Filipino nurses seeking US jobs down by 7%

Published

It appears that the 5 year backlog on green cards has had its effect on new graduate nurses:

4,686 Filipinos took NCLEX from Jan-Mar 2008

INQUIRER.net

First Posted 17:24:00 04/26/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino nurses who took the United States' NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) for the first time have gone down seven percent from 5,076 during the first quarter of 2007 to 4,686 during the same period this year.

The data came from Catanduanes Representative Joseph Santiago, who said that for the whole of 2007, a record total of 21,499 Filipinos took the NCLEX for the first time, excluding repeaters.

He noted that this was up 6,328 or 42 percent compared to the 15,171 Filipinos that took the NCLEX for the first time in 2006.

In a statement, Santiago said the 2007 figures translate to a daily average of some 60 Filipino nurses seeking to practice in the US.

The congressman advocates the closing down of substandard Philippine nursing schools. He also supports the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) directive that compels every independent Philippine nursing licensure examination review center to promptly affiliate with an accredited college, or face closure.

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http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080426-132889/Filipino-nurses-seeking-US-jobs-down-by-7

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Specializes in Neuro-Surgery, Med-Surg, Home Health.

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I just had a conversation today with my friend in NJ, he is an RN whose daughter is an NCLEX passer in the Philippines. I have known about from this forum about the retrogression for foreign grad RN's and that the wait is as long as 5 years. Well, my friend informed me today that her daughter applied for an RN job in a New York City hospital and was hired last Nov. 2007. She is currently waiting for her green card to be issued to her by the U.S. Embassy in Manila. He is in close contact with her daughter in the Philippines and he expects his daughter to be in the U.S. in just several months and not the 5-year wait that I have been reading about in this forum. Can someone clarify this?

My friend also said that the U.S. Embassy is now processing the applications of those who applied for U.S. nursing jobs because they released more than 200,000 worldwide unused visas.

I also heard about one NCLEX passer RN from the Philippines who came to California recently and was able to adjust this RN's status. This is a very significant story. Can someone also explain this? (SF, Ca.)

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Hiring of a nurse is just the beginning of the process. In normal times the wait is about 18 months to get the green card, and in times now, it is much longer. Does not matter what he tells you but the hospital does not issue visas, so this person is going to be waiting and waiting.

Bigger question would be why he never petitioned for her to begin with. We also have not seen any hospitals from there petition in sometime, there was one in the past that hired those from your country, but they slowed down considerably as well since no one knows when visas are going to open up again.

The 200,000 is also not accurate either. It was 61,000 last year and perhaps again this year but there is not an unlimited supply of unused visas to begin with either. And you have to take into account that most nurses have spouses and children; so even with the 61,000, it gave about 18,000 or so for nurses. There are many more than that that are waiting around the world for the green card. And the number of visas available per year for those from PI has not increased, but the number of applicants has significantly increased. So even with an employer as well as having passed the NCLEX exam, there is no longer any guarantee that one will actually get a green card. I do not believe a word that your friend has told you about the visas, or there would have been something posted by the US government. The US Embassy only handles the final interview, they do not do any processing of the visas either, so that tells me that the friend truly does not know of what they are speaking of.

And then for the person that recently adjusted their status, if it was not done last summer, then it has not been done as the US has not accepted the I-485 since that open window of time. And without that being submitted, then they are unable to adjust their status or remain in the US.

They can tell you all that they want, but there is no way for them to adjust their status if they just came here recently. Someone is not being honest with someone, that is for sure.

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HI everyone I'm so much upset of what is happening to my application to CA BON they need my PRC license, whereas my friend have already received ATT last week which she don't have the local license..were in the same situation. We pass our application at the same month last year december 2007. The CA BON requesting my local license..it's unfair..what can you advice to me please help me..i don't know what to do right now..:cry:

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hi suzanne4, what if your an adn graduate from ppts and a U.S citizen, r u gonna be able to work in the U.S after you pass the NCLEX?

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Specializes in Oncology, Medical.

I wonder how many of these thousands of NCLEX takers pass the first time. Do you have any idea?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi suzanne4, what if your an adn graduate from ppts and a U.S citizen, r u gonna be able to work in the U.S after you pass the NCLEX?

If the BON accepts your application and allows you to sit NCLEX and a USC then you can work because you will not be affected by retrogression , however if the BON does not accept your training then there will be no way to sit the NCLEX and work as a nurse.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
HI everyone I'm so much upset of what is happening to my application to CA BON they need my PRC license, whereas my friend have already received ATT last week which she don't have the local license..were in the same situation. We pass our application at the same month last year december 2007. The CA BON requesting my local license..it's unfair..what can you advice to me please help me..i don't know what to do right now..:cry:

BRN can do what ever they want, your friend's application may have been processed sooner than yours. You could ask but then may upset your friend as her file may get pulled and you both have to sit the local exam.

Personally due to retrogression I think you both should sit the local exam and gain nursing experience.

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you can never demand the BON, remeber thats a foreign agency and they can demand requirments they wnat to impose and all the aplicant should adhere to there new requirments

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HI everyone I'm so much upset of what is happening to my application to CA BON they need my PRC license, whereas my friend have already received ATT last week which she don't have the local license..were in the same situation. We pass our application at the same month last year december 2007. The CA BON requesting my local license..it's unfair..what can you advice to me please help me..i don't know what to do right now..:cry:

CA BRN changed their policy the beginning of this year to requiring the NLE for all applicants if they trained in the Philippines. Does not matter when you sent in your application, but it is the time that they started to process it.

It should not be an issue because you are going to be looking at five years plus for a chance at a green card, and without having current work experience, or any work experience as an RN, it is going to be very hard to actually get the visa.

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hi suzanne4, what if your an adn graduate from ppts and a U.S citizen, r u gonna be able to work in the U.S after you pass the NCLEX?

This same question has been asked in various forms on the International Forum, just look for my responses there.

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Hi! I am a medical graduate here in our country but I had a premed degree in nursing. I'm planning to work as a nurse in the US and now is going to apply for NCLEX. Do I still have to take the local board in nursing here coz some of my collegues in medicine who changed their career as a nurse in the US told me that I don't have to take the local exam but rather just pass a letter to the Ca BON explaining that I am a doctor here and planning to practice as a nurse there. Is this true? Or do I really need to take up the local boards for me to be given the permit to take the NCLEX exam? thanks.

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