the american dream: do not lose hope

[rookie_rn]

there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of posts here pertaining to the current immigration and economic situation of the us. in addition, the situation is also being played out in the media all over the world (i would think). with all of these information out there, i think most, if not all, foreign nurses are already aware of the sad realities of wanting to work in the us.

i got the following lines from the novel the alchemist by paulo coelho:

"... the soul of the world is nourished by people's happiness... to realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation...

and, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

so, to all my fellow pinoy rns out there who are still dreaming of one day being able to work in the us as a registered nurse, don't lose hope. do not be discouraged. you will meet a lot of people who get pleasure from splashing water over the smallest ember of hope that you may have. but, no one could/should ever tell you that your dreams are beyond your reach.

in my opinion, we are all brothers/sisters in the world of nursing and we should be benevolent enough to welcome and help our colleagues on their way in as we, ourselves, may be on our way out.

ignis fraternum eterna est

(the flames of our brotherhood will burn forever)

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

PinoyNP - you brought up some great points, as I remember you live in Michigan, how are thing there? It must be kind of rough. If the auto plants close ( which I hope doesn't happen) how do you feel this will effect nursing?

Michigan has been having rough times for many years now. The economy in the southeastern side of the state is very much dependent on manufacturing industries many of which have closed and moved their businesses to other states and even foreign countries. Because the labor union movement was born in Michigan, there is a strong labor union tradition and mentality in this state. As a result, residents frown on tactics by businesses to utilize cheap labor and outsource.

The recent struggles by the auto industry is very much felt here. I guess the impending doom hard times can bring is looming over the state right now. Our governor and our lawmakers are pleading for a buy-out and despite how other people feel about how it's the big three's fault for what happened, the reality is the loss of jobs will be insurmountable should any of the auto companies close. There will be a lot of people affected. Ask any person in SE Michigan and few will claim no connection to the auto industry one way or the other.

Our hospitals are feeling the effect of this economic crisis as well. Many hospitals even those that were once strong financially and are located in affluent suburbs are seeing a decline in admissions. Auto workers with their premium insurance coverage have long been a choice customer in these hospitals. As more and more lose jobs, many forego health care altogether. My staff nurse friends in different hospitals in the area have reported that they have been asked to take time-off due to low census. Many upper management positions and non-clinical positions in hospitals are being eliminated and these guys are returning to clinical practice in order to remain employed. There is a hiring freeze for non-clinical positions in many hospital systems.

Foreclosures are on the rise. It is not unusual to see a string of homes with realtor signs on any given street in any Metro Detroit suburb. Many of these homes were once sought after and were offered at very expensive prices but are now only selling at very low prices similar to what they were in the 90's.

Sounds grim? unfortunately yes. Fortunately, my hospital is still investing on hiring advanced practice nurses like me. Otherwise, I might have to go back to staff nursing roles.

[oneproudigorot, MSN, RN]

It has been four years since my cousin, who's a nurse and is currently working in CA, convinced me to take up nursing instead of pursuing a degree in medicine.

I never never dreamt to work abroad when i finished my degree in medical technology. I had a good paying job right after a became a registered medical technologist. So when my cousin came for vacation, she talked about the opportunities in nursing. I thought about it for sometime and finally convinced myself to give it a try. It was then that I started my American Dream.

My American dream is far from being realized. I took the initial first steps and I leave it at that. To me, it won't matter anymore whether i get to America soon or after 5 to 10 years or so...

It's elusive, yes, but i remain hopeful. Maybe, i'll try other countries, but right now i am content with my job as a nurse educator. I have a few clinical skills, thanks for my 8 months of hospital work, but I believe that everything can be learned. So, I will keep enriching myself both in theory and in practice.

To me, my american dream is to be a knowledgeable and skillful nurse. I suppose I can fulfill that anywhere.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Maybe, i'll try other countries, but right now i am content with my job as a nurse educator. I have a few clinical skills, thanks for my 8 months of hospital work, but I believe that everything can be learned. So, I will keep enriching myself both in theory and in practice.

To me, my american dream is to be a knowledgeable and skillful nurse. I suppose I can fulfill that anywhere.

