please ,i need your help

I agree with RNHawaii. Before you make plans to start a master's degree program in nursing here in the US, you need to get a feel of what area of specialization you want your graduate degree to focus on. Being able to discern what interests you the most as far as which program to pursue takes some actual or hands-on experience as a nurse especially since you are coming from a foreign health care environment.

Majority of MSN programs in the US are not exactly the same as most generic MAN's in the Philippines. You should also realize that if you are neither a legal US resident or a US citizen, you will need a student visa to start school in the US. That route can get very expensive and is also hard to get approved for unless you have sufficient proof that you can support the cost of tuition and living expenses on your own. In addition, you will not be entitled to federal or state tuition assistance or discounts.

Try to focus on getting a job as an RN first. If you get to the point where you are able to work in the US as a nurse, then seriously consider pursuing a master's degree here if that' what you would like to do

Abood,

First, I assumed you were a Filipino citizen because you posted in the Philippine forum. Second, you didn't mention that you wanted to focus on critical care for your master's degree so I also assumed you were undecided on what route or specialization to pursue. Third, you also did not mention that you already have experience as a nurse.

Taking all that into consideration, I think it is not such a bad idea for you to pursue a master's degree in the US if you can come up with the funds to support your application for a student visa, your tuition, and cost of living allowance once you arrive in the US. So, let's assume that you are able to finance your education if that's OK.

The first step for you is to figure out where you will study. There are "prestigious" universities in practically every major metro area in every state of the union. However, cost of living varies depending on where you are in the US. The southwest coast (for instance, Southern California and even Northern California) is very expensive and so is the northeast (cities like New York, NY and Boston, MA).

These areas definitely have one of the best schools for a master's degree in nursing. But do not overlook the middle states. There are also excellent programs in universities in the midwest, the south, and southeastern areas of the US. The advantage in going to school in those states is that the cost of living is usually more affordable.

I suggest you find a program you like by doing your own research. In order to specialize in critical care, you have the option of attending a Clinical Nurse Specialist program with a critical care nursing concentration. There are also Nurse Practitioner programs in critical care. If there are NP's in your home country, this can also be an option for you.

Once you find a program in a university and a city you think you might be able to afford, then the next step is to apply for admission to the program. Most universities will send out application packets in the mail even for overseas student applicants. They will also help you along the process of obtaining a student visa.

Good luck to you and if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask or repost.

Addendum:

Forgot to mention too that for clinical-focused master's degree programs in nursing (i.e., NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA), a US RN License is required. Some programs may allow you to register for non-clinical courses (i.e., theory courses, medical science courses) even without a US RN License, however, you would need one prior to starting any of the clinical courses. GRE used to be required across the board but I'm seeing some trend in certain programs where this requirement is no longer specified.

The US does not offer the Masteral degree, that is a term that is used in the Philippines for their program. And it does not give you the same credit as the actual MSN in the US.

The Masteral degree is the MAN degree and is not equivalent to the MSN that is offered in the US.

This is for others that are reading this thread.

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I highly recommend the advice that pinoyNP posted.

how much, on the average, does it cost to take up a masters degree?

There is a wide range in the price of tuition for universities in the US. Generally speaking, state universities receive funding from taxpayers who reside in the specific state the school is located in. A considerable amount of dollars are also awarded to these institutions from donations and contributions by alumni, private entities, and federal funding for scholarship and research. Tuition in state universities tend to be more affordable especially for residents of the specific state the school is located in - that is a benefit of attending a state university. Out-of-state students who attend a state university pay more tuition than in-state students.

Privately-owned universities include many secular and religious institutions just like in the Philippines. Tuition can be expensive in these schools and there is no distinction between the cost of tuition for in-state students and those who come from another state. Prestige can also add cost to tuition for an educational institution regardless of whether they are state-owned or private. For instance, in my home state, the premier state university charges a higher tuition (comparable to most private schools) than the other state universities in the area. Most well-known private institutions (like the Ivy League colleges) also have one of the highest tuition and registration fees in the US.

I picked the university I attended for my master's degree with consideration of the school's reputation in the field I've chosen. The nursing graduate program is ranked in the top 10% in the US and there are many alumni in the area who are in actual clinical practice. I was also drawn to the relative affordability of tuition and the amount of public and private scholarships available to students. Although the cost of my entire MSN program is around $30,000 for tuition alone, I was able to attend the program by working as a nurse and applying for a public scholarship grant that paid for a year's worth of tuition out of the two years I spent in the program.