BSN Philippines: Second Coursers 2013

May Rceo, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2013

Hi, it's nice to hear that you are planning to take up nursing. I'm a second courser too. It took me 2 yrs to finish my nursing coz my ist course was bs pharmacy. Last year I was given a chance to take my exam and not successful. After I re applied they asked me to submit my clinical cases which I submitted to them last time before I got eligible. I submitted it after few months but they sent me an email that I need to go back to school because the California law did not coincide with CHED requirements. I need to enroll med surg/ ob. I made my planned b which is taking PN exam. My advice for you go on take a nursing course coz you don't know by the time u finish they are not strict anymore. It's better to study in the Philippines for u to save money that applying for big loans here in USA. What ever might happen u can take pn exam which is few bucks difference from rn or you can take other state rn exam. I hope it can help u.

APUser · Jan 2, 2013

Great point of view... I agree with you and of course graduates are given the opportunity to apply, pass and earn licenses in both the BVNPT in California & NCLEX-RN in another state so why not take advantage of such a great opportunity. Not only does it benefit international graduates but it opens the door to gain some experience as an LVN, then in the near future one may decide to relocate and pursue an RN position to the state in which the BRN has granted the RN license. I do appreciate the fact that some states continue to give opportunities to international graduates and grant seats to take the NCLEX-RN. We shall see if in the near future, if all the states enforcing concurrency will adjust their policy as it was before and once again accept all hard earned BSN degrees. But, It's good to know that the LVN exam is a good safety net for graduates because the degree has value and it's an excellent option if plan A works out differently. Well, I appreciate your time and thank you for your helpful insight! I wish you the very best in your nursing career! Have a good day!

steppybay · Jan 2, 2013

Kabayans, you guys have to now realize that the "demand" for international nurses and especially those coming from the Phils is fastily becoming the thing of the past.

Here's a recent article of how tough the labor market is just for PH grads and nurses, there's NO need till the year 2020, I think it will go beyond that. Click this: https://allnurses.com/nurse-registration/us-labor-market-779683.html

The USA is educating more and more local nurses, the hiring preferences are for those educated in the US, the priority will remain much stronger with local educated students and nurses.

However, there are still some demand if the PH applicants wants to work in the LTC, nursing homes, SNF's, become a personal care giver, etc (nothing wrong with working into those fields, as for me, it's not what I want), BUT if your desired dream job is to work in a hospital, your chances are very very slim, as most hospitals today hired from their magnet schools or those that did their clinicals and percepted there (still not a guaranteed job). While it's not quite like our "backer" system in the Phils, it's close enough.

It is "false economy" to think to take courses in the Phils now, as any money savings means you will probably have to take more courses in the States and wasted time, in just trying to get into the open spots if allowing foreign students. As an example, SFSU has 1-2 openings for foreign students, a few other CA schools the same, tution is about $7,000 to be paid upfront. Where's the savings in that by taking PH courses?

Time: you're looking at 2-3 years or more maybe to get enrolled, maybe.....so far CSU-Fresno has 30 openings, but still reamins to be seen if approved for this year and if not, maybe next year. Talk about wasting more time! Tuition cost for CSU Fresno is about $4,000 not sure if there'a added cost for holding an international degree, too early to tell.

Just think you go to a PH school spend a few years there, then a few years becoming an LVN here, then try to get into a LVN-RN bridge program. If you had other friends but they took their courses after waiting a bit longer staying in CA or the States, but they got their education in CA, guess who's going to hired between either you or them?

To the OP: I seriously doubt that school or any school with a shorten time frame to complete the courses will even meet the MINIMUM hours required of most State's BON's with CA being one of the toughest. You need to do your research and ask that school or any school: I NEED to talk to your past students who have successfully passed the CA BON and passed the NCLEX-RN, do not take the school's words "oh, we're ISO-certified", we're approved by so and so in the States, phooey.....ask for solid documented evidence and proof.

Again, there's been rumours we're hearing that the CHED, PRC and PNA don't plan to change the actual curriculums to meet the State's requirements till 2016. With that in mind, don't forget that the CHED, PRC and PNA don't have to do anything like that for anyone, they must and only do what they need to do to meet the country's requirements, not anyone outside. But as we all know, there's a HUGH amount of pressure from the 1,000's of angry and disappointed and frustrated PH nursing students and their parents that due to the PH educational system, that the doors to becoming an overseas nurse have been slowly closing or shut out.