I find it quite interesting that you are working as a nurse educator but only have 8 months' hospital experience. I had a look at the three postings currently open in my Canadian health region for nurse educators. Each of them required a minimum of 3 years' clinical experience, and two of them would prefer 5 years. The medicine program educator posting asks for BCLS instructor qualification and states that a Masters degree is preferred. The other two positions are in the cardiac sciences program and the renal program. Here, you would not be qualified to teach even as a skills instructor. Can you explain to me how someone who has barely more education or experience than their students can be an effective educator? I'm just curious.

[suzanne4, RN]

Unfortunately, this is one of the major programs with the nursing schools in the Philippines at this time.

There are actually quite a few programs where the clinical instructors were hired right after graduating and never had held a job as an RN in a hospital in a paid position.

When one is a clinical instructor, the patients are still legally belonging to a staff nurse on that unit; most clinical periods do not last the full 8 hours as well.

When one does not have their own experience as to how things are done, how are students actually going to learn.

Every instructor that I know of for even the clinical part of any program has at least five years of full-time bedside experience. And most have even more.

Passing rate for the NCLEX exam has not changed for the Filipinos that are taking the exam. Pass rate is still about 45% for first-time takers, the ony thing that has gone up is the number of Filipinos that are taking the exam.

But results have not.

[suzanne4, RN]

There's ALWAYS someone or somebody or SOMETHING here that would react against this particular topic.. I myself am really annoyed with these people always having something contrary to say about our (Pinoy RNs) desires, plans, aspirations and even our HOPES in working in the U.S. :angryfire Are they implying that hope is "delusional"? Just because we are people of SCIENCE? Please....! People, Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. Hope is something individualized and personal. That is something they cannot take away from YOU! We'll see what they'd say if they're on the death bed - disgustingly crawling their way through their stages of dying.. I'd probably laugh if they'd cling to 'hope'.

Frankly I have no idea what their trying to prove here.. Definitely some 'THING' would again say, "it is for your own good", "just presenting facts and uttter realities", and whatever irritating statements they would give, masquerading as friendly advice? Please.. We don't need it.. Give us a small amount of hope and leave us alone..

And if there's one more thing I'd say about this... They are probably doing this because we are a THREAT to them. Not just to fill up vacant positions - but to outperform them as well.

To all pinoy RNs here, just keep on hoping and PRAYING! - YES HOPING AND PRAYING! Because we'd never know what will happen in the future. Just keep your hopes up! God will definitely smile to those who are faithful and hopeful... :wink2:

GOD BLESS TO YOU ALL.. And 'You' included...

Sorry to rain on your parade. No one is accusing anyone of anything other than you. But the issue is that someone has to be realistic in their wants.

If you care to actually do some reading with what is happening in the US even in the past week, you will see some major things that are only increasing. CA unemployment is actually up to 8.4%, up 2% in the past month or so. And the third highest in the country for that matter. There are lay-offs happening all over the country right now and nurses are not immune from this as well.

Jobs need to go to Americans first, and the concern is to get as many people here back to work. And if one is being realistic, why is it the US's responsibility to provide work for you, when your own country will not permit any foreigner to get licensed there. Even if they have lived there for years and attended school there but still hold a passport from another country, they are not permitted to even write the NLE in the first place.

And sorry, since you do not not know me or any of us, how do you know what the skills are like of any of us? And how do your skills compare to those of us? Or what my skills are like or what I have actually done as well?

Only people that are insecure in what they can actually do take the time to post like this, I would most definitely put some time into thinking how you are behaving at the juncture.

And if you are so needed here in the US, why are you not needed in your country? And as you posted in another thread, that you need to get off of the rock, there are other countries as well that are available when someone has experience. Not sure if you are aware that you are looking at probably closer to seven years for a chance at a green card, things are actually getting tighter on a daily basis, and becoming much harder for one to get to the US, and they are not going to be getting easier either.

[spongebob6286, BSN, RN]

I have friends who are CI although they don't have hospital experience besides when they were still students. they were hired immediately after their graduation. they graduated with flying colors but the main point is that they do not possessed the skills necessary to impart with their students. they are still learning while they are teaching. if I were the students, I will question the admin as to why they give us fresh grad as CI despite the expensive tuition fees.

