Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Originally Posted by Hushdawg

Only if they have Permenant Residency status; if you are only here on a Student Visa then you cannot according to my conversation with BON here a few weeks ago.

I was going by the provisions written in the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/2435004/Ph...f-2002-RA91731). It stated that foreign nationals can apply for licensure by examination and did not exclude those foreign nationals who are on a student visa. I don't doubt that someone at PRC told you about the exceptions. That only goes to show the disconnect between the law and how it is enforced by the government agencies in the Philippines. The country does have a few restrictive regulations for foreign nationals.

Originally Posted by Hushdawg

When I was in Davao I was very well understood by people with my limited Tagalog and English. The first day I was there my local staff showed me a few things in the area and after that I had no problem going around the city on my own and conducting business as well as haggling for prices and getting directions or help from local, random people I encountered.

You are a brave man!

Originally Posted by Hushdawg

Most people in Davao understand and use Tagalog and/or English even though the Davaenos prefer Visayan. You'll be able to pick up a lot of Visayan quickly if you know Tagalog fluently; if you only know Tagalog partially like me then you'll take longer to get the Visayan terms and accent.

I actually have never visited the Islands of Visayas nor Mindanao. I've only been in many parts of Luzon. Whatever I know about the South, I learned from those who were from there. My dad is pure Tagalog and my mom is half Ilocano and Batangueno.

Originally Posted by Hushdawg

I agree with Gilly on this. I've lived in Manila for more than two years now and I have to say that my time in Davao was the most carefree in regards to FEELING safe walking around at any time of the day or night. In terms of feeling, I'd rank these other cities:
Cebu - Least safe, most dangerous.. my "spidey sense" was going off the whole time I walked the streets there and had multiple incidents just passing from the office to my lodging (less than a half-mile away).
Bacolod - Very close to Davao's level of Safety with minimal incidents - VERY walkable city
Manila - Guarded, but moderately safe there are, however, areas that foreigners should avoid completely

In Davao I walked alone, a white blonde and blue-eyed American, even late at night without any fear or concern. Now, that isn't to say I was completely carefree; one has to be on-guard in the common sense level, but Davao is definitely far safer than New York or Chicago.

That being said, Gilly has a lot of points, had I gone to Davao before I'd already lived in the Philippines for a while I would have been lost, confused and scared. It is probably the least Americanized area that I've visited in the Philippines so far. So you should make sure that you have acclimated to the Pinoy culture before you "go it alone" and adventure throughout the city.

As far as Luzon provinces, I'd say Batangas and Tagaytay are safe enough to tread for foreigners. I love Baguio a lot and would recommend it to foreigners and Fil-Ams. They have an excellent nursing school at SLU. I've never been to Ilocos Region but my mom and sister say it's nice to visit. I worked with a female resident physician who happens to also be Caucasian and she visited Batanes while still in college and thinks it's an absolute paradise there. She must have visited when it wasn't typhoon season.

Originally Posted by Hushdawg

Make sure you have the deep fried Hito (local Catfish) at Penong's (walking distance from People's Park) and Alligator steak at Crocodile Park!
Don't forget the Durian shakes, candy and of course the raw fruit everywhere! YUM!

Durian shake? did they find a way to get rid of that god-awful smell in the drink?

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Originally Posted by NP Gilly

That only goes to show the disconnect between the law and how it is enforced by the government agencies in the Philippines. The country does have a few restrictive regulations for foreign nationals.

Amen to that Bro!

Originally Posted by NP Gilly

You are a brave man!

Brave would be walking through South-Eastern Chicago at 2am alone.
Walking alone in Davao? nah!

Walking alone as a foreigner in some parts of the Philippines is suicide though.. I have to be blunt about that.

I am going to Zamboanga but I will not be alone.
I will not go to anywhere in the Sulu Island group either or a few other places in Mindanao or north-eastern Luzon.
That would be stupid.

Originally Posted by NP Gilly

I actually have never visited the Islands of Visayas nor Mindanao. I've only been in many parts of Luzon. Whatever I know about the South, I learned from those who were from there. My dad is pure Tagalog and my mom is half Ilocano and Batangueno.

You should. Next time you get to visit the Philippines you should bounce around the Islands. Cebu Pacific has some cheap flights for daytripping... the problem is that you can't really take more than two changes of clothing.. but for some reason you can bring 30 kilos of pasalubong.

My in-laws are Ilocano on the Mother's side and Tausug and Samal on the Father's side.

Originally Posted by NP Gilly

Durian shake? did they find a way to get rid of that god-awful smell in the drink?

Awful smell? I like the smell.. it's like stewed onions and garlic crushed with rancid beef fat.

But yes, the milk kills the harsh edge of the smell so you can enjoy the taste better.

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Hi,
I have got a friend or a batchmate from davao doctors college. she and her brother are both american citizens (but 100% filipino)...i think if you are an american citizen or resident you can take the NCLEX directly after gathering relevant documents, because when i asked my friend about it she told me that they are eligible to take the NCLEX because they are american citizens, in fact they are no longer required to provide an english language exam results.

davao city is very safe the safest city in the philippines. the city has 911 emergency response system, the only city outside US and canada to have such service..the city's 911 is patterned from the US and canada. the city is typhoon free, lots of fruits available, cost of living is relatively low, and there are a lot of nursing schools for you to choose from. i would recommend these schools, Ateneo de Davao, San Pedro college, davao doctors college or brokenshire college..
as what you have mentioned that you are a filipino, its just that you are americanized, i think theres no huge problem with that, as your appearance is a filipino...