I used to blame the CHED, PRC and PNA but now realize, they don't in fact have to do anything as mentioned, just keep it as it is.

In fact, the enforcement of the concurrency rules will remain forever there as it has been since 1987 with NO uplifting of that requirement as long as there's a high UNEMPLOYMENT rate of CA nursing students. CA BON 2011 survey of new grads and RN's show a near 50% of nurses unable to find their first job within a year and I think it gets worse, as a "new grad" applicant means one must apply within one year of their graduation, NOT within one year of passing the NCLEX. Another strike in getting hired as a foreign nurse: by the time, one passes thru the application, take the NCLEX one day after getting the ATT and pass the first time, there's only a month or two to apply if that, way too close.

Morale of the story: get your education in the States if you can, you're NOT saving any money from any PH school, you're also wasting valuable time in going to a PH school, in today's world and economy.

steppybay · Jan 2, 2013

In line with my comments above, forget trying to get your RN license in one "easy, fastest and cheapest" State then try to endorse (or transfer or reciprocate) into CA or any other States enforcing the concurrency rules. it's NOT going to work, you can't take a "short-cut" as so many here have tried and failed.

Why?

Just take CA as an example, you successfully got your RN license from Hawaii, NV, NY, FL and any of the other 49 states, you've worked 1-2-10 years as an RN in a hospital, then try to move into CA, it will not happen, sorry. CA BON as many of the other States will require that you pass the same exact educational requirements as for anyone, be they are local out of stater's or international students/nurses. It will ALWAYS come down to your original educational background and history, irregardless of the many year's of RN experience.

I have friends that can't get licensed from NY or FL and you'll read other posters here who personally can't get their licenses into CA, some are recent NCLEX passers and actual license holders.

Another reason to take your education in the States, is that the NCLEX RN passing rate on average is over 85%, whereas it's been documented by CHED themselves that the NCLEX passing rate of the PH students is less than 50%, I think it's closer to 43%. WHY? Because the PH school doesn't teach the needed "critical thinking" so badly required in the exams. That's why we see so many repeaters of more than two times, many times 4-5 or more and in some states, you're allowed 3 times.

CA is unlimited, but I can see one day, they may change it 3 or less also, but it's a good money maker for them when applicants don't pass, not the CA BON fault.

reymundal · Mar 20, 2013

Hello,
I'm a U.S. Citizen/Filipino Citizen that would like to earn a BSN in the Philippines in order to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam in the United states. I am aware that there are concurrency issues, and I'm willing to take the BVNPT as a second option. I'm interested in getting a BSN in the Philippines as a 2nd Courser... Also, I've inquired at St. Dominic Savio College in Caloocan City, Philippines and they quoted that their program is 2.5 years in length, which I do prefer over a 4 year BSN degree.
May I ask, are there any recent graduates of a 2nd course program such as St. Dominic Savio College: BSN for Doctors and Second Coursers that have turned in an application into the BRN and have been recently approved to take the NCLEX-RN in the United States? You're thoughts and time are very much appreciated. If you have any suggestions or information on other colleges in the Philippines that are offering similar BSN courses please feel free to post, thanks!

Hi, WvMvW i also did inquire about there program i work as an LVN here in hoston at the VA hospital is there any way that i pm you my email add is [email protected] i just need some insight regarding my plan thanks...

Ecinnaj · Mar 21, 2013

WvMvW,

If you are really sure that you have the discipline to study on your own then do pursue a second course here in PH. Last time I know, it's kinda illegal or CHED no longer allow schools to offer 2nd courses.

I graduated in DAVAO last March 2012 as a 2nd courser BSN. It says in my transcript that I took it for 3 years but the actual deed was just a year of lecture and duties, plus another 6 months of case completion. And the rest was just waiting time for graduation (BUT: you can't go back to US because technically you are still in school).

Next TIP: pick a school who were able to send nurses to other countries because they know the ins and outs of the process. JUst like CA BON, they have a concurrent rule which means that the semester you took for example maternity and child lecture should be concurrent with the RLE of your maternity and child. And because of the high number of Filipino nurse student, sometimes they forgo the RLE after a sem or two because there are no more open slots. I know this because my sister is helping me and she is a Nurse supervisor in one of the Kindred Hospital in CA. She updates me and help me how to go about my papers.

