What are your plans as a RN?

[gemini_star]

I don't know if it's only me seeing/reading these posts here like "I don't know what to do", "I can't find a job", "looking for work several years with no experience", etc. It is sad to say that dreams of going abroad to the US will be halted for several years. I am not even sure if the 5 years would be enough. It could be even more. As I have been observed here and from my colleagues, taking the NCLEX, CFGNS, IELTS, has been like a mandatory for them to take not knowing the real scenario ahead.

I have been doing some thinking lately that there should be something done or information being spread to BSN graduates. I think with the cooperation of everybody especially Filipino RNs in the US can contribute. If it takes a sticky with bold capital letters saying retrogression is on going. I think it can be done for starters. It is really unfortunate to hear such remarks from fellow colleagues who are losing hope and distracted in their nursing career. Appropriate Nursing diagnosis would be Knowledge Deficient. Anybody feels the same way? Do you have any more ideas?

For those nursing students, newly BSN graduates, RNs with or without experience, please let us know your short term or long term concrete plans. Any plans you have in mind, post it here. I know a lot of people here are willing to give information or guide you in achieving those plans.

[gemini_star, BSN, RN]

Please keep this thread in line with the main topic. If you wish to ask the hospital, you can send a private message or post a new thread.

[bayernurse]

Hi guys!

Im currrently working as a health care representative in a call center in Makati. I've been there for almost a year now. I can't just leave my job because this is where I get the money to help my brothers and sisters in schooling, there are bills to pay and medicines to buy for my mom.

Im now applying in POEA as RN to eb deployed in the middle East. My dad is currently working in the middle east. I plan working there for a year or so. After that I plan to apply for New Zealand.

Other nurses are fortunate..They have the money to pay all those hefty fees asked by tertiary hospitals and other exams. I'll just take it one step and one penny at a time.

good luck to us!:paw:

[Guest289655]

My plan as a RN? To help, it's such a wonderful feeling when somebody bumps on you outside the hospital and remembers you then would give you thanks for caring them or their loved ones. :)

[elajsh]

You know what, theres still really a lot that we can do right now. There are still hospitals in the country that are hiring nurses(Negros) and hospitals that still accept volunteer nurses without charge.

Just like what Suzanne keeps on saying we're looking at 5 more years or more before we can even get a visa. In the meantime apply as nurses to other countries such as Dubai, Jeddah and other Arab countries.My brother's bf, June'07 passer, is already working as a Nurse in Kuwait. A lot of nurses who used to work there have already retired or resigned. Gather experience. I hear South Africa is also in need of Nurses.

We just gotta have Patience and Perseverance

[milaeslehc]

my plans as a rn is just simple.. to enjoy my nursing career to the fullest!

after taking my nle, i helped my parents to run our business for almost a year. the only things that were in front of me that time are calculators, receipts, filed folders, phone, and computer. i asked myself one time, "is this what i really want? to be in line with business? what about the four-year bsn course i took wherein i shed sweat and tears over it?" with that realization i made, i decided to review for toefl and nclex. and after those sleepless nights, i made it in god's grace.

after passing those international exams, obtaining vsc, and finding an employer who petitioned me to work in us, then i started looking for nursing jobs here in phils. it was really tough to look for a job especially if the hospital will know that you are already done with these exams and just waiting for retrogression to lift. but it was not a hindrance to my dreams to be a great nurse to be when i was able to apply in one of the prestige hospitals here in the phils. yepppeeyyy! i was congratulate by the chief nurse after passing their entrance exams and interview to be part of their institution. all i thought everything would be as pleasing to hear as it should be until one day my entrance medical exams appeared that i am reactive to hep c antibody. the employee's physician of that hospital told me i can't pursue working with them coz i am sick. from that moment, i felt that the world is against me. i cried every minute.. every day. mix emotions. i asked god why is he giving me this kind of illness wherein there is no definite cure on this. i was also afraid that everything i went thru --passed all the exams-- would be wasted coz i thought that time, if one gets hepatitis b/c, one is barred in entering us. to cut the long story short, after 7 months of monthly blood testing and eating vegs and fruits only (as for my personal experience), finally, my blood sample is now nonreactive. thank you lord!!

after almost a year again, i was then ready to apply once again to hospitals. and now, it's getting tougher compared before i started applying work. and finally, i was able to work in a tertiary hospital. during my first weeks in this hospital, we were evaluated by our superiors. according to a senior staff i was able to talk with, i was very lucky to be hired since one of the head nurses of the said hospital insisted not to hire nurses who are already done with us exams and do have pending us petitions. but despite what i've learned from my senior, it doesn't bothered me at all. for as long as i am happy... very happy to apply my knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes to render quality, holistic care for my patients.. patients attached with mechanical ventilator, t-piece, with kaviben+dobutamine drip+dopamine drip+levophed drip, with ngt in placed, with fbc-ub, with pulse oxymeter, with cardiac monitor, with suction machine at bedside... wow!!! i love nursing! very much!

so should i say what a lucky person i am???

as of this time, i am really grateful for the ups and down experiences i went thru. god is good to all of us. if time will come that it's the end of our us dream to work as usrns, i should say that i am still grateful and proud to be a nurse.. a noble profession.

