Is the Grass Really Greener Stateside? Honestly.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2006

The situation is different in differet areas. Where I live in the US, there are no jobs. I've been looking without success for three years. I became a traveler and work far from home because of this.

There are some states with a nursing shortage, but others with a surplus of nurses. I fear that in the next few years, the US will become saturated with nurses.

Lone Stranger · Jun 24, 2006

is the bedpan half full or half empty?

if i always saw it half full, would i qualify as an optimist? kidding aside, thank you for input. it's a bit sketchy tho...

salonika · Jun 27, 2006

Let's do some simple computations:

You get offered a job at a Rehab or nursing home for $25/hr (you can't just get into a hospital if you're new). This translates to $200/day or $ 1,000/week = $ 4,000 per month. Then you start converting this into pesos = PhP 200,000 per month at forex 1:50... so you say BIG BUCKS!!! Yes, if you spend it in the Philippines.

Let's take a look at you expenses:

Apartment - $ 1,000

Food - 1,000

Car amortization - $ 400

Gas - $ 300

Tax - $ 800

Miscellaneous - $ 300

TOTAL monthly expense - $ 3,800.00

Savings - $ 200

So to earn more you get extra jobs or work overtime since this will save you leisure money. Some nurses get extra work as IV techs where they go to a patient's house and setup his/her IV for $ 75. Not bad if you get 2-3 patients on your off hours.

Bottomline, it's basically greener since you work hard and you get paid good, which oftentimes does not happen in the Philippines.

yeljet · Jun 27, 2006

I'm quite new in the U.S. I can only share my experience in the UK. When I was there, I had the chance to travel around Europe and yet still saved some money.

When I was in the Philippines, I couldn't even plan to spend holiday in Boracay!

Hathaway · Jun 27, 2006

Is the Grass Really Greener Stateside?

Well,...at least there's grass...

Daning · Jun 28, 2006

^ You're right. In most parts of the Philippines now, there's so many cows with so little grass to eat. Sad but true.

pink_20 · Jun 28, 2006

Let's do some simple computations:
You get offered a job at a Rehab or nursing home for $25/hr (you can't just get into a hospital if you're new). This translates to $200/day or $ 1,000/week = $ 4,000 per month. Then you start converting this into pesos = PhP 200,000 per month at forex 1:50... so you say BIG BUCKS!!! Yes, if you spend it in the Philippines.
Let's take a look at you expenses:
Apartment - $ 1,000
Food - 1,000
Car amortization - $ 400
Gas - $ 300
Tax - $ 800
Miscellaneous - $ 300
TOTAL monthly expense - $ 3,800.00
Savings - $ 200
So to earn more you get extra jobs or work overtime since this will save you leisure money. Some nurses get extra work as IV techs where they go to a patient's house and setup his/her IV for $ 75. Not bad if you get 2-3 patients on your off hours.
Bottomline, it's basically greener since you work hard and you get paid good, which oftentimes does not happen in the Philippines.

Yeah, it really is greener, $200 is already something unlike here in the Philippines it will take few months or even a year to be able to save $200. Factory workers and vendors can't even save money because they salary is not enough for their daily expenses....

Rep · Jun 30, 2006

i have been to c&e bookstore in recto, manila today (june 24, 2006)and they were selling stacks and stacks of nursing books. vans waited outside to cart more books in. no doubt about it, here in the philippines everyone and their uncle wants to be a nurse.

big question for nurses already in the u.s. : are you able to save? is the work worth the pay? forgive me for being so straightforward but is your lot better than what it was back in the philippines?

we've been here since february and i've been working as a nurse on a temporary license while preparing for my nclex. i can say that it is greener here than in the philippines. i worked there as a medical representative but the earnings i have here are enough for me and my family and i can even send money to my relatives there.you work hard here and you will get paid more.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 30, 2006

Let's do some simple computations:
You get offered a job at a Rehab or nursing home for $25/hr (you can't just get into a hospital if you're new). This translates to $200/day or $ 1,000/week = $ 4,000 per month. Then you start converting this into pesos = PhP 200,000 per month at forex 1:50... so you say BIG BUCKS!!! Yes, if you spend it in the Philippines.
Let's take a look at you expenses:
Apartment - $ 1,000
Food - 1,000
Car amortization - $ 400
Gas - $ 300
Tax - $ 800
Miscellaneous - $ 300
TOTAL monthly expense - $ 3,800.00
Savings - $ 200
So to earn more you get extra jobs or work overtime since this will save you leisure money. Some nurses get extra work as IV techs where they go to a patient's house and setup his/her IV for $ 75. Not bad if you get 2-3 patients on your off hours.
Bottomline, it's basically greener since you work hard and you get paid good, which oftentimes does not happen in the Philippines.

That is totally incorrect that you cannot get a position as a new grad in the US as a foreigner, I see it all of the time and actually work with a few that were newly petitioned and are new grads from out of the country.

Agencies in the Philippines will try to tell you otherwise, same as they say that you must take the CGFNS exam to work in the US, for all states. Just another lie. Most of the recruiters have never even been to the US, let along inside of a hospital here.

tagamargos · Jun 30, 2006

Let's do some simple computations:
You get offered a job at a Rehab or nursing home for $25/hr (you can't just get into a hospital if you're new). This translates to $200/day or $ 1,000/week = $ 4,000 per month. Then you start converting this into pesos = PhP 200,000 per month at forex 1:50... so you say BIG BUCKS!!! Yes, if you spend it in the Philippines.
Let's take a look at you expenses:
Apartment - $ 1,000
Food - 1,000
Car amortization - $ 400
Gas - $ 300
Tax - $ 800
Miscellaneous - $ 300
TOTAL monthly expense - $ 3,800.00
Savings - $ 200
So to earn more you get extra jobs or work overtime since this will save you leisure money. Some nurses get extra work as IV techs where they go to a patient's house and setup his/her IV for $ 75. Not bad if you get 2-3 patients on your off hours.
Bottomline, it's basically greener since you work hard and you get paid good, which oftentimes does not happen in the Philippines.

ha, ha... i like how you do your budget salonika.... very true

In my personal experience, we do earn better here in US. With regular full time rate x 72 or 84 hours per pay period (2weeks).. is just enough for the house, car, bills, utilities, food, etc. BUT... we are filipinos and Filipinos are hardworking, we work overtime (and there are plenty from where I am). That is where I can earn extra for savings, a little vacation here and there, padala sa Pinas, etc.

The money is there to pick, you just have to work hard for it though.. and of course it greatly affects what kind of lifestyle you have, big house, big mortgage, small house, small morgage. One car, one payment, two cars, two payments... I'm pretty sure you get the picture now

Daning · Jun 30, 2006

We've been here since February and I've been working as a nurse on a temporary license while preparing for my NCLEX. I can say that it is greener here than in the Philippines. I worked there as a medical representative but the earnings I have here are enough for me and my family and I can even send money to my relatives there.You work hard here and you will get paid more.

So you survived financially almost 5 months w/o an NCLEX and on a temporary license? And you have kids right? I assume though that your spouse is also working.