Foreign Nurses Immigrating to NZ

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Specializes in Psych.
New Zealand’s stricter rules force Filipino nurses to become overstayers

http://"http://gmanews.tv/story/150329/New-Zealands-stricter-rules-force-Filipino-nurses-to-become-overstayers"

ANILA, Philippines - Aspiring overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Juliana de Castro has sold everything she owned in the Philippines to pay her recruitment fee and airfare to New Zealand, only to discover that her destination was not too keen on recognizing Filipino nurses.

“I don't know what I am to do. All I was dreaming for is for a chance to make a living as a nurse, but coming to New Zealand has really become my worst nightmare," De Castro, whose work visa has expired, told the New Zealand Herald.

De Castro had to sell all her possessions to pay $8,000 or almost P400,000 to her agency in New Zealand and $2,000 or about P97,000 in airfare – something which most Filipino nurses in the their normally go through.

Be warned! Do not come here without your registration already in hand. Also, it is not necessary to use a recruiter or immigration consultant. I am an immigrant to NZ myself and these things do not happen exclusively to Filipinos. Many are lured here and then do not receive registration. The real goal is to get your immigration fees and for you to dump all your cash into the econom (what other country would allow you to immigrate before you are even a registered nurse). Same can happen to doctors.... Very big business here.

This same article is available in the New Zealand Hearld.

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I totally agree with you, i'm a filipino nurse and i'll be going to nz this june 2009. thank God i have been approved by ncnz to take the CAP course. i didn't go to any agency for my employment, instead i just browsed the internet for a sponsor. and whalla.....one the district health board offered a sponsorship for my airfare and tuition fees for the CAP......Aim High PINOYS!!!!!!

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congratulations kabayan! I have been in contact with my nz agency and would require huge amount to go there and have it like what you did. may i ask how did you go about this process. i am in uae right now but still new, i had a husband visa here, not yet working as a nurse but had only 10 months work experience and 1 year volunteer in the philippines..thanks much

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Specializes in Psych.

Again, I just want to stress, that it is entirely possible to be approved for a visa to come to NZ and then come here to be rejected for registration with the nursing council. This happens a lot. Also you need to get an IELTS score of 7 and you will pay each time you sit the test. This is big news here at the moment. It is also no secret that some immigration agents will not be honest about this.

It is very risk to come here without registration and there are many who have who wind up in NZ illegally and without money to go home. http://www.nzherald.co.nz search "filipino nurse"

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Specializes in MEDICAL, SURGICAL, OB-GYNE, SCRUB NURSE.
Again, I just want to stress, that it is entirely possible to be approved for a visa to come to NZ and then come here to be rejected for registration with the nursing council. This happens a lot. Also you need to get an IELTS score of 7 and you will pay each time you sit the test. This is big news here at the moment. It is also no secret that some immigration agents will not be honest about this.

It is very risk to come here without registration and there are many who have who wind up in NZ illegally and without money to go home. www.nzherald.co.nz search "filipino nurse"

What's this registration were you talking about? I really don't have an idea regarding on how to become a NZ nurse. thanks for the reply!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
What's this registration were you talking about? I really don't have an idea regarding on how to become a NZ nurse. thanks for the reply!

Please post any questions regarding registration as a foreign nurse in the International forum. There are already a couple of threads there would suggest you check them out. Starting point would be the NZ nursing board

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Please give membership time to respond to any comments.

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Specializes in Psych.

The New Zealand Nursing Council has approved you for a competence assessment programme (CAP) only. That does not guarantee you registration. It only allows you to come here and paticipate in the program. Have you taken the IELTS and scored a 7? That is also a requirement. If you are registered following the course it may also be with restrictions.

I am not trying to discourage you. We do need nurses here. What I am trying to do is to save you from spending all your money to get here and then to be denied registration. There are people who have come here to complete the CAP and do not get registered and do not get a job. As I posted above, this has been an issue discussed in one of our national newspapers, The New Zealand Herald.

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Specializes in general ward.

hi, i am also interested to take the NZ CAP. is it really difficult to pass the NZ nursing council evaluation? how long will it take before they release the decision if they will allow me to take the CAP? ope someone will reply thanks a lot

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Specializes in Psych.

Sorry, but I have no idea about the council's timeframe regarding applications http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/contcomp.html I did, however, note that it is a requirement for admission to a CAP program that you sit IELTS and get a 7 in each band. That is at you own cost. This is a good thing as it is also a very difficult requirement for registration.

Another thing, NZ has shifted the focus from international recruitment to increasing domestic training and retention. This is a recent trend and will need to either pass or prove to be effective. Therefore, the requirements to practice nursing here are being levelled ie, competency programs and very strong English language skill requirements.

While this must be frustrating for nurses who wish to come to NZ, it is what it is and there is no way around these requirments. Another immigrantion risk is failing the CAP and not being able to register with the Nursing Council. It does happen.

It is also important that nurses considering immigration to NZ review what the council defines as "competent" as some of it relates to some vague areas like cultural competency (NZ culture). NZ does not consider itself to be multicultural, but bicultural (European Kiwi and Maori). That is not my opinion, that is the reality.

Hope this helps...

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Karma moo moo

I dont know how to PM.Could you rather PM me the name of DHB that sponsors you.Hope you can do me favor on this.TY

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Karma moo moo

I dont know how to PM.Could you rather PM me the name of DHB that sponsors you.Hope you can do me favor on this.TY

Until you have 15 or more posts you can only read pms once you have 15 or more you can send them

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