Aren't US trained nurses regarded internationally?

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Aug 19, 2009

The number one exporter of nurses the Philippines will not license a US citizen. This is true for many countries. That is why I finf it ironic when international nurses complain about the process to get a US license when many countries would not allow us to apply.

Of course their are countries like UK and Australia that will acknowledge your education but will not hire you until all the citizens and in the UK all the EU citizens are employed . Which I believe is the proper way.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 19, 2009

A lot will depend on the country and your training. Most will accept US nurses like they would Canadian, UK, German, Australian etc but you may have to sit their nursing exam and language exam. In the same way a foreign nurse has to when coming to the US

allnurses Guide · Aug 19, 2009

The number one exporter of nurses the Philippines will not license a US citizen. This is true for many countries. That is why I finf it ironic when international nurses complain about the process to get a US license when many countries would not allow us to apply.
Of course their are countries like UK and Australia that will acknowledge your education but will not hire you until all the citizens and in the UK all the EU citizens are employed . Which I believe is the proper way.

Did you stop to think that perhaps the Philippines have a massive oversupply of nurses? Why on earth would they hire other citizens? It's not just US-educated nurses that they will not license.

In addition, I have no idea what you are saying about Australia... "will not hire you until all the citizens ... are employed"?????????? Not really. Australia has skills-based immigration - if you qualify, you can immigrate. In addition, licensing is very easy and fast for most people to go to Australia, including US-educated people.

The usual restriction on allowing foreign licensing is the state of the country - the EU prioritizes EU citizens. It used to be very easy for, say, Aussies to go and work in the UK, but it's now very difficult. But then, even UK nurses find it hard to find jobs there due to hiring freezes etc.

Basically, yes the US RN education is well regarded. Whether you can emigrate somewhere in particular depends mainly upon the state of the nursing shortage/economy in those countries. Experienced nurses with particular specialties are in demand in most places.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Aug 19, 2009

The number one exporter of nurses the Philippines will not license a US citizen. This is true for many countries. That is why I finf it ironic when international nurses complain about the process to get a US license when many countries would not allow us to apply.

The Philippines, historically and currently, is not a destination for foreign nurses. It's a thrid world country and does not pay nurses well. What foreign nurse would want to work there? The law that says only Philippine nationals can register as nurses in the Philippines dates back from the time the Philippines regained it's independence after World War II. There is nothing discriminatory about that law, it was brought about by a nationalistic fervor that was very much alive at the time. You can't fault a country for feeling that way after being granted independence. The law has not changed because there has not been a huge interest in foreign nurse recruitment in the Philippines. Why? because ghillbert already stated that they have an oversupply of nurses there. However, foreign nationals who come as nurses and participate in medical missions are not restricted from practicing their nursing skills there.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Aug 19, 2009

The Philippines, historically and currently, is not a destination for foreign nurses. It's a thrid world country and does not pay nurses well. What foreign nurse would want to work there? The law that says only Philippine nationals can register as nurses in the Philippines dates back from the time the Philippines regained it's independence after World War II. There is nothing discriminatory about that law, it was brought about by a nationalistic fervor that was very much alive at the time. You can't fault a country for feeling that way after being granted independence. The law has not changed because there has not been a huge interest in foreign nurse recruitment in the Philippines. Why? because ghillbert already stated that they have an oversupply of nurses there. However, foreign nationals who come as nurses and participate in medical missions are not restricted from practicing their nursing skills there.

What if an American RN married a Phillipine citizen? There is a very large EX Pat community of Americans, what if one wanted to continue to work ? And why not for good relations, it leaves a very bad feeling for me that the country feels free to export but not recognize an American's education.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Aug 19, 2009

Did you stop to think that perhaps the Philippines have a massive oversupply of nurses? Why on earth would they hire other citizens? It's not just US-educated nurses that they will not license.
In addition, I have no idea what you are saying about Australia... "will not hire you until all the citizens ... are employed"?????????? Not really. Australia has skills-based immigration - if you qualify, you can immigrate. In addition, licensing is very easy and fast for most people to go to Australia, including US-educated people.
The usual restriction on allowing foreign licensing is the state of the country - the EU prioritizes EU citizens. It used to be very easy for, say, Aussies to go and work in the UK, but it's now very difficult. But then, even UK nurses find it hard to find jobs there due to hiring freezes etc.
Basically, yes the US RN education is well regarded. Whether you can emigrate somewhere in particular depends mainly upon the state of the nursing shortage/economy in those countries. Experienced nurses with particular specialties are in demand in most places.

