Re: Nursing Schools in the Philippines
Pfffft… half a mil peso… don’t say that too loud or you’ll have every hunky male in RP in love with you in a flash!
Now, I’m American and don’t know diddly about the rules, but I’ll give you my two cents, and it’s up to you to check on the details.
If you can stay with relatives your 10k will suffice, I believe, for even the newer 5 year program (which I think, if you can--avoid). The real reason for the 5 year program seems to be that here in the US High School is up to grade 12. In RP it’s to grade 10, or so I’m told. You have the grade 12. I suspect that study will be very easy for you.
Be careful about the dual-citizen thing. I believe that dual-citizenship no longer exists as part of the Homeland Security program! Further if you wish to become American and can stay a RP citizen in the interim, I would think that is the way to go. Why? Because your tuition will likely be higher if you are an American; further you will pay up to a $500 application fee, and there are other fees to obtain Student Visa status which are pricey and which are not applicable to a RP citizen. If you are American, you are rich (whether you are or are not (w/10k you are)) and therefore it is RP’s duty to “fleece” you. (Remove you of as much money as possible).
A potential pitfall in this is that it might be difficult for you to take the NLE, I seem to remember it is hard for foreigners to take it. Worse, if you do not take the NLE and study as a RP citizen you will not be allowed (I think) to sit for the NCLEX. Therefore you could get stuck in a Catch 22. Look thoroughly into that path!
Course transfer is variable, though often, from what I have seen/heard “bleak.” But if fees are per semester or year you could probably take loads of courses to include the ones you already have done. If you have done well, those will take little time for study, you might find that you could teach them. (54% pass rate does not imply an extremely high quality of education).
MCU does not list fees on their website. Also be aware that many schools simply do not allow foreigners. Many also do not allow anyone over age 25 (laughing out loud). Age discrimination is so blatant in RP.
To sum it up: I think that you have the $$ to do it, and I think it will be easy for you but you are in a minefield and need to carefully research such that you don’t get caught in an impossible situation or accidentally lose the right to become an American citizen later.
Another thing to consider: Student loans are easy to get here, plain and simple. Under TheNursing Reinvestment Act about 75% of debt disappears over about three years if you work in the right hospital. (Almost all hospitals are “right”.) Most hospitals have education loan reimbursement plans such that in about 5 years you could have $0 debt. It must be a hospital! Nursing homes, doctor's offices, even clinics do NOT count. Research Nursing Reinvestment Act and realize it could change (but I doubt it).
Even another thing to consider: In America even the tiniest schools have good access to clinical experience and the best modern equipment, this is not likely to be the case in RP. Now if you were planning to become a WHO (World Health Orginization) nurse working in Africa, the “get it done with what is available” point of view essential in RP might be truly invaluable. But if your plan is to go med/surgical to ICU the reverse is true and the lack of experience with good equipment and training could be damaging.
There is no advantage for me to study in RP unless I am interested in seeing RP and nurse education from within (which I am), essentially as part of a study on international nursing and as I mentioned I have other things on my agenda.
One last thing to consider: In America, I advise friends who ask: "what is the best way to get into nursing" to start as CNA/LNA (Nurses's Assistant), then after a year or six months join a college course of study for a one year LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) then after 6 months or one year working as an LPN, do a transitional LPN to RN college program which takes one year. Then work; two years have passed and you are RN (ADN) and then if you wish, attain the BSN, or even jump into a ADN to MN. Benefits: A wonderful transitional program where it is often easy to get your company to pay for part or all of costs and one gets a truly excellent set of experiences. This path is a very, very comfortable path, I think. Further though many do not know about LPN to RN transitional programs abound and since you are going in “a back door” those often do not face a multi-year waiting list. Call the Director of Nursing office and aks about LPN to RN transitional programs. Often they are arranged such the the LPN can continue working (weekend/evening), and you get a great group of co-students that have "been there, done that."
As far as being put on a “waiting list,” consider doing something about it. If you are sincere, go visit the Head of the Nursing Program. Yes, you can talk your way in. When I started school (in med) I intended to become a MLT/CLS but was hijacked by the nursing students who said: “c’mon take a course with us.”
So I visited the Director of Nursing and it just turned out that there was "one space left." Well, I figured out a year later that there really wasn’t and as unfair as it might seem I got in before others on the list (or so I think), though I had no clue. You see, faculty wants students that they believe will add something to the mix.
Well, there are lots of stuff here to think about; persevere and you’ll get there, and remember to have fun along the way! Too many nursing students forget to do that. But be very careful in the citizenship thing, lose it and you may never, ever regain that opportunity.
. I compared the education here in the US and the Philippines, there's a big difference- especially in the clinical aspect of the program. I'm a both graduate of nursing, here in the US and in my native land, the Phils. I had a very intense & comprehensive clinical exposures back home, that's why when I got here, it wasn't really a problem for me to handle patients (modesty aside), except for the technological aspect of health care- monitors, instruments, computers, etc. Though, the US is by far more technologically advanced, I can say that the exposure of the nursing students here are very minimal (by my personal observation & accounts of my fellow colleagues who teach nursing clinically). What I learned the best in the Phils. is how to troubleshoot, work with little resources and not to take things for granted.
will they be credited there or I would guess that it would depend on the university?
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