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Originally Posted by ryan09

Hi,
I have got a friend or a batchmate from davao doctors college. she and her brother are both american citizens (but 100% filipino)...i think if you are an american citizen or resident you can take the NCLEX directly after gathering relevant documents, because when i asked my friend about it she told me that they are eligible to take the NCLEX because they are american citizens, in fact they are no longer required to provide an english language exam results.

davao city is very safe the safest city in the philippines. the city has 911 emergency response system, the only city outside US and canada to have such service..the city's 911 is patterned from the US and canada. the city is typhoon free, lots of fruits available, cost of living is relatively low, and there are a lot of nursing schools for you to choose from. i would recommend these schools, Ateneo de Davao, San Pedro college, davao doctors college or brokenshire college..
as what you have mentioned that you are a filipino, its just that you are americanized, i think theres no huge problem with that, as your appearance is a filipino...

Still have to meet US requirements when trained outside the US and will always be treated as international trained nurses. The state can still require proof of English skills just being a citizen will not necessary mean that you meet requirements and can sit NCLEX.

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Originally Posted by NP Gilly

I was going by the provisions written in the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/2435004/Ph...f-2002-RA91731). It stated that foreign nationals can apply for licensure by examination and did not exclude those foreign nationals who are on a student visa. I don't doubt that someone at PRC told you about the exceptions. That only goes to show the disconnect between the law and how it is enforced by the government agencies in the Philippines. The country does have a few restrictive regulations for foreign nationals.

What article in RA9173 (PHIL Nursing Act of 2002) are you referring?

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Originally Posted by Sairo

What article in RA9173 (PHIL Nursing Act of 2002) are you referring?

here's the excerpt:

Article IV

Examination and Registration

Section 13. Qualifications for Admission to the Licensure Examination. - In order to be admitted to the examination for nurses, an applicant must, at the time of filing his/her application, establish to the satisfaction of the Board that:
(a) He/she is a citizen of the Philippines, or a citizen or subject of a country which permits Filipino nurses to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subject or citizen of such country: Provided, That the requirements for the registration or licensing of nurses in said country are substantially the same as those prescribed in this Act;
(b) He/she is of good moral character; and
(c) He/she is a holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from a college or university that complies with the standards of nursing education duly recognized by the proper government agency.

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Originally Posted by Silverdragon102

Still have to meet US requirements when trained outside the US and will always be treated as international trained nurses. The state can still require proof of English skills just being a citizen will not necessary mean that you meet requirements and can sit NCLEX.

I don’t think that being a foreign graduate alone can be a problem by itself. There was a “mass exodus” of Filipino Nurses to the US during the 60s-90s, and most of these nurses are still actively working as RNs in the US and have been successful in their field. Some have become Nurse Managers, Charge Nurses, or Nurse Practitioners---to name only a few positions they have held. And oh yes, they are foreign graduates and will always be considered as such. I think a problem could arise though if one enrolls himself in a nursing program (whether in the US or abroad) that is not duly-recognized and legitimate.

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Originally Posted by caringnursenj

I don’t think that being a foreign graduate alone can be a problem by itself. There was a “mass exodus” of Filipino Nurses to the US during the 60s-90s, and most of these nurses are still actively working as RNs in the US and have been successful in their field. Some have become Nurse Managers, Charge Nurses, or Nurse Practitioners---to name only a few positions they have held. And oh yes, they are foreign graduates and will always be considered as such. I think a problem could arise though if one enrolls himself in a nursing program (whether in the US or abroad) that is not duly-recognized and legitimate.

Things in the last few years have changed and we have seen many post in the Philippine forum where it appears that the school training hasn't been great. We have seen people post with lack of skills and a few other countries like Canada and Australia are requesting assessment or bridging programs (depending on country) on nurses where it is felt that the training doesn't match that country's requirements

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Once a new has experience under their belt, the issue of being "foreign trained" becomes less of an issue, since their clinical skills are the driving force for the nurse to get a promotion.

The issue of being a foreign grad is several, first getting an initial license - where it takes a few weeks for a US nurse to sit for the NCLEX, it can take months or years. Second while US nurses pass the NCLEX at rate around 90% foreign grads pass at 50% of their US counterparts. While US nurses do a very simple review ( a few weeks or a month) foreign nurses have to take comprehensive review courses. Then the issue of getting their first job, this is a challenge for any nurse ( foreign or US graduate) with the current US economy being the way it is, foreign grads maybe seen as less desirable since they haven't been able to network with the hiring managers ( many students are able to find positions when they show excellence doing clinicals or working part time in a hospital).

Then other issues may come back to haunt a foreign grad, every state has different requirements for licensure, US grads usually don't have these issues.

Currently, going overseas, schooling will take 6 years and it could take up to one year to get a license. In the US you could get a RN in 2 years , if you are able to take 7 years to work is an option.

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Originally Posted by Silverdragon102

Still have to meet US requirements when trained outside the US and will always be treated as international trained nurses. The state can still require proof of English skills just being a citizen will not necessary mean that you meet requirements and can sit NCLEX.

If an American is educated outside the USA then the only steps he or she gets to skip are getting licensed in the country where he/she graduated and passing VisaScreen.

All credential evaluations and CGFNS requirements still apply as they are to ANYONE who has been educated outside the USA.

Endorsements of licensure later on in one's career will also require any of those requirements.