So you are saying that in your home country, they will employ Americans when their own nurses are unemployed, I stand corrected. Austraila will hire the most qualifed candidate despite the nurses citizenship. When my daughter was there in 2005 they were very strict what she could and could not do, glad to hear that all are employable.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Aug 19, 2009

What if an American RN married a Phillipine citizen? There is a very large EX Pat community of Americans, what if one wanted to continue to work ? And why not for good relations, it leaves a very bad feeling for me that the country feels free to export but not recognize an American's education.

I hate to support hijacking the intent of this thread but an American married to a Philippine national who chooses to live in the Philippines can apply for dual citizenship. I'm sure there have been isolated incidents of such and the government in the Philippines have accommodated individual situations. The government in the Philippines is very pro-American in case you don't know. And where are you coming with the comment that the Philippines does not recognize "an American's education"? Look through the halls of Philippine Congress and Senate, the President's Cabinet, and the Supreme Court there, there would be a lot of Ivy-League and US educated individuals there. As far as their citizenship, yes they are Filipino by citizenship but the statement you made that the Philippines does not recognize the value of an American degree is totally false. The Philippine business world also has individuals who received their education in the US and other European countries and some of these indiviudals do not have Filipino citizenship.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 19, 2009

Can we please keep to topic which is Aren't US trained nurses regarded internationally?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Aug 20, 2009

Just as a follow-up (and this is within context of the OP's question):

The Republic of the Philippines have actually made revisions to the older nursing law via the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002. The new law gives provisions for foreign nationals to sit for the exam "provided that the requirements for registration or licensure of nurses in said country are substantially the same as those prescribed in this act". Furtheromore, foreign nationals registered as nurses in their home countries are able to be licensed as nurses without having to take the licensure examination via a process called "Registration by Reciprocity". The requirements are that registration and licensure in the foreign nurse's country are substantially similar in requirements as those of the Philippines and that "the laws of such state or country grant the same priviledges to registered nurses of the Philippines on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or country. Lastly, foreign nationals can practice via "Special/Temporary Permit" if they are "internationally well-known specialists or outstanding experts", participants in medical missions, licensed nurses of foreign countries employed by colleges and universities as exchange professors.

Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/5486056/RA-9173-Philippine-Nursing-Act-of-2002

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2009

Wouldn't other countries willingly accept a registered nurse who was BSN educated in the US? I thought nurses in general were demanded worldwide. Besides the immigration/visa process, why do nursing jobs in international countries (specifically like in Europe) seem so hard to attain? (Like even where English speakers are very prevalent.) Wouldn't a US degree be legitimate over there?
I'm young and I have dreams, but these "realist" things I've heard I need to understand, and I need find a way through it.

I don't see why a foreign country should have to accept an educated RN from the US. I firmly believe that if you're going to practice nursing in another country your education, and clinical experience should be closely evaluated. I don't care if you were educated in the US, if you're from the US and you're going to work say in the UK, you should have to follow their guidelines in order ot work there. A US graduate should take a transition course and have their skills evaluated because nursing in the UK can be different than nursing in the US. Procedures are done differently in each country and it's the RN wishing to work in a foreign countries responsibility to know the correct policies and procedures from that country before being allowed to work on the floor.

Now, I also believe that you don't have to accept a US trained RN education. It's your countries right to accept or deny anybody. It's healthcare and peoples lives are at stake. If you feel that someone doesn't meet the requirements, DENIED!!!! However, I also believe that if you don't want to accept foreign graduates, then don't expect other countries to accept your graduates. What's good for the goose can be good for the gander.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2009

I'm sorry that the Philippines has a surplus of nurses, but it's not other countries job to employ Filipinos because they can't find work at home. It's the fault of the Philippines for pumping nurses that they can't and know they can't support.

However, this is regarding is the US BSN education recognized overseas. I don't believe that just because you're educated in the US, that you're superior to others. The US has a lot of state of the art equipment that third world countries don't have. The US does have more structure on accredidation than other countries, and they will shut down non performing schools. I still believe that if you're educated in the US and you want to work abroad, you should still have experience, take a transition course, pass a skills assessment, and sit for their national exam like any other foreigner would. Just because you're educated in the US doesn't mean you should be immune from guidelines that need to be followed regarding foreign trained nurses. That's just my opinion.