Originally Posted by Hushdawg

1) Practice your interview skills. I've interviewed dozens of people for various job positions here in the Philippines and I can tell you that there is obviously no instruction going on at public school or college level to teach people the right ways to interview. Interviewees are nervous, they stammer, use verbal crutches (um, uh, ano, etc..) and are completely incapable (it seems) of forming a coherent answer to simple questions such as "Can you give me an example of how you solved a problem with your past job?" or even "What would you like to be doing in five years?"

this is so true... i have noticed that the people who stammer and can't express themselves well during interviews don't get to be called back for the next step.

i went to several interviews even if i don't have any plan of working at some of them (i.e. call centers, sales, etc.) because that way, i get to practice my interview and critical thinking skills, especially for those clinical/panel interviews. i am not boasting, but i think the experience (and the feedbacks) i got from the interviews i've been has helped me a lot to improve in interviews and in getting my present job.

Originally Posted by chromoflage

I just passed the NLE. So as I am reading through this thread what I am getting is -- Volunteering is NOT an experience but is an "unwritten" prerequisite to have an experience. Is there any other way to not get into this sick process?

doing something related to nursing is better than not doing anything at all.

i know a lot of people will disagree with me on this. i myself was also against volunteering. as much as possible, i want to work as a hired staff nurse... but it took a long time for hospitals to give feedback regarding my application... so i volunteered and i was able to use my background as a volunteer in a positive way. i used it as a stepping stone in order for me to get hired in my present job (as an employed staff nurse).

but since you're a new board passer, i suggest you finish all the trainings first (that most hospitals here require) such as your BLS and IVT... after you've finished those, apply apply apply!!!

apply in all the hospitals that would hire you as a staff nurse... and since it takes a looooonngg time for you to get some feedback from these hospitals, you could also volunteer in the meantime so that you won't forget nursing stuff and you also get to practice your nursing skills (this will come in handy when you're called for a clinical interview or skills exam). just make sure that the hospital where you're going to volunteer will allow you to do what hired nurses do and not the job of a nursing aid.

oh, and if you're going to volunteer:
- find a hospital near you (remember, they're not going to pay you, so it's better if it's walking distance)
- bring your own lunch/dinner (to save money)
- clarify with them what your work will be, the scope of your work and your responsibilities (do not accept if as a nursing aid or you'll just be doing vitals signs, bed making, etc.)
- ask them how long you'd be volunteering
- ask them if there is any chance you'd be absorbed as an employed staff nurse
- ask them if you're going to get a certificate after

let me clarify that i am not encouraging volunteering... it is really unfair for us nurses to be exploited by these hospitals. but with the situation we have here (plenty of nurses and few hospitals willing to hire), i think that we should just make the best out of the situation that we have. look at it as a chance to practice nursing - a venue to learn. but don't stop at volunteering... as i said earlier, make it a stepping stone for you to get a job and also to become a better nurse.

hope this helps! and goodluck to your nursing career!

Originally Posted by echo23

I know an agency that are accepting volunteer nurse as an experience for New Zealand. A year of volunteering is enough and of course an ielts passer with a grade of 7 in all subtests.

The last time I saw one like that (not for NZ) i investigated and discovered that they were schlepping volunteer nurses into caregiver positions in nursing homes which may pay poorly or well depending on the situation but it definitely doesn't count as nursing experience for the USA (as things stand now).

Basically make sure you get everything in writing, don't take someone's word for it and BE CAREFUL when dealing with agencies. These guys are trading people like merchandise, most of them really don't care about the individuals involved. That being said, there are a few that actually have decent ethics, too bad they are so hard to find.

Volunteering is sacrifice and that's the essence of nursing philippines. Dont you agree?

Sacrifice in our part and exploitation for most hospitals... don't you agree? ^_^

you know, latinaVS, the situation here in the philippines is really different from that in US. To start with, healthcare in this country is not a priority bec. it is very expensive. before people spend for their health, they generally have to spend for their immediate needs like food, rent, education. Thus, private hopsitals mostly cater to those who can afford to pay for hospital bills and government hospitals usually have the marginalized as patients. Both struggle financially to keep hospital business afloat. Struggling would mean underpaying healthcare workers or not paying them at all in the guise of volunteer work. In fact, the big number of nursing grads have been a source of big business among hospitals and training institutions by charging fees to be trained or do volunteer work. The PNA has been sensitive enough to call the attention of the government and the hospitals to desist from exploiting the nurses. But as it is, nothing fruitful came out of it. Firstly, the government cannot stop these hospitals because they do not have job offers to these nurses. Its only now that they came up with a dirtective to deploy new grads to work in the provinces with pay. But then, implementing is another story. The new grads, for lack of job offers, also grab the chance to be volunteer workers, than being "out of the loop." Standing up for yourself is really a tough job especially when everyone else is thinking of survival...sad, isn't it?

Re: Volunteer Nurses: Counted as a Work Experience? Before, I also have conservative views regarding this "volunteer nursing" system in the PI.
But after months of wasted time, I realized that it's much better than having no experience
at all.

However, I still believe that the ones who are truly benefitting from this are the hospitals,
especially those who ask for payment. I resent it but I had to swallow my pride. Anyway, I went to an
agency hiring nurses to Canada and they told me volunteer experience can be considered as work experience.

hello guys..can i ask what is the name of the agency that accepts volunteer experience? and how to apply for it..thanks.

It doesn't really matter what the agency accepts unless they are a staffing firm who will be the ones hiring you. Ultimately the hospital is the one who will determine if your volunteer work counts as work experience.

I have communicated with different people in different parts of the USA, some of them understand the nature of volunteering in the Philippines and will accept volunteering and others will not.
I have found individuals in the same hospital with a difference of opinion.
Therefore, there is no guarantee EVER that volunteering will be counted as work experience.

I thought volunteer work counted as work experience. Thank you for the info. i am still unemployed and i guess i will do volunteer work just to have experience.

Volunteering, it seems to be the only job left for nurses in the Philippines. But who are we to complain, it's better than letting our skills rot and not doing anything at all. It's sad though that some hospitals even require nurses who want to volunteer pay for the "experience," "training" or whatever you call it.