I want to study nursing in the Philippines.

asianrn · Sep 4, 2006

If you have any family in the Philippines, ask them to help you find a good, reputable and credible nursing schools. Sadly, most of the prestigious nursing schools do not accept "second courser", there's no such thing as age discrimination. Be wary of the schools that don't have any hospital affiliations and low passing rate for board exams.

Now if you have the schools in hand, the best way is to visit 'em and see if you like the university or not. It might be expensive but remember that it's 3 to 4 years of your life max. When was the last time you were in the Philippines? The reason I ask is there might be a lot of adjustment in your part if you decided to go back. The culture is really different, well you probably know that since your parents are filipino.

combattelemetrytech · Sep 4, 2006

thank you for the reply asianrn.

i found the ranking of schools based on the nle pass rate of their students. i am working my way down the list, but like you said, i've found that the top 3 schools in the ncr will not accept me.

i am planning a trip back to the philippines late this year to scout the schools. most of my life has been spent outside of the philippines, but i did return for the first time when i was 31...i like it very much and will likely retire there. who knows, i would be open to teaching there if it is permissible.

price of the schooling is not an issue. don't get me wrong; i am not looking to purchase a diploma. rather, i wish to have the best preparation possible for the nclex.

would i still be considered a second courser even though i do not hold a degree?

student visa vs. dual citizenship? if a law were in enacted compelling mandatory service in the philippines, how would i be affected? would it be best for me to retain "foreign" student status or apply for dual citizenship?

thanks again!!!

nanay · Sep 4, 2006

i would like to add also that it is advisable to start school during the first semester, meaning beginning june because you will be wasting two summer classes if you start second semester, meaning november.

let me explain, the ched ruling is that, we are not allowed to enrol in two major subjects in one semester, and there are 8 major nursing subjects that we have to take.

to illustrate:

should be:

june-oct - health care 1 - 16 units (more or less..heheh..forgot now)

nov-mar - health care 2 - 16 units (more or less...again)

april - may - ncm 100 - 9 units (summer class)

june-oct - ncm 101 - 16 units

nov. - mar - ncm 102 - 16 units

april -may - ncm 103 - 9 units. (summer class)

june - oct - ncm 104 - 16 units

nov - mar - ncm 105 - 16 units...

so, if you start 2nd semester, it would mean that one of your 16unit major subject which may fall during summer cant be accommodated because we are only allowed to get 9 units during summer. it would mean that you have to skip one summer so that you can enrol your 16unit major in the next semester...hope you understand what im trying to explain here.

its just that, i made the same mistake, i started november so here i am, wont be able to take major subjects for two summers, although i can use the 9 units to take my other minor subjects..but really a waste of time.

but i dont know if this applies also to schools that practices trimester. dont know how they do it there also.

just sharing my experience.

anyways, hope youll have a good time here in the philippines.

combattelemetrytech · Sep 4, 2006

Thank you nanay! That was very helpful. I will definitely take it into consideration.

tantrum · Sep 4, 2006

Even though you do not have a degree, they will still consider you a 2nd courser as some schools only want students fresh out of high school.

There is a thread started by gemini_star about schools that accept 2nd coursers. Among the list, the best one is FAR from Metro Manila (Silliman). Since you're an American citizen, check St. Ignatius Health Sciences College. It's a school with an ASDN (2 years) where you spend 5 semesters in their NCR campus, then spend the last semester in Fesno City College as an American grad. Arellano University has a similar program but it's a 4-year BSN program where you spend 3 years in Manila and your last year in Alderson-Broadus College in West Virginia (again as an American grad). I usually don't recommend these schools for those who need visa sponsorship.

asianrn · Sep 4, 2006

thank you for the reply asianrn.
i found the ranking of schools based on the nle pass rate of their students. i am working my way down the list, but like you said, i've found that the top 3 schools in the ncr will not accept me.
i am planning a trip back to the philippines late this year to scout the schools. most of my life has been spent outside of the philippines, but i did return for the first time when i was 31...i like it very much and will likely retire there. who knows, i would be open to teaching there if it is permissible.
price of the schooling is not an issue. don't get me wrong; i am not looking to purchase a diploma. rather, i wish to have the best preparation possible for the nclex.
would i still be considered a second courser even though i do not hold a degree?
student visa vs. dual citizenship? if a law were in enacted compelling mandatory service in the philippines, how would i be affected? would it be best for me to retain "foreign" student status or apply for dual citizenship?
thanks again!!!

it's not because you hold a degree, most of the highschool graduates are 15 to 16 y/o. well, because of the age, you will still be considered 'second courser' as far as i know. like i said, there's no age discrimination law in the philippines, very unfortunate but it's the truth. the best way is probably call the school you are interested with and see what happens.

student visa versus dual citizeship? the best people to ask is the immigration lawyer obviously they know better than anybody else's here. check with our us immigration lawyer first and ask them about dual citizenship, how it might affect you with the "mandatory service", your retirement plans, and student visa vs dual citizeship...hope this help.

combattelemetrytech · Sep 4, 2006

you nurses are simply awesome!

tantrum, i will ask my relatives in the philippines to make an inquiry at both of those schools.

asianrn, i will make my first of many visits to the philippine consulate to iron out the immigration issue. i've visited their website and i have an idea of the documentation i need to begin gathering.

one more question. i've found tons of stuff on immigrating to the united states, but does anyone know how long it would take to receive a student visa to the philippines? if not, i'll just add it to my list of questions for the consulate. i'm just trying to build a timeline for myself, as june 2007 is now my target.

thanks!

suzanne4, RN · Sep 5, 2006

You will definitely be considered a foreign grad coming back into the US to work. And right now there are issues with that, they are talking of making it compulsary to complete two years of work before being permitted to come to the US, and that would affect you as well. So things are not as easy as you thought that they would be.

I seriously hope that you will also investigate things more over here.

And remember, even as a foreign student there, you you were born there, and so were your parents, you could be called up for military duty. I suggest that you take the time to speak with an immigration attorney over here as well. You may be opening a bigger can of worms.

And if you train in the US, it is only two years to get the degree to work as an RN, over there it is 4 years, plus a possilbe two year commitment before being able to return here to work..............

asianrn · Sep 5, 2006

combattelemetry is a US citizen so he can come back here in the US anytime, he doesn't have to have 2 years of work there, anyway he said that he's thinking of retiring and possibly teach there so even if he has to have 2 years of work, he will have the chance to get to know the culture better...As for military duty? I'm not even worried about it, Philippines don't have oil to offer for the US to be interested with..so no oil no war..haha!

combattelemetrytech · Sep 5, 2006

you hit the nail on the head asianrn. on the other hand, suzanne4 has given me food for thought. hmmm, i wonder if i can finish this post without another cliche...

for the philippines to call up a foreign national for military duty would suggest a grave situation. in that scenario, i don't know that they would need to force me to serve. i would likely be in line at camp aguinaldo demanding an immediate commission into the nurse corps. we have a proud military tradition in my family and serving or defending my country of birth would not be a stretch.

as for the mandatory service in the philippines, it would not be my path of choice, but taking care of filipinos would be an honorable thing. a couple of weeks ago, i helped my dad fill out his menu at the ccu; he passed a way 6 days later. i would be a nurse taking care of patients...the money will come when it comes. no worries.

thank you both.

combattelemetrytech · Sep 5, 2006

i got curious and discovered "p h i l i p p i n e a r m y

office of the army chief nurse" is at fort andres bonifacio. i would have gone to the wrong base and been commissioned into the infantry!!!

oh boy...i'm way off topic now. :caduceus: