Our education< our pride!

steppybay · Oct 20, 2012

Kababayan, you will find in other threads that it was mentioned the CHED, PRC and PNA all came to the CA BON earlier this year to assist in this matter, not sure what become of the meeting, my guess is nothing, I'm sure CA BON had plenty to say to all of them as they have all been told for many years to correct their curriculums to meet not only CA requirements but for many other similar requirements of the States.

Here's one very read, please click it, it sums up well: https://allnurses.com/nurse-registration/who-blame-ca-682278.html

There was another PH poster who had her father write to the local CA congressman many months ago, but again, not sure if it really happened or what, but trying to argue against a 25 year old plus rule and regulation is not going to be easy, no matter how much hell raising anyone does. Mind you, there are other States currently up to 15 that are also enforcing the concurrency rules, someone who was rejected in NV showed the concurrency rule has been there since 1952!

I highly doubt the minds of the CA BON will not change their requirements for any international students and for what valid reason? We simply didn't meet the minimum requirements. CA BON has even rejected a large national USA college (Excelsior College) from all their US grads to even applying into CA from those graduating since 2006 on and can't even endorse their RN license from other States into CA as well. That case went thru the legal system in the courts and found Excelsior was not right in their arguments and lost the case.

Here's the link to other States enforcing the same rules: https://allnurses.com/nurse-registration/13-states-same-760249.html

Bottom line: it's OUR own PH educational system that failed us in not meeting USA standards, not that they had do, but also we as PH grads took it for granted that what we believed was the right courses to take and do was in fact, not the case at all. Also, what brought the CA BON to this was the matter of them finding out that there are instances of PH applicants who have submitted false docmentation purchased from the streets of RECTO, students who may have already passed the NCLEX and working as an RN, so now come renewal times, they are re-examing those from the year 2004 to present, you can blame those greedy and lying PH people for this as well.

They are requesting passport information to make sure that one actually went to the Phils in some cases. They caught students who claimed they went to school in the Phils, but never went and was actually still in the States. So blame those guys too for cheating their way into the CA or other States system, it hurts all us honest ones, who actually spent 4 grueling years, not just partying up and paying money for a false paper degree.

Some have said it's a conspiracy of the States, but I say the conspiracy is it's the CHED etal that conspired against the PH students as it does appear they have known of the concurrency rules for years, but chose to ignore it, but NOW some have said the CHED is adjusting the curriculums to MEET the US standards, but remains to be seen as recent 2012 PH grads have been posting they are still NOT meeting the requirements. The CHED etal don't have to this and just meet the country's own needs, but I'm sure they are under tremendous pressure from the thousands of affected students.

You're better off posting this in the World forum, under Nurse Registration, you'll get more feedback there. You also find a lot of information there than in this section.

allnurses Guide · Oct 20, 2012

Sorry you're having such a rough time. However the reality is that someone elected to represent citizens of one country have no obligation to honor anything done in a foreign country, and it quite frankly baffles me that someone would suppose they should.

Not sure if you are aware of this but the job market in California is so bad you often have hundreds of applications for one job, especially the new graduates who are graduates of US schools. Believe me, they know all about loans, bills and rent - your post will not likely garner any special sympathy to your plight, especially with the attitude.

I know several LVNs who report many new people flooding the LVN market because so many phil graduates are trying to get in by a side door through the BVNPT. Most of them aren't crying about how unfair it is, they're just trying to cope with the fallout from months of being unemployed.

Steppy - Great post! Very fair-minded, too.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2012

hey guys who's with me? LETS MAKE A PETITION UNDER CA BRN California Code Section 1426(d). we didn't want to do whatever they want us to do right? 4 years of hard work going to school, clinical trainings. And in just one click they want US to go to school because "WE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE" we're not qualified to their requirements. thats so unfair! I know we have the right to be heard. WE, all BSN or RN graduate we all have freedom of having our education be recognized in Any STATE here in USA. we went here not to go back to school again and to have a damn student loan. lets face it most of Us here are doing everything they can, just survive in paying their own BILLS, RENTS, and everyday expenses. We came in USA to work and earn money, and contribute in this country. not to put ourselves into debt. right? i dont know what to do either but with all of our force we can do anything impossible.

While you feel it is not fair....these same restrictions for concurrent theory and practicum are being applied to American schools and the Ca BON has recently ended a relationship with an American school that has failed to meet these requirements.

As posted by NRSKaren ]Nursing Community for Nurses and Nursing Students

"only those states that have explicit education requirements of concurrent theory and practicum will Philippine nurses have licensure issues.

Excelsior College New York nursing graduates have had same issue recently. see State board licensure requirements here]

These are states having concerns over concurrent theory and practicum, so i would look at other 37 states to obtain license:

Alabama

Arizona

California

Georgia

Illinois

Kansas

Louisiana

Maryland

North Dakota

Oklahoma

Vermont

Virginia

Washington".....

More states are looking at the concurrent issues with certain schools as more of these schools graduate new nurses. These same restrictions apply to American Nurses/Schools as well . Sates have the right to set whatever requirements they deem necessary for their state and you must comply or not practice in that state.

In the saturated job market that is present in this country.....hospitals/employers and the State BON can decide to accept and reject what they wish.

I wish you the best.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 20, 2012

OP, I understand your frustration and sympathize.

However, it is up to each state's BRN to regulate the practice of nursing within that state, and they are free to set the guidelines and requirements. It is our responsibility as nurses and nurses-to-be to KNOW and UNDERSTAND what these requirements are if we wish to be licensed in this state. This applies to all applicants whether foreign or domestic.

The fact that you are from the Philippines is not the disqualifying point. It is the specific nursing program which you graduated from that made you ineligible for licensure by the CA BRN.

Do I feel that it's fair? Not always.

But it is what it is, and considering the hard line that CA BRN is taking with many educational programs within the US, I sincerely doubt they'd be willing the change the guidelines for foreign programs.

I wish you the best.

fjellgren · Oct 22, 2012

Are you currently living here in the US? If so then, well, be aware that you now live in a country where rule of law and regulations are actually implemented. I hate to say this but you feel like you are entitled to so many things that this country has to offer. Suck it up and work your way up. Same thing I did almost 6 years ago when I came to this country.

SoCalGalRN · Oct 23, 2012

I wish it was harder to get a nursing license here with foreign degrees. I know doctors need to really jump through hoops. I wish there were tighter regulations on nursing.

elkpark · Oct 23, 2012

I wish it was harder to get a nursing license here with foreign degrees. I know doctors need to really jump through hoops. I wish there were tighter regulations on nursing.

Me, too. I have nothing against any nurses from other countries, but I wish TPTB in nursing did half as good a job of looking out for the interests of US nurses as TPTB in medicine do looking out for the interests of US physicians ... It looks like that is starting to shift somewhat with the oversupply of domestic nurses and current employment situation, but I'm sure that things will swing back the other way as soon as there is any move back toward a perceived nursing "shortage." Unfortunately, employers have a lot more clout with legislatures than nurses do.

Nurse_ · Oct 27, 2012

While I understand the frustration, you need to also see the other side of the coin. You came in here with no student debts and to make money. People who are citizens and residents of this state have no choice but to take up loans to get a degree. It’s unfair to see only YOUR side of the story.

US-based nursing students do not have many other venue for education. Nurses had to go through tough selection process or pay premium in order to get into a nursing school here in the US. Why should people who blatantly admit to coming on our HOME to make money be given any preferential treatment?