Help me decide on going to New Zealand, Im from Philippines.

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Im a newly Registered nurse here in the Philippines who has no working experience, i just pass the nursing board exam here last june-july 2012 and because of the numbers of filipino nurses here in the Philippines, i want to change my pathway looking for a shortcut,instead of doing traditional way to work abroad by doing volunteers in hospital here that you are the one paying them, i'm planning to go to New Zealand and study there for 1 year, by following the footstep of my cousin who just graduated and passed the board exam here in the Philippines last 2010 and graduated last 2011 there in New Zealand and now working there as a HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT and not a NURSE because she said if you want to be a nurse there you should have working experience first at least 1-2years , i want to ask here for advice or decision on what to choose, because this question always comes in my mind...

What should i do?

- to volunter here in the Philippines for at least 1-2years first?or this is not needed anymore? because i have read in some threads here that even you dont have working experience in your own country you can still study there and after you graduated you can work now there as an RN.

- or to study there anything related to nursing courses and follow the footstep of my cousin to work there as Health Care Assistant, and if i earn enough money to study Nursing there in new Zealand, do i need to repeat it again from the start?

-And also im planning the location to choose Rotorua(Waiariki Institure Of Technology) where my Grandma is there and i can leave there for free, or Aukland (Auckland University of Technology) which according to my cousin Auckland is way better, bcoz of the ff. Reasons:

firstly, at the end of the day, you'll still live on your own,

2nd, the course won't require you a 1year experience before enrollment

3rd, opportunities in Auckland are way too big as compared to Waiariki.

and 4th, it's Auckland, the center of everything in NZ.

thank you in advance.. i hope i can find the best answer here because i know a lot of people here are very helpful...​

@ceridwyn I am aware of that and thank you for the reminder. I have read a few lines directing those people who want to work there to take a student visa route. Is this still applicable? Given the hundreds of thousands of unemployed and underemployed nurses here in our country, studying for a couple of years to land a job in NZ is still better than being sidelined here in my motherland. What are your thoughts?

Specializes in Acute Care. ER. Aged Care/LTC. Psyche.
@ceridwyn I am aware of that and thank you for the reminder. I have read a few lines directing those people who want to work there to take a student visa route. Is this still applicable? Given the hundreds of thousands of unemployed and underemployed nurses here in our country, studying for a couple of years to land a job in NZ is still better than being sidelined here in my motherland. What are your thoughts?

I think you'd only be exempted for the two-year work experience requirement if you do the whole nursing program in NZ, and not just some sort of bridging program.

Hi everyone! :) i have exactly the same questions as most of you guys here. Student visa (and work as HCA part time) OR take up CAP (Competency Assessment Program) immediately?

I am taking into consideration the expenses. I think, at least, if i choose to work as HCA part time, i have a source of income and a chance to save up some cash to finance my CAP in the future. BUT.. What are your thoughts, guys? I need some useful input. Please.

Kisses. :* thanks

> 1 year study in NZ don't require any working experience, and ielts score has to be atleast no lower than 5 in all subtest,

> after of 1 year study, you will be given a 1 year working visa and eventually can be a permanent resident afterwards...

> but to be an RN, you have to take CAP assessment + ielts score of 7 all subtest

= but what concern me is when ive red that you are not eligible to take CAP unless you have a 2 years experience as a paid nurse? can somebody please clear this up to me since it was never discuss by my agency... =(

so you have to get your experiencee hee in the ephilippines for 2 years then?

Hi everyone,

Nurse Profession in New Zealand is still listed in the Long term shortage skilled list of NZ. This means that the skill is needed in NZ for 10-20 or more years. What is needed is for each applicant to know thru research what is the best pathway for him/her. Not all nurses have the same best pathway.

As a general

If you have 2-3 clinical experience and IELTS 7.0, you may take a CAP course with/without studying a 1-year programme to gain theoretical & practical experience in NZ

If you have no clinical experience, you need to study 18months to earn a Bachelor in Nursing and be a Registered nurse automatically after completion.

We will be happy to answer more of your queries about these pathway.

Specializes in Emergency Nurse.
> 1 year study in NZ don't require any working experience, and ielts score has to be atleast no lower than 5 in all subtest,

> after of 1 year study, you will be given a 1 year working visa and eventually can be a permanent resident afterwards...

> but to be an RN, you have to take CAP assessment + ielts score of 7 all subtest

= but what concern me is when ive red that you are not eligible to take CAP unless you have a 2 years experience as a paid nurse? can somebody please clear this up to me since it was never discuss by my agency... =(

Hi there,

I just recently finished my cap this month and based from what i read, the nznc will only approve your cap letter if you have 2 years paid experience along with the other requirements such as ielts all 7 (multiple sitting), credentials, etc.

I met alot of filipino nurses who is currently under student visa and working as health care assistants here. Basically, most of their end goals would be able to do their cap and become nurses because working as a HCA wont give you any residency here. In addition, the salary of nurses are almost twice the salary of HCAs. Undergoing student visa may cost you even more. Here's a summary:

Student Visa (max 20 hours work per week)

1 year tuition with pocket money and other expenses (approx upto 800k-1M)

Whereas..

Visit Visa CAP for Nurses

8 weeks tuition with pocket money and other expenses (approx upto 400-500k)

In short, if you plan on becoming a nurse here, might as well take CAP.

Dont rush it. Take some experience and come here at the right time. It will save you more money.

Note:

Currency above in peso.

i just want to ask if how did u start your cap application? did u have assistance from an agency? thanks.

Hi i'm currently fixing my papers to go to NZ under the diploma course (study and part time work program) and I intend to take the CAP after I finish studying. But I have one concern. I only have 1 year and 8 months of work experience as a nurse here. And I'm planning to fill in the 4 months deficit in NZ working as an Healthcare Assistant to make it a total of 2 years work experience. Would the NZ Nursing council accept that?

Or should the 2 year work requirement be accomplished solely here in the Philippines? Please help me out if you have any information. Thanks a lot! :)

Its experience as a Registered Nurse, not sure how experience as a personal carer is anything like that of an RN and therefore enhance your experience as an RN. As for 12 months 8 months being excepted as 2 years experience - only an assessor at the NZ nursing council could answer that, know for sure, personal carer experience would not be considered as it has nothing like the scope of practice or standards of a NZ RN.

I do hope that you are not doing some course organised by some (get out of the country at all cost, consultant) just to get into the country as a student. You would be much better off, getting the extra 4 months RN experience is your own country then apply for the NZ nursing council then. Much cheaper and you will not be just hopeing to qualify to do the CAP, you will be assessed as okay for the CAP

Too bad :( I thought it can be added as an EXPERIENCE since it is still healthcare related. Thanks for your answer :)

Hi whitecap99,

May I ask what study program did you take that served as your gateway to NZ? Did you finish the course? What option did you consider that helped you become a registered nurse in NZ? sorry if I threw a lot of questions. I hope to hear from you. It will surely help me decide.

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