Master's degree online in Philippine-based College/University

cstellar18 · Sep 30, 2009

hi NP GILLY,

i talked to a couple of immigration lawyer, and told me that Im eligible for the H1b visa since I worked for 2years in ER, im from the Philipiines. and I read in an anticle that and alien nurse to be eligible for h1b should have atleast bachelors degree or equivalent to US, and to be equal i should have atleast 4 year bachelors degree of studying and atleast 3 years of working experince in a specialty area..so do you think I should believe these 2 lawyer that Im qualified for h1b? thanks!

Hushdawg · Sep 30, 2009

Could you elaborate on this matter more and how you are going to come up with this list? Accreditation of nursing programs in the USA is done by two organizations namely, NLNAC and CCNE.

It is a very lengthy process, basically we have to request from each university individually to provide course descriptions and plans for the Master's degree and submit it to the US bodies for approval.

Universities in RPH have an uphill battle as far as complete accreditation is concerned so we are looking at finding balance between the US schools versus the RPH schools.

It's going to take a while, since all we can do at this stage is see if a university is going to be eligible for accreditation. The University itself has to go through the full accreditation process.

I expect it will take a year or more before we start seeing results since this project is in the beginning stages.

The overall goal of the project is to elevate the quality of nurse education in the Philippines. This is only a small part of that process.

elkpark · Sep 30, 2009

It is a very lengthy process, basically we have to request from each university individually to provide course descriptions and plans for the Master's degree and submit it to the US bodies for approval.
Universities in RPH have an uphill battle as far as complete accreditation is concerned so we are looking at finding balance between the US schools versus the RPH schools.
It's going to take a while, since all we can do at this stage is see if a university is going to be eligible for accreditation. The University itself has to go through the full accreditation process.
I expect it will take a year or more before we start seeing results since this project is in the beginning stages.
The overall goal of the project is to elevate the quality of nurse education in the Philippines. This is only a small part of that process.

Why would US accreditation be even a "small" part of a process to "elevate the quality of nursing education in the Philippines." Is your program really about improving nursing education in the PI, or about making it easier for PI nurses to find employment in the US?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 30, 2009

hi NP GILLY,
i talked to a couple of immigration lawyer, and told me that Im eligible for the H1b visa since I worked for 2years in ER, im from the Philipiines. and I read in an anticle that and alien nurse to be eligible for h1b should have atleast bachelors degree or equivalent to US, and to be equal i should have atleast 4 year bachelors degree of studying and atleast 3 years of working experince in a specialty area..so do you think I should believe these 2 lawyer that Im qualified for h1b? thanks!

First off, I am not an immigration expert, I am a former foreign nurse from the Philippines who has resided in the US since 1995 and have been naturalized as an American. What your lawyer said about the H1B Visa requiring the sponsored nurse to have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing or its US equivalent is correct. This is one of the requirements for anyone to be granted an H1B Visa. The other part is that the position requested is considered a "specialty occupation" defined as one that requires theoretical and practical application of a highly specialized knoweldege. You and I are both nurses and I'm sure we won't argue the fact that nurses do provide specialized care utilizing knowledge and theories learned in an educational institution. The Catch-22 in this matter is that in the United States, the minimum requirement for a Registered Nurse even the ones who work in the ER as senior nurses is an Associate's Degree in Nursing not a Bachelor's Degree. So how then can one justify hiring a foreign ER nurse for an H1B Visa when the minimum qualification for the position is not a Bachelor's degree? That's the hurdle for foreign nurses applying for an H1B Visa. However, it seems like some Filipino nurses are getting approved for this visa lately so there must be something else added to the positions being requested making it so that it requires completion of a Bachelor's degree as the minimum qualification.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Oct 2, 2009

Why would US accreditation be even a "small" part of a process to "elevate the quality of nursing education in the Philippines." Is your program really about improving nursing education in the PI, or about making it easier for PI nurses to find employment in the US?

You hit the nail on the head. There are organizations involved in accreditation of nursing programs in the Philippines. If I remember it right, they even have varying levels of accreditation depending on how well the school did in the process of being inspected. The Commission on Higher Education or CHED, a government agency in the Philippines even designates certain programs as "Centers of Excellence" in nursing education. There is a system already in place in the Philippines which needs to respected and implemented. Seeking US accreditation for Philippine nursing schools only makes sense for those who continue to seek loopholes and outsmart the imperfect US immigration service. I find that unethical in the current struggling US economy where experienced nurses are having a tough time finding jobs and students in nursing schools are getting discouraged at their job prospects after graduation.

trezce · Oct 3, 2009

I am attending the University of The Philippines open university. It is a good school, tuition is lower, and education is good.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

http://www.nlnac.org/manuals/SC2008_BACCALAUREATE.htm

It seems like some of the standards who be a huge challenge:

The nursing education unit is administered by a doctorally prepared nurse.

