict patient/nurse ratio laws, and paywise, after the 8th hour it's 1.5 of your pay, after the 12th hour it's double pay in california. On the other hand in Dallas, Texas... new grad RN will start at a rate...hmmm about 19.00/ hour the rent is decent and housing is nice....medyo wala lang magawa (boring). As what I have observed...ICU nurses are ones making the big bucks...hehehe...dont be shock kung super dami ng filipinos in ICU dept. the patient ratio is 2 patients to 1 nurse. I hope that my sharing helped a kababayan out there.

RIA

kyutnurse · Feb 25, 2004

AttN: NERINERS

Ok, neriners this is hard for me to explain...if you have the brown application booklet to apply for NCLEX, there's a couple of samples in pg 17...starting april 2004 they have these new format questions. I have found a book published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, it's entitled NCLEX-RN 250 new format Questions, published 2004. What they have mentioned in a conference is that they have raised the bars on nursing....whatever that means. I am an LPN in a bridge program right now for RN, and I will be graduating this coming May. I am also reviewing for the RN board. What I have noticed on reviews is that those medications questions are fill in the blank ie: gtts per minute answers. The telemetry strips always always shows up on the reviews I have been, and the treatments ie: atropine for sinus bradycardia

and the auscultatory areas (APE TO MAN) spots. Also the Intake and Output you have to calculate yourself, so kinda polish yourself if you need to. ABG's are to be expected on the nclex (it even showed up for nclex-pn, so I would expect it for nclex-rn) and know the treatments...Oh, one of my friends said that they went crazy for chest tubes questions...and of course Labwork for digoxin and theophylline and lithium and tegretol...Oh, dont forget the therapeutic communications style and what should the nurse respond....Herbs they say are also coming out and those culturally sensitive questions. Are we getting excited or what??? WE WILL PASS OK, we worked so hard not to. Oh, please...let's not forget our wonderful Psych...Mr Erik Erikson, and his developmental tasks and Mr. MASLOW's and his delightful pyramid of needs....

What we should think is that, the nclex test is one step closer for that wonderful alphabet that we really want....hehehe (can you tell, I need a promotion really soon...)

Whatever happens, I just have to remind myself, that the most important thing is that...I am commited to this, and this is what I want.....

Oh, to those coming in the US as nurses....please get malpractice insurance, and dont say that you have one....the lawyers costs too much 300 bucks per hour...and malpractise insurance will help ALOT, just in case. Because you just dont know when something's gonna happen.....

Malpractice insurance is about 200 bucks a year. L&D is higher though...400 i think per year. I am lucky that I have never have to use it so far, but if something happens, I got lawyers working for me...

GOD Bless!

Ria

kyutnurse · Feb 25, 2004

Attn: Neriners

I am using the med-surg review book published by Lippincott. author:Ray Huttel-Hargrove. cost: about 25 bucks. She's straight to the point. She's also my lecture and clinical instructor, so maybe that's why it's easier for me coz we use that in school too. For questions purposes: Lippincott's NCLEX-RN by Diane Billings is only questions based. It's an orange color book with 5000 questions. cost: about 30 bucks.

If you want in depth book type: You know those big thick books in nursing school that you dont like to carry around? Well...Medical Surgical Nursing: by Ignatavicius and Workman is the book that you would want. cost: about 90 bucks.

I heard there's quite alot of review centers there in Manila, my barkada said his sister is going to one right now and it cost his 17 thousand pesos. I dont know how long the review would be. The ones that I have been are 3 days long, and very fast....they dont lecture, they just ramble on and on about the "WHY". I have been reviewing and reviewing my butt off....and still, (sigh....) anyways....let's just look forward to that wonderful test....ok?

I am studying here in the states, and my school is a tiny tiny school in Dallas, so my teachers over compensate, they want 100% board passing every time. I am also self supporting, too ashamed to ask my parents for anything because they are both retired....nahihiya ako humingi ng pera, and I feel that I am old na (27) to be asking for money....I am graduating late because I partied too much when I was young....and I kept on changing my mind for the career that I want. But anyways, I finally found my space in this world....and I make a difference. What I have noticed is that some filipinos are very competitive here in the states...who's got the best jewelry, car, house, etch....I wish that Filipinos would be more supportive of each other, and let's encourage each other and let's give something back to the community, it's not all about the money....it's not all about how much you have in your bank account.

Years from now, when I am old and demented, surely, I wont remember what kind of leather goods I have, and what kind of car I drove....I just want to share myself, and make a difference in somebody else's life...and have fulfillment in that too.

Filipinos are some of the most hard working people that I have met in my life, they work double shifts, triple shifts, 365 days a year.....but I have also noticed that they forget how important it is to be present in sharing the lives of their children and significant others.

I would like to remind myself one day, to not do that, since I have that in genetic pool...the hard working individual, I want the things that I never had before attitude....

believe me, I am not super nurse. I am just kyut.

RIA

kyutnurse · Feb 25, 2004

HEY DOCNAPIV!

GET SOME CONFIDENCE, OK. YOU HAVE CALIFORNIA RN LICENSE, YOU WILL GET AN INTERNSHIP. SOMEDAY YOU WILL HAVE YOUR RESIDENCY HERE AS A DOCTOR.

YOU WILL MAKE THE FILIPINOS PROUD. AND WHEN THE TIME COMES WHEN YOU ARE A DOCTOR, YOU WILL TREAT YOUR NURSES WELL.

JUST FYI: UCSF in San Francisco have very good benefits package, and Stanford University Med Center too. I am applying in both as a new gran RN intern myself.

GOOD LUCK!

