by berger

I was informed that there's currenty a bill pending which will allow foreign Nursing Assistants to get a job in the US. Is this true? The school I inquired at said that the bill will most probably be approved this year.

Re: Visas for Nursing Assistants

Do not see it happening. And I hope that it does not.

As a student, you can get a special permission to work for up to twenty hours per week. Just issuing a visa to any nursing assistant, would be an absolute nightmare.

Re: Visas for Nursing Assistants

Originally Posted by berger

I was informed that there's currenty a bill pending which will allow foreign Nursing Assistants to get a job in the US. Is this true? The school I inquired at said that the bill will most probably be approved this year.

Most schools are for-profit businesses therefore most will spin the truth for the benefit of owners and stock holders. So be extra vigilant for false advertising and empty promises. Why not exert the extra effort and take up BSN which will be in demand here in the US and worldwide in the forseeable future and with a high probability of visa allocation. But please don't get me wrong I'd love to have qualified, caring, hardworking, fluent in English Filipino CNAs working here with us along with other nationalities. And when you saved enough I would be encouraging you to take up nursing here!

Re: Visas for Nursing Assistants

Originally Posted by berger

I was informed that there's currenty a bill pending which will allow foreign Nursing Assistants to get a job in the US. Is this true? The school I inquired at said that the bill will most probably be approved this year.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of bogus fly-by-night "nursing schools" in the Philippines promising just anything to get students. Please be very careful. I still suggest that you stick with reputable institutions like established colleges and universities. Verify with CHED first if you're not sure.

TV Advertisement in Manila

you know, I was wondering about this.

a school (I'm not sure if it actually produces nurses--I won't name it to avoid problems) had been running TV ads in Manila these past week or so on the big networks on Prime Time (means Very Expensive).

it showed a pretty girl taking up only 2 years of Nursing, then cuts to scenes of her caring for a Caucasian. the TV Ad claimed that you can work abroad as a Nurse after only 2 years of schooling. I think they superimposed LPN or LVN over the final scenes. (interesting timing, as there are rumors around Manila that BSN is going to be 5 years soon.)

from my perusal of the Visa Screen handbook, I doubt these graduates fulfill the requirements for a Visa Screen certificate, so they can't work in the US as LPNs/LVNs under current US laws.

unless the US started issuing Working Visas for LPNs/LVNs.

I wonder what the school will do when their first batch graduates in 2 years, when the students find out they can't work in the US as LPNs/LVNs.

I have come across a couple of I.T. schools which offer a step-ladder approach to a ComSci degree--they give you an Associate Degree after 2 years, then a BS degree when you complete all requirements after 4 years.

maybe it's the same technique?

anyway, I just wish people had access to complete information before they decide on which school they enroll in. planning the next 2 years of your life is very different from 4 years.

for example, some of my friends were "persuaded" to enroll in a Care Giver course--they were promised jobs in the US, Canada, and the UK after the 6-month course. 1 1/2 years after their graduation, they're down P25,000 (around US$500) and still unemployed. now they're thinking of taking up Nursing.

Re: Visas for Nursing Assistants

The school even gave me the website where I can check out the bill being passed. I misplaced the paper but I will call the school tomorrow. I'll post the website here as soon as I get it.

saw your other post

berger, I came across your post here:
http://allnurses.com/forums/f235/thr...-131820-5.html

the tuition fee (for ADN) for 5 trimesters in the Philippines is incredible: P472,640 or US$9,089...excluding the 6th trimester which will be in California, which costs US$6,000 (excluding living expenses). so the total tuition cost for the ADN is US$15,089, or roughly P784,628. plus your living expenses.

I think a BSN for second coursers in the Philippines costs less than P200,000 total...or roughly 1/4 of the price at US$3,846.

the two programs will take the same amount of time, around 2 years. (except if you're a Secondary School graduate.)

personally, I would rather get the BSN over the ADN, if the cost in time & money is the same.

Our curriculum includes a final trimester which qualified students will spend at an affiliated Nursing school in the United States, finishing as U.S. Graduates.

an interesting point: you're supposed to be considered a "US graduate" of Associate Degree in Nursing.

isn't there a residency rule on defining if you are a US graduate? in some schools here in the Philippines, you have to study for at least 1 year in that school before they will let you graduate. the US school might not have this residency requirement.

Originally Posted by from school website

You become a U.S. Nursing graduate and automatically qualify for the NCLEX.

most Philippine BSN graduates almost "automatically qualify for the NCLEX" anyway. the educational comparability review and English language proficiency examination are cheaper & easier to go through, and takes around 4 months or so.

can somebody enlighten me on the advantages of this ADN program?

the only one I see is for Secondary School graduates--they will be able to take the NCLEX after 2 years as an ADN, instead of the current 4 years as a BSN (or rumored to be 5 years in the near future).

Originally Posted by Visa Screen Handbook

IIRIRA also authorizes CGFNS to perform a streamline process for foreign born applicants who received their entry level professional education in the U.S. A health care worker is exempt from the educational comparability review and English language proficiency examination.

A nurse who has graduated from an entry level program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The Certificate must be received before the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will issue an occupational visa or Trade NAFTA status to the applicant to live or work as a professional in their field in the United States.

Suzanne, are graduates of this program eligible for the EB3 or a Working Visa? I recall somewhere that EB3s were only for BSNs.

I don't see much benefit to this ADN program, and it is very expensive.

Re: Visas for Nursing Assistants

I agree with you. It's really more expensive than other Philippine schools. However, if we will be conisdered as US graduates and will qualify for OPT, I think it will be worth it.

BSN turning 5 yrs to finish?

Originally Posted by pinoy_guy

berger, I came across your post here:
http://allnurses.com/forums/f235/thr...-131820-5.html

the tuition fee (for ADN) for 5 trimesters in the Philippines is incredible: P472,640 or US$9,089...excluding the 6th trimester which will be in California, which costs US$6,000 (excluding living expenses). so the total tuition cost for the ADN is US$15,089, or roughly P784,628. plus your living expenses.

I think a BSN for second coursers in the Philippines costs less than P200,000 total...or roughly 1/4 of the price at US$3,846.

the two programs will take the same amount of time, around 2 years. (except if you're a Secondary School graduate.)

personally, I would rather get the BSN over the ADN, if the cost in time & money is the same.



an interesting point: you're supposed to be considered a "US graduate" of Associate Degree in Nursing.

isn't there a residency rule on defining if you are a US graduate? in some schools here in the Philippines, you have to study for at least 1 year in that school before they will let you graduate. the US school might not have this residency requirement.



most Philippine BSN graduates almost "automatically qualify for the NCLEX" anyway. the educational comparability review and English language proficiency examination are cheaper & easier to go through, and takes around 4 months or so.

can somebody enlighten me on the advantages of this ADN program?

the only one I see is for Secondary School graduates--they will be able to take the NCLEX after 2 years as an ADN, instead of the current 4 years as a BSN (or rumored to be 5 years in the near future).



Suzanne, are graduates of this program eligible for the EB3 or a Working Visa? I recall somewhere that EB3s were only for BSNs.

I don't see much benefit to this ADN program, and it is very expensive.

I'd just like to comment about the rumors that Phils BSN will be 5 years? Oh, MY! I think it's crazy!!! What do they think of this course? A School/ Univ bank? So, students will stay more and pay more for tuition fees, miscellaneous fees, lab fees in order to graduate??? C'MOn...If that's the case...I'll just stay home in my country and be contented with whatever we have. What's the use of striving for more? When people strive to do good...they make it harder....I hope it's just a rumor coz if it's true----very few will take Nursing and No one would like to dream going places. Life back home can be comfortable if we're just contented whatever we may have. Dollars may have more value than peso- if you spend it in PI ( ginger and cabbage swamp leafy veg here is nearly $3 a lb while there it's only equivalent to a cent)---but if you use if here in US, UK, Canada --- it's just the same ....I hope they will think about it. It's like more weight on crosses for these people who's chosen vocation is to serve, care and be handmaidens and gentlemen who give so much sacrifice being away from their family, country. What do they think about Nurses? - do they just earn without working, don't they know they have lesser time for their families just to work? The fact, that working in another land takes a lot of adjustment...the struggle to survive and have more time for life , sometimes discrimination can't be avoided , and more adjustments... NY is okay. They had accepted diversity but in other states???....That's why i admire foreigners who try to make it good...But please, CHED must think about this...have a HEART.

Re: BSN turning 5 yrs to finish?

Originally Posted by Nightingale Apolonia

I'd just like to comment about the rumors that Phils BSN will be 5 years? Oh, MY! I think it's crazy!!! What do they think of this course?

this is buzzing around in the Academic grapevine.

reason cited was the deterioration of Nursing Education in the Philippines as evidenced by lower percentages of passing in the Local Nursing Licensure Examinations.

the hope is for the extra year of studies to raise the quality of the Nursing graduates.

one school near the University Belt is actually using this as a reason to persuade people to enroll this Summer: they said implementation of the new curriculum will start very soon.

buzzing is getting loud, so enrollees for this school year might be in for a big (unpleasant) surprise.

I didn't get the plan for the second coursers, but some people had been pushing for elimination of the shortened curriculum...meaning everybody (Secondary School graduates or engineers/lawyers/doctors) should go through the 5-year program.

I have to reiterate that this is currently a rumor.

I would advise taking it with a grain of salt until CHED releases a memo on this (if ever. I hope the rumors are wrong).

Originally Posted by Nightingale Apolonia

I'll just stay home in my country and be contented with whatever we have.

huh?

you lost me here.

which country were you referring to?

Originally Posted by Nightingale Apolonia

What's the use of striving for more? When people strive to do good...they make it harder....I hope it's just a rumor coz if it's true----very few will take Nursing

no, no, no.

there're few viable alternatives.

the current lifeline available are the Call Centers, around P14 thou (@US$270) per month, which can go up to P40 thou (@US$770) a month if you get to be a manager. the people who are in this field are complaining of health problems though.

I can't think of other good jobs here.

so Nursing is still the best option, even if they add another year to it.

be optimistic, there are lots of opportunities out there!

out there meaning outside the Philippines!