2nd courser RN dilema

RNHawaii34 · Jan 14, 2008

i'm a 2nd courser rn, have passed my nclex, cgfns and ielts exams. i'm in my 40's and although i have an approved employer's petition in the us, i still am not that confident about my limited clinical experience. i graduated in 2004 and tried to apply in some hospitals but then one of their requirements was applicant must be 32 y/o and below...talk about discrimination!
can anyone tell me what options i can look into so as to enable me to improve my limited clinical skills?:bowingpur

ahhh, good old excuse, "must be 32 years old or younger....", don't you hate that? well, unfortunately, that's how it is in the philippines. that is considered as "age discrimination". i don't get it either, that idea is sooo backward. there is not age discrimination here in the us for nurses, we're like fine wine, it taste better with age:lol2:!!!! anyways, dont feel bad if you don't have enough work experience. if your gonna work in us, your experience in pi does not even count. but you may need it when you try to apply in other countries. just keep on applying. regarding skills. just keep reading your skills books so you won't forget your basic skills. goodluck to you.:icon_hug:

dizzydean · Jan 16, 2008

I also encountered this with a particular hospital. They told me that they don't hire nurses 35 years old above. Fortunately I am below that cut off but still I could not understand why they enforce such a ridiculous rule.

moses59 · Jan 17, 2008

that's a ridiculous and absurd discrimination. i'm also a second courser due to graduate (hopefully) this march 2008. i may be 32 soon. that kind of mentality is very naive. i think people should change the way they look at things. who knows? they might not be in power soon.

alma.ata1978 · Jan 18, 2008

I'm not sure if we can pursue once and for all legislation in Philippine Congress to ban discrimination based on age.

marwan · Jan 24, 2008

I'm not sure if we can pursue once and for all legislation in Philippine Congress to ban discrimination based on age.

Join the PNA and ask their help if they can lobby for nurses who are facing such discrimination. Check Philippine labor laws about discrimination, and find a good lawyer. If such is found to be against the law, its money for the lawyer, job for you, and penalty for the employer. I know it is illegal but many Filipinos do not have the guts and money to sue an employer. Well, think of filing a class lawsuit. If there are other nurses who are in the same situation, talk among yourselves and reach a common ground -- This discrimination has to stop!!! It's not only for you or your group. Think of hundreds of Filipinos who have chosen nursing as their 2nd or 3rd career. I tell you, my daughter's nurse is nearing her retirement age but she's as swift as a 22-year old nurse! Good luck.

ryerye · Feb 3, 2008

GOD!! haven't they realized that as we grow old, our wisdom widens??

buzz_lightyear · Feb 7, 2008

I'm a 2nd courser RN, have passed my NCLEX, CGFNS and IELTS exams. I'm in my 40's and although I have an approved employer's petition in the US, I still am not that confident about my limited clinical experience. I graduated in 2004 and tried to apply in some hospitals but then one of their requirements was applicant must be 32 y/o and below...talk about discrimination!
Can anyone tell me what options I can look into so as to enable me to improve my limited clinical skills?:bowingpur

Hi,

Sad to hear about the situation you've experience. It is indeed discrimination. I'm at the same boat as you too. Anyway, back to your original question "..improve my limited clinical skills?" hmm try PHC Philippine Heart Center they are offering

Revisiting Essential Nursing Competencies for Patient Care: A Nursing Re-entry Program

it is a four-month training program intended to prepare nurses who have been out of the clinical areas for their come back to the nursing practice for a fee though. Call them and inquire, i'm planning to have this too if my schedule will be free.

For further inquiries, you may call the Division of Nursing Education and Research at

Tel. No. 9252401 loc 3209/3210.

btw: hope you don't mind. How did you have an approved employer's petition in the US?

Hope this help & good luck!

wonderwoman363 · Mar 1, 2008

Hi! Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try. I was petitioned by Beverly/ Goden Gate Care when I was recruited by Medtalents. I am presently completing the requirements for the Packet 3 and only God knows when I will be interviewed by the Embassy given this retrogression thing.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 1, 2008

Hi,
Sad to hear about the situation you've experience. It is indeed discrimination. I'm at the same boat as you too. Anyway, back to your original question "..improve my limited clinical skills?" hmm try PHC Philippine Heart Center they are offering
Revisiting Essential Nursing Competencies for Patient Care: A Nursing Re-entry Program
it is a four-month training program intended to prepare nurses who have been out of the clinical areas for their come back to the nursing practice for a fee though. Call them and inquire, i'm planning to have this too if my schedule will be free.
For further inquiries, you may call the Division of Nursing Education and Research at
Tel. No. 9252401 loc 3209/3210.
btw: hope you don't mind. How did you have an approved employer's petition in the US?
Hope this help & good luck!

Getting an I-140 is specific for the job only and getting approval on that really has nothing to do with getting approval on the DS-230, which is Packet 3. And the employer is a nursing home, not a hospital where there are no ratio laws.

Does not matter how one got an offer at this point in time, but the fact that there are many more applicants now than visas and with an expected five year wait; making sure the employer/agency are still in business will be necessary as well. If they go out of business or decide that they do not wish to wait later on, or change administrators, you could be starting the process all over again.

Just wanted you to be very aware of this.

wonderwoman363 · Mar 2, 2008

Thanks Suzanne. As in most things, nothing is certain unless its really there. Given my situation, I really don't have too many choices and I feel that I have chosen the better option of what's suited for me and just hope for the best. I am exploring other alternatives which is why we also have an immigrant application to Canada where my husband is the principal and where we might have a better and faster chance than in getting to the US.

Incidentally, I didn't sign a contract but was made to just initial what they call an "offer of employment". They didn't get my original documents, only photocopies. Is this binding? Should the situation change, could I back out or change prospective employers? Not that I have any bad intentions.....just wondering.

Thank you for your concern and for constantly reminding us to be aware and vigilant. :yeah:

suzanne4, RN · Mar 2, 2008

Thanks Suzanne. As in most things, nothing is certain unless its really there. Given my situation, I really don't have too many choices and I feel that I have chosen the better option of what's suited for me and just hope for the best. I am exploring other alternatives which is why we also have an immigrant application to Canada where my husband is the principal and where we might have a better and faster chance than in getting to the US.
Incidentally, I didn't sign a contract but was made to just initial what they call an "offer of employment". They didn't get my original documents, only photocopies. Is this binding? Should the situation change, could I back out or change prospective employers? Not that I have any bad intentions.....just wondering.
Thank you for your concern and for constantly reminding us to be aware and vigilant.

You stated that you were being petitioned by that agency/company. And that means that they have started the process for you and have submitted the I-140 on your behalf. If they have done that, then you are going to owe them money. That is where your problem can occur, and if they did it on good faith, you gave them your documents to start the procedure for you.

Otherwise, you are not in the petitioning process as you claim. And if you are, then you are subject to a large cancellation fee from you if that was in the contract.

Any time that you give your documents to an agency, whether the copies or the originals, then you need to be very careful with what you are doing. Misunderstandings can occur and it can cost you quite a bit in time and money.

You need to contact them immediately and find out exactly what has been done with your file, this is something that you need to be very aware of and if they have started the petitioning process for you, you are looking at owing them about $5000 US if not more. They would have had to pay an attorney to start things for you.