6.5.4 Job placement rates are addressed through quantified measures that reflect program demographics and history.

6.5 The program demonstrates evidence of achievement in meeting the following program outcomes:

- Performance on licensure exam

- Program completion

- Program satisfaction

- Job placement

This is for a BSN:

For a Masters Degree

Qualified faculty and staff provide leadership and support necessary to attain the goals and outcomes of the nursing education unit.

2.1 Faculty are academically and experientially qualified; the majority of faculty hold earned doctorates.

2.2 Faculty credentials reflect appropriate advanced practice certifications and expertise in their area(s) of teaching.

Qualified faculty and staff provide leadership and support necessary to attain the goals and outcomes of the nursing education unit.

2.1 Faculty are academically and experientially qualified; the majority of faculty hold earned doctorates.

2.2 Faculty credentials reflect appropriate advanced practice certifications and expertise in their area(s) of teaching.

Hushdawg · Oct 5, 2009

There are organizations involved in accreditation of nursing programs in the Philippines. If I remember it right, they even have varying levels of accreditation depending on how well the school did in the process of being inspected. The Commission on Higher Education or CHED, a government agency in the Philippines even designates certain programs as "Centers of Excellence" in nursing education. There is a system already in place in the Philippines which needs to respected and implemented.

Unfortunately CHED is completely useless after the 2006 debacle and the ensuing court battles. CHED accreditation is meaningless because it is not even legally required to operate.

Not to mention, of course, that accreditation can be bought.

Seeking foreign accreditation for the school is the only way in the current system and administration to get an unbiased accreditation which is not subject to scrutiny.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Oct 5, 2009

Unfortunately CHED is completely useless after the 2006 debacle and the ensuing court battles. CHED accreditation is meaningless because it is not even legally required to operate.
Not to mention, of course, that accreditation can be bought.
Seeking foreign accreditation for the school is the only way in the current system and administration to get an unbiased accreditation which is not subject to scrutiny.

But again, the point elkpark and I were trying to convey is this: are you advocating for US accreditation of master's degree programs out of a genuine concern for improving the level of graduate education for nurses in the Philppines or is this a ploy to facilitate the deployment of master's degree prepared nurses from the Philippines who will compete with US counterparts in an already tight job market for nursing positions that require a master's degree? I have the impression that as the doors closed for entry-level nurses from foreign countries in terms of getting a visa, a window of opportunity is now being explored by tapping into advanced practice nursing positions as well as other roles that require graduate school degrees. As a master's degree prepared nurse practitioner, I can tell you that the job market for NP's have worsened and I am seeing many of my colleagues who graduated from NP programs settle for other roles that require a master's degree in non-NP positions such as management, teaching/education, staff development, etc. I definitely see no need for hiring foreign nurses in this sector of nursing.

Hushdawg · Oct 6, 2009

But again, the point elkpark and I were trying to convey is this: are you advocating for US accreditation of master's degree programs out of a genuine concern for improving the level of graduate education for nurses in the Philppines or is this a ploy to facilitate the deployment of master's degree prepared nurses from the Philippines who will compete with US counterparts in an already tight job market for nursing positions that require a master's degree?

Good question.

I am not a recruiter or a staffer or a direct employer.

My business will not be affected one way or another if the master's degree programs are US accredited.

That's the honest truth.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Oct 6, 2009

Good question.
I am not a recruiter or a staffer or a direct employer.
My business will not be affected one way or another if the master's degree programs are US accredited.
That's the honest truth.

Hushdawg, you have managed to keep a mystery around yourself and this business you are running. At any rate, that's your business and I have nothing against you personally. You strike me as someone who genuinely fell in love with the Philippines and its people. Your command of Philippine culture impresses me and I can't knock you for that. Just, please, paint a realistic picture to my fellow Pinoys over there of how it is here in your country of birth, the same country that adopted me and I care a lot about.

Hushdawg · Oct 7, 2009

Hushdawg, you have managed to keep a mystery around yourself and this business you are running. At any rate, that's your business and I have nothing against you personally. You strike me as someone who genuinely fell in love with the Philippines and its people. Your command of Philippine culture impresses me and I can't knock you for that. Just, please, paint a realistic picture to my fellow Pinoys over there of how it is here in your country of birth, the same country that adopted me and I care a lot about.

I do, every chance I get I give free seminars and explain the realities of things.

I constantly steer nurses away from procedures and methods that will dead-end them.

The reason I keep a mystery is simple.. in order to explain WHAT specifically I do would be to literally disclose the company I work for and thereby violate TOS for Allnurses.com

My purpose here is to self- educate as well as give more input to the hundreds of Pinoy nurses that are looking online and continually get steered by old or incorrect information.

I know that my office can only reach a small fraction of nurses in the Philippines, so I try to do whatever I can to make sure that the right information reaches as many as possible.

Thanks for your moral support Gilly, I appreciate it.