Future RN and "single mom" needs advice on better route to take!

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Hi,

let me give you a very short version about my situation:

  • -26 yrs old, married but separated (not legally) from spouse (going on 7 mos now). I'm in California now.
  • -we have two very young children, 2.5 yrs old and one almost 5 mos old.
  • -husband wants to be single
  • -I have B.A. in Mass Comm w/minor in Sociology from university here in US
  • -I'm about 7 classes away from B.S. in Management (last attended in 2004)
  • -So...I'm basically doing everything on my own as a single mom.

My parents say it will be nearly impossible for me to finish a BSN or even an ADN here in the U.S. with 2 young children...I feel I would have to find a job that pays well which will help me take care of our expenses for housing, food, clothes, transportation (I don't have a car), kids' things such as diapers, daycare and also finding money to help w/tuition (already have loans I'm paying) and extra babysitting to attend school and clinicals. As far as my children are concerned, I DO NOT want them to go through hard times.

So my parents offered me to come to the Philippines with them (dad will retire there) and they will pay for all the expenses in order for me to go to school in the Philippines. I was born in the Philippines and was naturalized here in the U.S., so I am applying for dual citizenship to avoid foreigner fees and to be able to study and reside there.

  • -I'm aware that I will have to go attend another 4 years instead of the 2-3 year course for 2nd coursers before new regulations are implemented.
  • -I know that if I do go back to Cali or whatever state I decide to go and work in that I have to pass the local board in the Philippines.
  • -I know that I will be considered a foreign graduate regardless...
  • -I know that starting all over means I have to take the basic courses over again...but with my circumstance of having 2 young children and NEEDING help with them b/c their father does not CARE AT ALL I feel I have to do that sacrificing on behalf of them..
  • I know here in the U.S., there are waiting lists for nursing schools and it's not always about your GPA

If you were in my situation, what would you feel is the best route to take?

Try and stick it out here in the U.S.? OR

Go to the Philippines w/folks and get a lot of help with the children so that I can devote my time to studying and working on clinicals?

What are the pros and cons of staying here in the U.S. w/2 children on my own and trying to be an RN vs. the pros and cons of doing it in the Philippines?

I am looking into Iloilo Doctor's College, St. Paul's, and San Agustin all in Iloilo.

I thank you for your help and insight.

God Bless,

MJ

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Moved your thread in the International forum as your topic per se does not pertain to working in PH and you are still in the US and a US Citizen solely.

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I'll chip in a few comments. I think you should just stick it out in the US and if time management is your concern then maybe instead of you going to PH you can leave your children with them in PH instead as soon as your youngest is weaned from breastfeeding.

I know the above comment seems dispassionate but it is done in PH all the time and quite common that the grandparents takes care of the children, even the babies by themselves.

Are your parents in a hurry to retire in PH? Can they spare a few more years to be with you in the US? If they can and are willing, then you can do everything in the US.

I would not apply for dual-citizenship as much as possible. Not yet, at least. If you are a US Citizen only then you are not obliged to take the local boards and is actually prohibited from taking so by Phil. Law. What happens if you hold a dual-citizenship and obliged to take the local boards and fail it? That will add more time to you and traditionally,

The above are just the cons I see in studying in PH and sometimes everything depends on the current circumstances. If you cannot part with your children (understandably so) then you may not even have a choice on w/c route to go but be where your parents will be in the mean time that you will be studying.

However, if your parents are intent in retiring in PH, you will still have to deal with your children on your own, being a single mom, sooner or later and things will only get worse (time management wise) once you are already working in the US and esp. with very young children. Only way is for your parents to postpone retirement in PH and be with you until you can manage your children and your work. So, might as well do everything in the US, if parents are willing to stay put there.

I would place studying in PH as a last resort.

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And what if you will be required to work for two years in PI before being able to return to the US? No matter what anyone wants to tell me right now, but most of the programs there are not equivalent to those in the US therefore clinical training is lacking and you are going to find it harder to get a job here in the US. Especially in CA.

I would rethink what you want to do, and if it is that much easier to get into school in PI, why do you think that is possible if things are so great over there with the schooling.

If you have a chance to go to school in the US, then go for that.

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