BSN(PI) to DNP(US)

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Hello All,

This is my first post here, but this is not my first visit on these forums. I have visited this forum hundreds of times and read thousands of useful posts. However, I still have a few questions...

First, let me explain my situation. I am a US citizen (born and raised here) and I am planning to acquire my BSN in the PI (I would rather take get my RN here in the US but I have too many reasons to go back to the PI). Next, I plan to come back to the US and then continue my education and acquire my Doctor of Practical Nursing (DNP)(I am looking to be a Nurse Practitioner). So with that in mind, here are my questions...

1.) Is there anyone here that acquired a BSN from the Phillippines and then went for a DNP program in the United States? If so, how much more schooling did you need to attend or how many extra classes did you have to take as apposed to someone who acquired a BSN from the US?

2.) Do you have any recommendations for BSN schools (preferrably in Lipa, Manila, or Makati) that are the most accredited in the United States?

3.) Also, I would like some input from recent BSN Grads (from the PI) that is now currently working in the United States. Are you skills lacking or are you ill prepared for the real work?

Thank you very much for all the help. I appreciate your time!

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The degree that you want is not the Doctor of Practical Nursing, it is the Doctorate of Nurse Practitioner. That comes after the MSN.

(Practical nursing in the US is just a one year degree program.)

Clinical skills coming out of the current programs in PI are not the same as a grad in the US right now. Hospitals that are accepting graduates from there are increasing their orientation, above the usual time that is required.

University of Makati probably has the best reputation at the moment.

Nurse practitioners usually go for the MSN with the NP track. There are not that many DNP programs currently.

You will need to have your transcripts evaluated by CGFNS with the CES, their credentials eval. That will be required for any graduate program, as well as English exams, if you are training in PI, and the GRE for most programs. The English is required based on where you do your training, not what passport that you hold. Many of the recent grads are working in nursing homes, or being petitioned by same. There has been a retrogression in place since last October, so the new grads have not even made it over to the US, even if they graduated a year ago.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Suzanne, is right. Just a minor correction, DNP actually is a relatively new degree in the US and the letters stand for "Doctor of Nursing Practice". It is a degree that is currently available in a few schools in the US (for a list of schools offering this degree, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/DNPProgramList.htm). It is being proposed as an entry-level degree for nurses in advanced practice including NP's, CNS', CNM's, and CRNA's by year 2015. It is being touted as a terminal degree for nurses interested in clinical practice as opposed to those who wish to obtain a PhD for research or academia. However, at the current time, most programs are designed for MSN educated advanced practice nurses who wish to obtain a doctoral level of education without having to go through a PhD. There are a few that admits students with BSN (Case Western, Columbia).

With that being said, your best bet as a foreign-educated BSN grad for getting into an NP training program in the US is to pass the NCLEX, acquire US RN experience, take the GRE and obtain decent scores, take TOEFL, and possibly CGFNS. Your school TOR needs to be evaluated by CES as well. Those are typically the requirements for NP program admission.

In regards to your question about DNP grads who obtained their BSN in the Philippines, there is probably just very few since the programs are new. There actually aren't many graduates of DNP programs at the current time anyway. However, I am a BSN grad from the Philippines who is now an NP through an MSN program here in the US. I had to go through all the requirements I mentioned above to be admitted to the program. US grads just needed the NCLEX, US RN experience, GRE, and official TOR.

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In regards to your question about DNP grads who obtained their BSN in the Philippines, there is probably just very few since the programs are new. There actually aren't many graduates of DNP programs at the current time anyway. However, I am a BSN grad from the Philippines who is now an NP through an MSN program here in the US. I had to go through all the requirements I mentioned above to be admitted to the program. US grads just needed the NCLEX, US RN experience, GRE, and official TOR.

Thanks for all the useful info, PinoyNP. I know what the NCLEX and GRE are, but what is the TOR.

What school did you attend in the PI and how long ago? Also, how long did it take you to acquire your MSN since you were a foreign grad?

Thank you ALL!

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Length of time for the MSN is not any different if you graduated with your BSN in another country from an American trained nurse. Most of these programs are two years in length.

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Hi Suzanne! I am an RN here in the Philippines but i wish to continue my studies by taking masteral or that MSN. In lieu of this, is it possible for me to gain MSN through online? We have Masteral of Arts in Nursing here but might be different with your MSN there. May I know the requierements aside from CES? Would you kindly recommend some sites to which i could gain that MSN?

Your response is highly appreciated. Thank you.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
Thanks for all the useful info, PinoyNP. I know what the NCLEX and GRE are, but what is the TOR.

What school did you attend in the PI and how long ago? Also, how long did it take you to acquire your MSN since you were a foreign grad?

Thank you ALL!

TOR (Transcript of Records), should be sent by the school directly to CES. You can't obtain it yourself and send from your address.

Attended Centro Escolar University in Manila batch 1991.

Took me 6 semesters (2 years) as a full time graduate student. Had to go full time because of funded scholarship received. Had to work part-time as a nurse because of that. Length of time is no different for non-foreign educated RN's.

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Length of time for the MSN is not any different if you graduated with your BSN in another country from an American trained nurse. Most of these programs are two years in length.

Thank you very much for the information, Susanne. You are a great contributor to this forum and it's much appreciated.

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Thank you very much for the information, Susanne. You are a great contributor to this forum and it's much appreciated.

You are quite welcome.:balloons:

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Hi Suzanne! I am an RN here in the Philippines but i wish to continue my studies by taking masteral or that MSN. In lieu of this, is it possible for me to gain MSN through online? We have Masteral of Arts in Nursing here but might be different with your MSN there. May I know the requierements aside from CES? Would you kindly recommend some sites to which i could gain that MSN?

Your response is highly appreciated. Thank you.

In your country, they offer only the MAN. In the US for the nurse practitioner role or that of a clinical nurse specialist, it requires the MSN for you to be able to get that certification, as it also requires an additional licensing process from the BON, in addition to the regular RN licensing.

Any MSN program is going to require some clinical hours, and they need to be able to be evaluated by an American instructor. Best bet it to wait to start the program when you are in the US, as most employers will pay a stipend towards you continuing on with your studies.

The CES is needed for any continuation of your studies, as well as the English exams that would be required, and the GRE exam for admission to a program.

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TOR (Transcript of Records), should be sent by the school directly to CES. You can't obtain it yourself and send from your address.

Attended Centro Escolar University in Manila batch 1991.

Took me 6 semesters (2 years) as a full time graduate student. Had to go full time because of funded scholarship received. Had to work part-time as a nurse because of that. Length of time is no different for non-foreign educated RN's.

Thank you, pinoyNP

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