So, to make everything short, I applied for licensure in Marianas, got my schedule December 2012, took the NCLEX exam on Feb 27, 2013 and according to VUE trick, i passed. That's just take one. Marianas said they mailed my letter on March1, until now I'm still waiting for it. So, if I can do it, why can't you?? Don't be affected by too much negativities. If you need help, just let me know.

ceridwyn · Mar 22, 2013

12 months theory, 6 months clinical and a nursing degree thar states it is three years

:cool:

steppybay · Mar 22, 2013

12 months theory, 6 months clinical and a nursing degree thar states it is three years

Here's some information found from the CA BON.... click here: https://allnurses.com/nurse-registration/ca-brn-2011-a-807328.html

Of which it's looking hard at a lot of PH applicants and their transcripts and from their report:

Anyways, some of the interesting reads are titled:

-- "Phony Registered Nursing Programs", of which the Phillipines is mentioned. This is referring to the findings of those submitting RECTO false documents and some PH schools may have adjusted the transcripts to make for a more favorable compliance and why some PH grads from the same school didn't get approved.

-- "Update on BRN Investigations"-- the mention of hiring 4 Special Investigators in Nor Cal and 14 Special Investigators in So CAl. This is also partly where I read in the earlier CA BON minutes, they will be looking at those international applicants who have already obtained CA RN license and may already be working and may still be subjected to having their school's transcripts re-reviewed for concurrence compliance. If found deficient, they may keep their jobs but will have their licenses on a some kind of review or probationary tag, as long as they comply with the rules and get the requirements done in 2-3 years. There was always talk of how the CA BON was inconsistent at times. So now, with the larger investigation staffing, they can do their jobs.

If they are found later in their nursing careers and still licensed in CA, they can be fined and suffer possible legal actions for submitting and knowingly false documents, plus losing the license.

Here's the actual CA BON report:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/forms/brnwinter2011.pdf

Actually the second coursers BSN is somewhat of a sham and short cut and suppose to be illegal and the CA BON is aware of these transcripts and that's partly why the CA BON is looking at many PH nurses who submitted documents from the 2004 year onwards.

steppybay · Mar 22, 2013

WvMvW,
If you are really sure that you have the discipline to study on your own then do pursue a second course here in PH. Last time I know, it's kinda illegal or CHED no longer allow schools to offer 2nd courses.
I graduated in DAVAO last March 2012 as a 2nd courser BSN. It says in my transcript that I took it for 3 years but the actual deed was just a year of lecture and duties, plus another 6 months of case completion. And the rest was just waiting time for graduation (BUT: you can't go back to US because technically you are still in school).
Next TIP: pick a school who were able to send nurses to other countries because they know the ins and outs of the process. JUst like CA BON, they have a concurrent rule which means that the semester you took for example maternity and child lecture should be concurrent with the RLE of your maternity and child. And because of the high number of Filipino nurse student, sometimes they forgo the RLE after a sem or two because there are no more open slots. I know this because my sister is helping me and she is a Nurse supervisor in one of the Kindred Hospital in CA. She updates me and help me how to go about my papers.
So, to make everything short, I applied for licensure in Marianas, got my schedule December 2012, took the NCLEX exam on Feb 27, 2013 and according to VUE trick, i passed. That's just take one. Marianas said they mailed my letter on March1, until now I'm still waiting for it. So, if I can do it, why can't you?? Don't be affected by too much negativities. If you need help, just let me know.

Be careful if you plan to endorse your license into CA or any enforcing concurrent states, as you'll have to still pass whatever state's minimum requirements since most BON's will always ask for your original college transcripts as part of the nursing license endorsement process.

ceridwyn · Mar 23, 2013

...answers a few questions....and gives some worries too, if the Nurses Board in Australia is aware of this or are the transcripts full of made up units for three years? No wonder New Zealand put a stop to admission of second coursers education.

reymundal · May 4, 2013

is there any body out here who graduate as St. Dominic of Savio college in the Philippines that is currently working as an RN in the US? i am planing to study in that school and would like some feedback if a i will going to encounter any problem,thanks....