[apple25]

@milaeslehc

that was very inspiring :)

[khirbz]

As I've read the posts here, it made me think that I was in the same situation years back when I graduated. I have the very same dreams the members have here. During my time most RNs are trying their best to get to US. This is my dream also. After I graduated last 2005 I started working for my dream right away.

Things I've achieved so far:

1.Passed NLE (June 2005)

2.Volunteer Experience (Oct. - Dec. 2005)

3.CGFNS (July 2006)

4.IELTS (Sept 2006)

5.NCLEX (Jan 2007)

6.VSC (May 2007)

7.PD (May 2007)

I've provided a timeline for you guys. So silly to think that after passing all the exams and have provided all the requirements you still can't go. If it frustrates us that we are already halfway through, how much more for those who are still beginning. But don't lose hope, there will be good things that will happen along the way. For example, I'm still working here in one of the hospitals and the supervisors are very supportive when it comes to your plan of going abroad. They even have on-call programs that if you want to take an exam just ask the supervisor for a vacation leave. Then after taking the exam you can apply again to the same hospital to be back on their on-call program. They don't discriminate me for passing all the exams. I just explained to them that there is really a retrogression going on and that it would still be years when I'll leave. To think that nowadays they even prefer those that have already a pending visa application for a regular staff knowing that they will not stop working just to take an exam. Almost all of the regular staff here are only waiting for their PD(priority date) to be current.

After more than a year of waiting I finally decided to take my chances in applying for New Zealand. I have a one year experience and have 7+ Ielts. I'm now waiting for my approval. So, guys if you have big dreams don't let anything steal it away. Work each in attaining your goal. Step by step we'll reach our dreams. Goodluck to us all.

[sally22]

Try Australia, My friend and I have applied to go to Australia and the consultancy is assisting me to gain my qualifications then there are sponsors available after registration.

I know it is frustrating to be registered and cannot find work,locally or overseas. I also experienced this and was relieved when I was introduced to ASNC. They have offices in Mania and Davao. I searched many sites for Australia and found the same problem regarding work experience until I contacted this consultancy.

I hope you are also able to overcome your frustrations as I have done. It is a minefield out there and difficult to navigate.

Good luck and maybe I will see you in Australia too

[RNBRN]

Here's my plan of action:

1. take local board (done)

2. Apply for NCLEX (done)

3. Review for NCLEX (in progress)

4. Trainings in between review (2 trainings done already)

5. Get hospital experience (Saudi?)

Finish all the exams first while everything is still fresh in my mind. They say NCLEX questions are all in the books anyway. The trainings in between my review also serves as an outlet when i feel I have had enough of reviewing. I am signing up for trainings which will help my review- BLS, First Aid, IVT, ECG, etc...

Good luck to all of us.

[tinatyna]

thanks to the one who started this thread:bow:.it really helps when you know that you're not alone in this world experiencing mishaps in life(not that im happy with all of these happening to us).somehow with all of your shared dreams and goals it shed light and a sense of hope to me who is lost in my nursing career. thank you :redpinkhe i know in time we will all be succesful in our chosen paths :saint:god bless to us all..

[gemini_star, BSN, RN]

Thank you for your appreciation tina.tyna. I was tired reading hopeless posts of my colleages. It seems that they don't know what to do with their career and has no plans after taking those exams. If you compare it to other forums, only the Philippine forums has many problems while other forums talk about the weather, salary, living conditions, etc. I was thinking, if you are a nurse, you should be smarter rather than doing nothing. I hope we all learn something from it and hopefully put into action all our plans. Keep the ball rolling. :redpinkhe

[wishingstar]

hi. we all share the same plans and the same dreams. Timeline is the only differnce. :)

Graduated March 2007.

Passed NLE June 2007

Passed IELTS June 2008

Got Vermont approval June 2008

Take NCLEX Nov/Dec 2008

Plan to apply for NZ or Australia once i have started my volunteer work

Get Trainings and experience

Im interested to work also in Australia. Pls provide some information re the agency mentioned here.

thank you :wink2: