No job in nursing in the Philippines, what to do?

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Nov 11, 2008

Any nursing job will be better than no job. Why did you quit your job in the call center? How are you living? I am under the impression all Philippines are very poor and why would you give up a job that pays for no job? If your goal is to come to the USA it could be years.

My US nursing students can't afford giving up a non nursing job until they have a paying nursing job or they would be homeless. Employers ( even nursing) look for stability you gave up a paying position for no job that would not impress me as Nurse Manager. Also US nurses age you age live independently. I think this a difference in cultures. I only mention this since many Americans look down at people who are unemployed and live with their parents .

pinkroyalty18, LPN, LVN · Nov 11, 2008

You are not alone in this struggle.I suggest you visit the phil forum and try to read related posts there. There's also a sticky above that Suzanne made on how you can create your own job.

Yes,saudi will accept nurses with no experience. Here's some helpful thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f235/saudi-moh-237578.html

sheenahRN · Nov 11, 2008

Alexk49

The reason why I left my call center job was out of respect for my parents. You are right. It's mainly a difference in culture. You can move out when you are of legal age, but here, we move out when we are getting married.. or to be closer to work. Not because we just want to. To us, it is frowned upon to do anything that may resemble that. Trust me, if I could, I wouldn't have quit. However, better that than constant fighting at home. I can't imagine you would understand because things work differently there, but at least you have a better picture of how it is with us Filipinos.

sheenahRN · Nov 11, 2008

pinkroyalty18

thank you so much for your reply. how about you? have you put i any thought abt this...? i am afraid for my safety in saudi.. hehe:) i might try that but only as a last option.

fil_murse07, LPN · Nov 11, 2008

pinkroyalty18
thank you so much for your reply. how about you? have you put i any thought abt this...? i am afraid for my safety in saudi.. hehe:) i might try that but only as a last option.

Hello,

I am currently working in KSA. Yes, safety is the main concern of a filipina here in KSA. From what I have seen, the people here in KSA look at a filipina differently (not in a good way). If you could find a nursing job in UAE, it is so much better than KSA. Just my opinion.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2008

sheenah, my brother is with USAID, speaks Arabic fluently, and has lived all over the middle east. The only place he has EVER felt unsafe was SA.

Good luck.

sheenahRN · Nov 11, 2008

OMYGOSH suesquatch and fil_murse07! i didnt think it was that bad.. and now I'm scared! well, let me tell you.. what u said will be one of my primary considerations. thank you very much for your help!

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2008

You're welcome.

The US is not likely to open up visas any time soon. But even in the middle east there are friendly places. Bob really hated KSA and he travelled regularly into Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and he now lives in Ghana. He HATED SA AND the Saudis, and I've never heard him say that about ANY other group.

Good luck!

:)

RNHawaii34 · Nov 11, 2008

So here's the thing: Worked in a call center as I waited to have my results for the boards.. when I got my license, I resigned, which was actually around last week of December 2007. Then on, tried to get into trainings and so I got into one very good hospital and finished my Red Cross and IV Therapy Training... After which, still no job. Now, I took the NCLEX, and I am not that confident that I passed... No results yet. Its my birthday today and I feel depressed coz I still no growth in my career. My parents do not want me working anything else BUT as nurse!!! So I spend my time trying to look for jobs to no avail.....
What do you think I should do next?
Apply to Saudi Arabia?
Where I don't know if thats gonna be safe for someone like me?
Need advice. And thanks.

here is my advise: You can go back to your call center job. or find yourself a way to get a job even if it is only from a small clinic to get an experience, and work you're way up. I understand that things in the Philippines is slower than a ricefield snail. You need to priorities your goals. You need to have a job that actually pays you. nevermind what they about "why don't go apply for abroad", because there are millions of you guys are thinking of the same thing. If you want to work in Saudi Arabia, go for it. I don't want to disappoint you but US is not really a good place to work right now, many nurses are getting laid off. economy sucks. I want to leave my Nursing Home job but I dont want to end up losing my job just like those acute care nurses did. I have a mortgage to pay, and a $150.00 mortgage lot ( for future vacation house) in the Philippines. cant lose that, right? anyway, good luck to you. hang in there, make the best of what you got. I envy you too, I am here busting my butt working everyday just to pay the bills. Pls. all of you new grads, be patient. you were in a better place than we do here. okay?

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Nov 12, 2008

Alexk49
The reason why I left my call center job was out of respect for my parents. You are right. It's mainly a difference in culture. You can move out when you are of legal age, but here, we move out when we are getting married.. or to be closer to work. Not because we just want to. To us, it is frowned upon to do anything that may resemble that. Trust me, if I could, I wouldn't have quit. However, better that than constant fighting at home. I can't imagine you would understand because things work differently there, but at least you have a better picture of how it is with us Filipinos.

US culture was like that years ago. Now the tide has turn and people who live at home are thought of as losers. My parents and my husband parents both thought we would live at home, but since I have been 21 I have taken care of myself ( and later my aged parents). You need to tell you parents that chances are you are not going to be able to work as a nurse in the USA. It will be hard but at least you can make a living.

Hushdawg · Nov 12, 2008

One thing that you should know about KSA and other places that will hire Pinoy nurses without experience or local license is that many of the positions are not actually nursing positions. You may get stuck doing the jobs of orderlies or other positions in the hospital.

Make sure you carefully examine the employment contract and that you are not going to be taken advantage of just because you lack experience but have the knowledge.

I have many of examples that I could drag out from nurses who went to Singapore, Japan, KSA and other places where they were hired as nurses and then immediately shuffled down to other positions with less pay, yet they could not get out of the contract and return to Philippines.

I know the prospect of working abroad and making good money to bring home to your family is tempting but don't allow yourself to become blinded and get taken for a ride.

Also, if the terminology of the employment contract is confusing, it won't hurt to pay a lawyer to go over the contract and explain it in detail, here in Metro Manila at least there are many lawyers who specialize in immigration and employment who can help in this regard.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure my mother always said.