Philippines, Canada. Career conflict: Pursuing education. Help, please?

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Before my asking questions, what is it like to be in my shoes?

I was one year and a half into finishing my nursing degree in the Philippines when we were called to come to Canada. I'm a permanent resident here so that means I have to be here 2years out of a 5year time span for it to take effect.

Since the curriculum there and here is different, all my hard work means kind of nothing and I have to basically start all over again. If i were to go to school here. BUT there's a catch. I would study to be a LPN for 18 months, work for 900 hours and then study for another year to be an
RN
. And this is with school with nice reputation, meaning there's a looong waitlist. Months long.

Now in the Philippines, my school also had a nice reputation regarding nursing education.

ALAS. My question: What would you do if you were me? Study here in Canada or go back to the Philippines and come back when you're done?

But when you finish outside of Canada, there are a lot to face when you come back.

Also, do you REALLY need to have additional studies to be able to work here? Ie refreshers, etc. besides taking the exams?

And, oh, I'm in BC.

Awesome people please help meee >.

It's a matter of time and finances.

Please and Thankyou!

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stay in canada..

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You want to work here, study here.

Your education from the Phillipines will always be looked at and you will be regarded as an IEN.

BC has a dismal job market, especially in the lower mainland. This might be the ideal time to reconsider your career choices and look at what might find you work in Canada.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You really should study in the country that you plan working in.

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Thanks for getting back! I appreciate it.

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Specializes in MS, Emergency.

I would stay and study in Canada.

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:yes:
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My question is Canada your new home? if so why would you even think of leaving it? Now that you are in Canada have you explored Canadian career choices? As far as finances some one in your family must have attested that you have the financial means to live in Canada. In the mean time find a job, save money, and apply to the Canadian school of choice and have a great life as a Canadian.

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Yep, Canada is my new home. But i was just thinking about it as a whole- which would be more practical in terms of time and finances. I'm not saying we have financial problems, just which is more practical, btw. :) Because the Community college I wanted to go to school in (i opted this school because they could credit some of my education and not require me to get high school subjects, as this is time consuming and it's the one of the best nursing education here, according to a lot of people) might have me studying there in january 2014 at the very most because of the waitlist. And this is just the start of a 1.5 yr LPN program.

I was thinking, what if I go back to the Phils and graduate by 2015, get the board and some experience and come back to Canada?

What do you think?

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Well, from what we've heard, you'd be working there as a volunteer. Unpaid work experience isn't recognized here.

If you plan on working, living and making a life here, get your education here. The contacts you make as a student will serve you far better in your Canadian job search than contacts "back home"

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I concur with above poster, how are you going to get this experience when it is reported, half a million nurses in the Philipines are out of work.

What you are proposing is to leave a country with difficulty getting work, but it is still there for nurses and good pay

To a country with no work for nurses and free labour (if you manage to get in) and little pay (if you manage to get a job amongst the 500000 unemployed.

On your return you will be an IEN with nursing education not focused on the culture of your new country and will have to pass the national test without being educated for it. Then you will compete for jobs with nurses that were educated in Canada.

The only thing you will gain in your plan is easy access to a nursing education in another country and most likely cheaper.

Most people believe that are born and bred in western countries that others emmigrate there for a ' better life, more opportunities, better lifestyle than country one has wants to leave, you want to do immigration back to your original country, those of us that live in countries with high immigration intakes find this bizzare and feel that yes, you wanted immigration to be given a new chance in life, but you are not happy to do the hard yards getting nursing education in your new country that is geared towards the culture in your new country as the locals, this is often felt as slightly traitorish (excuse the bluntness)...do not take this personally, you are one of hundreds.

Gaining nursing education back in old country has turned on people that have immigrated and then returned to the Phillipines for nursing education in the United States and now they find themselves without recognised nursing education back in the United States, say this happens in Canada.

Though it sounds you have made your mind up and want someone to concur with your plan...good luck

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Yep, Canada is my new home. But i was just thinking about it as a whole- which would be more practical in terms of time and finances. I'm not saying we have financial problems, just which is more practical, btw. :) Because the Community college I wanted to go to school in (i opted this school because they could credit some of my education and not require me to get high school subjects, as this is time consuming and it's the one of the best nursing education here, according to a lot of people) might have me studying there in january 2014 at the very most because of the waitlist. And this is just the start of a 1.5 yr LPN program.

I was thinking, what if I go back to the Phils and graduate by 2015, get the board and some experience and come back to Canada?

What do you think?

There are no shortcuts,there is a reason why they do not accept your previous education and ask you to take high school subjects. it is as a nurse. If your goal is to be a Canadian nurse go to school in Canada.In the long run it is the cheapest way, no airfare, no long waits to have your transcripts evaluated ( and based on the fact you are being asked to repeat courses you would have much make up work to do).

also going to school in Canada will help support the local economy and help you to have local roots.

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