Foreign Nurses from the Philippines

suzanne4, RN · Jul 3, 2004

It will be almost impossible to get a placement in a psych unit as a foreign grad until the hospital or facility is quite sure of your communication skills.

It doesn't even matter if English was your original language in your home country, nursing is practiced quite differently in the US from other countries.

You may get lucky, but I do not see it happening, actually have never seen it happen. I am sure that someone else will come along and say that they got a psych placement somewhere, but in the scheme of things.....it just doesn't happen.

MR. DJ · Jul 4, 2004

I'm actually being offered a job as a psychiatric nurse in a pschiatric hospital and then another hospital is offering a regular med-surg position. For the psych nurse position, they told me I would start out for a couple of months as a mental health worker and then work my way up as a psych RN only when I'm already comfortable with it. I know that I will have to adapt quickly to US psych nursing procedures and comm. skills but do you think this is an opportunity that I should not miss? What do you mean by "...in the scheme of things... it just doesn't happen."? Does this mean I'm lucky and should grab the opportunity? Is psych nursing a better choice than med-surg? Please elaborate on the pros and/or cons of psych nursing over the other specialties. I assume you have had some experience with psych nursing. Thanks for any advice that will help me make a better decision on this matter.

It will be almost impossible to get a placement in a psych unit as a foreign grad until the hospital or facility is quite sure of your communication skills.
It doesn't even matter if English was your original language in your home country, nursing is practiced quite differently in the US from other countries.
You may get lucky, but I do not see it happening, actually have never seen it happen. I am sure that someone else will come along and say that they got a psych placement somewhere, but in the scheme of things.....it just doesn't happen.

MR. DJ · Jul 4, 2004

I'm actually being offered a job as a psychiatric nurse in a pschiatric hospital and then another hospital is offering a regular med-surg position. For the psych nurse position, they told me I would start out for a couple of months as a mental health worker and then work my way up as a psych RN only when I'm already comfortable with it. I know that I will have to adapt quickly to US psych nursing procedures and comm. skills but do you think this is an opportunity that I should not miss? What do you mean by "...in the scheme of things... it just doesn't happen."? Does this mean I'm lucky and should grab the opportunity? Is psych nursing a better choice than med-surg? Please elaborate on the pros and/or cons of psych nursing over the other specialties. I assume you have had some experience with psych nursing. Thanks for any advice that will help me make a better decision on this matter.

It will be almost impossible to get a placement in a psych unit as a foreign grad until the hospital or facility is quite sure of your communication skills.
It doesn't even matter if English was your original language in your home country, nursing is practiced quite differently in the US from other countries.
You may get lucky, but I do not see it happening, actually have never seen it happen. I am sure that someone else will come along and say that they got a psych placement somewhere, but in the scheme of things.....it just doesn't happen.

suzanne4, RN · Jul 4, 2004

I'm actually being offered a job as a psychiatric nurse in a pschiatric hospital and then another hospital is offering a regular med-surg position. For the psych nurse position, they told me I would start out for a couple of months as a mental health worker and then work my way up as a psych RN only when I'm already comfortable with it. I know that I will have to adapt quickly to US psych nursing procedures and comm. skills but do you think this is an opportunity that I should not miss? What do you mean by "...in the scheme of things... it just doesn't happen."? Does this mean I'm lucky and should grab the opportunity? Is psych nursing a better choice than med-surg? Please elaborate on the pros and/or cons of psych nursing over the other specialties. I assume you have had some experience with psych nursing. Thanks for any advice that will help me make a better decision on this matter.

You are being offered a position as a mental health worker, not as a psych nurse. Big difference in salary..................perfect example right here, they do not hire directly as psych RNs. Is this a direct offer from a hospital or thru an agency? Where is the facility located? In a safe neighborhood?

Have you ever worked in psych? I would not recommend it for someone coming from another country unless you already had quite a bit of experience in this area. You would be much safer, literally, going with med-surg to begin with unless you have quite a bit of experience in psych. Psych patients can be quite manipulative, and with changes in culture and perception, you may have problems with this....................

You have to make the final choice, but I would definitely try to persuade my students to choose something else...............

suzanne4, RN · Jul 4, 2004

I'm actually being offered a job as a psychiatric nurse in a pschiatric hospital and then another hospital is offering a regular med-surg position. For the psych nurse position, they told me I would start out for a couple of months as a mental health worker and then work my way up as a psych RN only when I'm already comfortable with it. I know that I will have to adapt quickly to US psych nursing procedures and comm. skills but do you think this is an opportunity that I should not miss? What do you mean by "...in the scheme of things... it just doesn't happen."? Does this mean I'm lucky and should grab the opportunity? Is psych nursing a better choice than med-surg? Please elaborate on the pros and/or cons of psych nursing over the other specialties. I assume you have had some experience with psych nursing. Thanks for any advice that will help me make a better decision on this matter.

You are being offered a position as a mental health worker, not as a psych nurse. Big difference in salary..................perfect example right here, they do not hire directly as psych RNs. Is this a direct offer from a hospital or thru an agency? Where is the facility located? In a safe neighborhood?

Have you ever worked in psych? I would not recommend it for someone coming from another country unless you already had quite a bit of experience in this area. You would be much safer, literally, going with med-surg to begin with unless you have quite a bit of experience in psych. Psych patients can be quite manipulative, and with changes in culture and perception, you may have problems with this....................

You have to make the final choice, but I would definitely try to persuade my students to choose something else...............

natasha700 · Jul 4, 2004

This is just a question, so please do not get me wrong. I just wondered because I am ignorant or misinformed here, is there a shortage of RN's in the Philipines? I just want to know who takes care of your citizens? Do nursing students take care of the patients, or are there too many nurses there?
Thanks!
I work with some fantastic nurses from England, the Philipines, India, Korea, and even Poland, so don't get me confused with someone who doesn't want you! I just always wanted to ask this :)

I understand that in some countries RN make no money and the conditions are worse than here. So coming to America may seem a dream compare to the homeland.

natasha700 · Jul 4, 2004

This is just a question, so please do not get me wrong. I just wondered because I am ignorant or misinformed here, is there a shortage of RN's in the Philipines? I just want to know who takes care of your citizens? Do nursing students take care of the patients, or are there too many nurses there?
Thanks!
I work with some fantastic nurses from England, the Philipines, India, Korea, and even Poland, so don't get me confused with someone who doesn't want you! I just always wanted to ask this :)

I understand that in some countries RN make no money and the conditions are worse than here. So coming to America may seem a dream compare to the homeland.

kyutnurse · Jul 18, 2004

hello again!!

Mr DJ, the mental health hosp here are very different to what you are used to...I would take the med/surg first. Filipinos usually go to ICU though....I noticed that the marketability is better, and better salary also.

hi ms suzanne....we really appreciate you here, it's good that you have the patience and knowledge to answer all these questions for us. Now, let me ask you this, what do you think about NICU? (level 2 or 3?) My back ground is more long term /geriatric care and then I went thru that LVN to RN...am looking into switching either adult ICU or NICU....hmmmm, any wisdom would help....thanks in advance... :)

ria

suzanne4, RN · Jul 18, 2004

hello again!!
Mr DJ, the mental health hosp here are very different to what you are used to...I would take the med/surg first. Filipinos usually go to ICU though....I noticed that the marketability is better, and better salary also.
hi ms suzanne....we really appreciate you here, it's good that you have the patience and knowledge to answer all these questions for us. Now, let me ask you this, what do you think about NICU? (level 2 or 3?) My back ground is more long term /geriatric care and then I went thru that LVN to RN...am looking into switching either adult ICU or NICU....hmmmm, any wisdom would help....thanks in advance... :)
ria

You are going to have difficulties getting placed in a NICU directly, especially a Level III or tertiary center; especially if you have no experience in this area. Even as a new hire into ICU, if you do not have the experience it is going to make things more difficult for you. The places that would offer you a postition would make me quite skeptical. Right now you are an unknown commodity to them, and they want to go with a sure thing. Unless you already had years of experience in those specialty areas, I would recommend going with a med-surg type of unit and getting accustomed to the way things are done in the US. It is quite different from where you are now. Nurses in the US actually are responsible for a full assessment on their patients every eight hours, sometimes even every four hours, and this is just for med-surg.

Of course, this is only my opinion :) ...............and I am sure that there are others, but I believe that your transition should be as easy as possible on you to begin with, and not get you so stressed so that you want to quit.

eperey · Jul 30, 2004

I am a Filipino Nurse working in U.K.Is it fair that I should be paying for my own attorney's fee for my GREEN CARD SPONSORSHIP? I have done all the works and payments; CGFNS, IELTS, VISA SCREEN and eligibility for California- NCLEX. I found hospital in L.A., California that is willing to sponsor me for the greencard but won't pay the process and offering me $30.00/hour + benefit.

Rep · Jul 31, 2004

I am a Filipino Nurse working in U.K.Is it fair that I should be paying for my own attorney's fee for my GREEN CARD SPONSORSHIP? I have done all the works and payments; CGFNS, IELTS, VISA SCREEN and eligibility for California- NCLEX. I found hospital in L.A., California that is willing to sponsor me for the greencard but won't pay the process and offering me $30.00/hour + benefit.

Hi! Lawyer's fee are too expensive. It is common nowadays for employers/hospitals to shoulder all expenses to bring a nurse to the US. Which includes CGFNS, IELTS, VISA SCREEN, visa and lawyer's fees.

I think you should look for other employers who will sponsor you for free and at the same reimburse all your expenses incurred on the CGFNS,etc.

I know of someone who spent personnally for the CGFNS and the English exams then the employer who hired her reimburse all the expenses.

Good luck! :)

leslie :-D · Jul 31, 2004

i truly don't understand.....

anyone coming to the united states for all these wonderful opportunities, would expect u.s. hospitals to help pay their way????