[spongebob6286, BSN, RN]

I don't think anyone is against our american dream. they are just presenting the real situation in the u.s which we might overlooked. I believe in their expertise. they are also giving us other better options as well which we can take into consideration while were still waiting for the american dream. they are present in the u.s and are much aware of the real situation there. no matter what the odds on our dreams, what matters most is we never lose hope.

-vision without execution is daydreaming-

[Daly City RN]

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Hello folks! Daly City RN here, the "temporarily retired" nurse from the San Francisco Bay Area and having an extended vacation in the Philippines.

Suzanne is right. The medical center where I had just retired from has stopped hiring RN's from the Philippines. As far as I know they haven't hired any Filipino RNs directly from the Philippines for over two years now. One has to be in the U.S. already to be hired by the hospital. And due to the current economic meltdown, I've just learned that they have a HIRING FREEZE!

Sorry to dash your hopes, but one has to be realistic here. In the U.S., RN's can earn a lot of money, and the overtime is never ending but the U.S. is not open to foreign nurses right now. The hundreds of thousands of unemployed Filipino nurses in the Philippines should consider other countries. Forget the U.S. unless you have an approved relative-based petition.

Since I don't like to drive in the Philippines (Filipino drivers are crazy!) I have been using a rent-a-car company that provides a uniformed driver. I frequently talk to my drivers and I ask them what they want their kids to be or what their kids want to be: To become nurses of course!

Brace yourselves folks, the Philippines could be the only the country in the world where every other citizen is a nurse. Or has it already happened?

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[pinkroyalty18, LPN, LVN]

Let me just share my opinion regarding this...

We do appreciate all of the experts here who would just want to present the sad facts and realities regarding this so called "american dream". We know that you are just concerned for our welfare and we thank you for that.

But it is nobody's right to deprive others of hope. Present the facts as you like it and leave it at that. Let the pinoy RNs use all the informations you shared and let us make a decision for ourselves on what dreams to pursue or not to pursue. Our dreams is not for you to take and dictate.

Because of all the things you shared,we are now aware of the situation in US right now BUT that doesn't stop us from having even just a little amount of hope....

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

Also to add, before you can become a clinical instructor in California you have to be board approved. They look at transcripts, and also your work experience.

[oneproudigorot, MSN, RN]

I find it quite interesting that you are working as a nurse educator but only have 8 months' hospital experience. I had a look at the three postings currently open in my Canadian health region for nurse educators. Each of them required a minimum of 3 years' clinical experience, and two of them would prefer 5 years. The medicine program educator posting asks for BCLS instructor qualification and states that a Masters degree is preferred. The other two positions are in the cardiac sciences program and the renal program. Here, you would not be qualified to teach even as a skills instructor. Can you explain to me how someone who has barely more education or experience than their students can be an effective educator? I'm just curious.

Most nurses who have 3 years or more of clinical experience are abroad... or they're not allowed by their employers to have a part time teaching job...

You can't say that i barely have more education than my students. I've a good and solid theoretical background (A degree in medical technology / medical laboratory science + a BSN). These two courses are related in the Philippines I don't know how it goes in your country. I teach basic nursing skills. If you expect me to know how to use your sophisticated machines then, yeah i'd say i lack the skills but that's not all there is in nursing. I am halfway through my MSN (the school is an ISO certified school and some of our lecturers (filipinos) are in america, we communicate through the net).

You cannot discount the fact that there are still excellent nurses being produced in the Philippines. We cannot and should not compare ourselves to you.

[jennygump]

janfrn,

The law, as i recall, requires 3 years (or 2?) clinical experience and Masters degree in Nursing or related field, to teach.

In my university, nursing major subjects and the health sciences were taught by instructors with a PhD (save for Community nursing - few with a PhD in that field). It seems to be a custom though, that if you do make top 10 in the nursing board exams, the dean invites you to be part of the team - as a TA (teaching assistant). 2 of my batchmates made top 10, and both declined the invitation and instead went into clinical practice.

We kinda expect our batchmates to maintain a 100% passing rate in ANY foreign nursing board exam.