philippines vs. american trained nursing

blacksheep87 · Feb 29, 2012

Are you an LPN planning to take BSN? If yes, then my answer is, most decent schools in the Philippines don't credit nursing units from other schools. I don't exactly know the reason, but I think it's because every school has their own way of training their students. A concept from one school, may not be the same, or in some cases, be contrary to another school. That means, if you want to proceed to BSN, chances are you have to take all the major nursing subjects of that school

But if your planning to take LPN then BSN, there are some schools that have such program. However, most nursing schools in the Philippines don't offer LPN since there are no LPN's in our hospital settings.

The school were I'm currently studying offers LPN and ASN Programs. If you wish to proceed to BSN, they have a MOA with two other schools offering BSN. Your subjects would be credited by those schools.

Mazee · Mar 1, 2012

thank you for sharing! well i would have to really firgure out which way to go at it. I do have credits towards my BSN but i never finished it and went to LPN and was successful. my credits here would be my PREREQS ex. A&P, Chem so forth. i actually finished all my prerequites for the actual nursing program. can you give me actual names of the universities that do have such programs as you mentioned?

Medsense · May 30, 2012

If you have already completed your prerequisites, why do you choose to seek a doubtable college in the Phillipines than here in the United State of America. Just wondering why you have to go through that trouble, only to question your credentials later. I would not take that risk!

Hushdawg · May 30, 2012

I don't think it's fair or accurate to refer to colleges in the Philippines as "doubtable" since some of the nursing schools in the Philippines have world-class credentials and provide high quality education. UP, UST, UE and Atteneo (to name a few) are highly prestigious universities and many people come from all over the world to attend and gain nursing degrees from them.

I think that Mazee needs to analyze the cost-benefit ratio of studying in the Philippines versus studying in the USA.

It may be more affordable to do an entire BSN study at UST (for example) than an equivalent university in the States. The added benefit of having life experience in another country is incalculable in my opinion.

One major caution though is with regard to licensure in the States, being a foreign educated nurse means that the education has to go through another layer of scrutiny and one may have to submit information to CGFNS for evaluations or even additional exams prior to gaining licensure via NCLEX. Some states, such as Illinois, require that one have licensure in the country that he/she was educated in. IL, for instance, will not even grant a waiver for people who were US Citizens at the time of graduation, in spite of the fact that non-Filipinos are not permitted to sit for local board exams in the Philippines.

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 30, 2012

And don't forget we are also seeing issues with concurrent cases and California.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · May 30, 2012

Don't forget the cost of travelling overseas, the cost of having your education evaluated, the cost of a review course, and months waiting to have your transcript evaluated. I still say it is best to go to nursing school in the country you are going to practice in. Plus as a LPN you could have your RN in one year then get the BSN.