I am currently an immigrant here in California and I want to study Nursing. However, most schools here have a 2-3 year waiting list. I intend to go back to the Philipines by the first week of april and study nursing there instead and since I already have a bachelors degree I will most likely be able to finish the course in two to three years as opposed to having those years wasted while waiting to get into the program after having finished my prerequisites here in the US. My concerns are
1. With policies regarding foreign graduates constantly changing and with the philippines' credibility shaken after the testing leakage, will I have a problem in taking the US boards and finding a job here in california after I graduate 2-3 years from now?
2. Will they honor my education and not ask me to retake certain courses?
I certainly do not want my finances and efforts there to go to waste and be asked to study again once I get back to CA.
By the way, the schools that I'm choosing from are Fatima University, Manila Doctors and Global City Innovative College. As I see it, if I study here in the US it will take me around 5 years (including waiting list period) to get my associates degree on the other hand if I study in the Philippines it will take me 2-3 years to get a bachelors.
I will be grateful for any feedback that will help me reach a well informed decision.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
But is it true about the citizenship? Do the years really go back to zero? Would I have to wait for another five years to become a citizen after finishing school in the Philippines?
Thanks for your reply.
Time outside the US is taken into account for citizenship, may not knock you bck to zero everytime but will have an impact
Specializes in Neuro-Surgery, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I was in San Diego just last weekend by the way, had a nice lunch in the Gas Lamp district! We saw lots of runners getting ready for the marathon that was to be held the following day we were there. We flew down there on the way to Palm Springs. :-)
Anyway, since you live in San Diego, a huge navy town and there are lots of people down there whom you can ask regarding the advantages and disadvantages of enlisting in the U.S. Navy. If money is an issue, then you should consider enlisting in the U.S. Navy.
Suzanne is right, if you can be a corpsman you will get the necessary training and experience that will greatly help you in your plan to become a nurse here in the U.S. Just make sure that if you agree to sign up that you will be assigned in the medical field and it should be in writing, otherwise a verbal promise is worthless, this is according to some friends who were in the U.S. Military.
Blue_Demo13 you should NOT interrupt your college program at UCSD (Fine school, indeed!)
Your thoughts on the Navy Nursing Corps are spot on...and here are the facts:
The US Military requires US Citizenship to be an OFFICER. In addition, the Military requires you are a GRADUATE OF A US ACCREDITED NURSING SCHOOL.
However, you have an excellent path to work with. You may join the Navy with a Green Card and opt for their US NAVY RESERVE program to continue your college. You will attend a 12 week boot camp with an enlisted ranking (and pay) and then be assigned to a Navy Reserve Unit in San Diego.
You will continue your nursing studies and be paid for your monthly weekend drill time which MAY BE WAIVED if it conflicts with your studies or your clinical schedule (work that out with your Commanding Officer and Navy ROTC on Campus). In addition, the Navy will reimburse your tuition costs while you are in active reserves, I believe.
While you are studying, inform Immigration that you are now in the Navy. Ask the Navy to assist you in processing a fast track to your citizenship while in college. Upon getting citizenship, you may IMMEDIATELY switch to the US NAVY Reserve Officer Training Program while you complete your nursing study. Upon Graduation, you will then be commissioned as an ENSIGN, US Navy Nurse Corps. All training and tuition while a Navy Nurse will be paid for by the Navy, including specialty Masters programs.
During the period of time you are in the Navy Reserves as an enlisted college reservist, you are building "Time in Grade" credit while you study. Your pay will be based, for example, on the number of years you studied as a reservist to the time you become a commissioned Naval Officer so that time will be quite valuable to you towards your total service time credited for pay and retirement benefits.
Talk to the Navy Medical Recruiting Officer (any recruiting station can direct you to that person) and outline your current situation with Immigration, College and tuition concerns.
Silverdragon102, BSN
1 Article; 39,477 Posts
Time outside the US is taken into account for citizenship, may not knock you bck to zero everytime but will have an impact