RIA

suzanne4, RN · Feb 25, 2004

1. The one problem that you are up against is graduating from nursing school in 1988.

2. All foreign nurses wishing to work in the US are not automatically granted

permanent residency. You have to be approved by the US Embassy first. Just because you have passed a nursing exam doesn't mean that you will be approved. You need to complete the series of English exams and get a Visa Screen certificate before you will even be considered.

3. At the moment, and probably for the next few years, there will be no temporary work permits issued for RNs in the US, so, yes, if you do want to work there, even if just for a year of so, you will need to complete the process for the green card. No other way around it.

4. I am quite proud of all of you that are making the attempt to work in the US, but please just do it correctly and follow the proper channels. If someone offers you a quick fix solution and makes alot of promises, just take it for what it is worth. There is no way around the Visa Screen, whether you take CGFNS and/or NCLEX initially. There are only five states currently in the US that do not require the CGFNS exam, but that will probably change.

Again, good luck to all of you......................

and p.s. I worked as an RN in the US for 25 years before opening my training program in Bangkok.

docnapiv · Feb 25, 2004

HEY DOCNAPIV!
GET SOME CONFIDENCE, OK. YOU HAVE CALIFORNIA RN LICENSE, YOU WILL GET AN INTERNSHIP. SOMEDAY YOU WILL HAVE YOUR RESIDENCY HERE AS A DOCTOR.
YOU WILL MAKE THE FILIPINOS PROUD. AND WHEN THE TIME COMES WHEN YOU ARE A DOCTOR, YOU WILL TREAT YOUR NURSES WELL.
JUST FYI: UCSF in San Francisco have very good benefits package, and Stanford University Med Center too. I am applying in both as a new gran RN intern myself.
GOOD LUCK!
RIA

Confidence i have tons of it he he he... but sometimes an optimist also need some reassurance.Thanks for the info kyut u look even more cuter for boosting my morale. i love you for that.

docnapiv · Feb 25, 2004

1. The one problem that you are up against is graduating from nursing school in 1988.
2. All foreign nurses wishing to work in the US are not automatically granted
permanent residency. You have to be approved by the US Embassy first. Just because you have passed a nursing exam doesn't mean that you will be approved. You need to complete the series of English exams and get a Visa Screen certificate before you will even be considered.
3. At the moment, and probably for the next few years, there will be no temporary work permits issued for RNs in the US, so, yes, if you do want to work there, even if just for a year of so, you will need to complete the process for the green card. No other way around it.
4. I am quite proud of all of you that are making the attempt to work in the US, but please just do it correctly and follow the proper channels. If someone offers you a quick fix solution and makes alot of promises, just take it for what it is worth. There is no way around the Visa Screen, whether you take CGFNS and/or NCLEX initially. There are only five states currently in the US that do not require the CGFNS exam, but that will probably change.
Again, good luck to all of you......................
and p.s. I worked as an RN in the US for 25 years before opening my training program in Bangkok.

thanks suzzane for a straight forward advice. i just got a word that a hospital in san mateo california is willing to be my sponsor in order for me to secure a greencard. Going thru the legality is the only way for me hence I'm completing all the requirements. I only lack TSE which I'm scheduled to take on Mar. 12. How long does it take to get a visa screen certificate?

again thank thank u thank u salamat.....

Rep · Feb 28, 2004

thanks suzzane for a straight forward advice. i just got a word that a hospital in san mateo california is willing to be my sponsor in order for me to secure a greencard. Going thru the legality is the only way for me hence I'm completing all the requirements. I only lack TSE which I'm scheduled to take on Mar. 12. How long does it take to get a visa screen certificate?
again thank thank u thank u salamat.....

Hi!

I can cite based on my experience. Applying for the Visa Screen Certificate sometimes take a lot of time. It is a case to case basis. I have a friend who was a nurse before he became a doctor. He applied for the Visa Screen more than a year ago and until now he is still not certified. When he applied he doesn't have the TSE result yet. The problem he said is that there is a backlog in the applications and if you are not complete with the English requirements it may cause a delay in the issuance.

My advice to you is complete all the English requirements and once you passed all of those then thats the time for you to submit your application. In the application form, there is a portion there for you to fill up regarding your TSE and TOEFL. Kung complete na yon, I think it is easy for them to study your application instead of letting it sit in the file waiting for you to complete the English exams.

Para sa akin, complete na yon mga English exam when I applied for the Visa Screen. It took me only 4 months to received the Visa Screen from the day I applied.

By the way, I work as a medical representative and here in my city, lots of doctors are taking up nursing. At least 20% of the total number of mds here are involved.

Good luck!

suzanne4, RN · Feb 28, 2004

Minimum length of time can be three to four months, can be more than one year, depending on the Embassy that you are going through. And this length of time is from after you have completed the English requirements.

I disagree with Rep as to putting off completing the paperwork for Vis Screen after you com-plete the paperwork. They are required to verify all of the info that you send them and if there is a delay in getting materials from your nursing college or Board of Nursing, then you will only add onto the delay.

It is possible to have a green card in hand within ten months to a year from the time that you start preparing for all of your exams and requirements. These times are actually from the Philippines. Again, final length of time will depend on where the location of the Embassy is that you are using.

If you are taking the exam in March, it is possible for you to be in the US probably in July, provided that all information has already been received by Visa Screen and that the hospital is punctual in processing their part also.

Are you going directly with the hospital and using their immigration lawyers, or through an agency?

Rep · Feb 29, 2004

Well, I can not disagree with you because my opinions were based on my experience.

As for being there the soonest possible time, it depends where your employer files your petition. If it is in Vermont, they are processing I-140 petitions filed before January, 2004. The rest like Texas, California and Nebraska are processing petitions for Schedule A Nurses filed before March, 2003. It s a long wait on that.