kelly302

Actually, Japanese whose graduated from foreign nursing schools are permitted to take exams just like those who graduated from schools in Japan. But the exam is held only once a year. I personally do not want to work in Japan as a nurse. The function of nursing is "to assist medical personnel (=docs)," according to the health ministry. They are many people who are open-minded, including those who are nurses. Please do not give me wrong. But as anywhere else in the world, people who are older and/or who live in more country sides tend to have more Conservative views toward foreigners. I hate to say this but even my mom make some discriminative statements toward foreigners without realizing they could be considered discrimination, and she is just 50 years old. I just want to state my honest opinion for those who are thinking about where to move as nurses. Please correct me if I make any wrong statement.

I read a news paper article in Japan, regarding of the Filipinos nurses in Japan. From 2007, Japanese government will agree upon the treaty which allows Filipino nurses to work in Japan. Personally, I do not encourage any Foreign nurses to work in Japan, NOT for Japanese BUT FOR them. I am afraid they will be discriminated by Japanese nurses and others. I do not know how many Filipino nurses are wishing to move to Japan. But if the income is the same, I personally encourage them to work in the U.S. or in Canada, but not to Japan. I personally believe Filipinos will be less discriminated by Americans in the U.S., compared to by Japanese in Japan. I am Japanese, and it is a good idea to recruit nurses because of the nursing shortage in Japan. BUT after moving back here in Japan, I realized how much Japanese society is closed for non-Japanese.I do not want to criticize my own country, but it is shameful how much the Japanese society almost ignore foreign people. (For example, there are Koreans in Japan whose ancestors were taken for the labor during the WWII. But there are MANY the second and third generation Koreans in Japan who do not have Japanese citizenship yet. They were born and live in Japan. But just because they were not born into Japanese, the citizenship is not granted yet. ) I'm, too, moving to the U.S. soon. The only place that I worked as a nurse is in the U.S.. But I like the living condition there better. Even though the technology in Japan is very advanced, sometimes I feel that the living condition and life style in Japan is 20 years behind from in the U.S.. The medical technology is much more advanced in the U.S., and there are more opportunities for nurses to advance their careers. This is just my personal opinion. Please do not give me a wrong impression that I try to exclude foreigners from Japan. I believe Japan has to encourage more foreigners to live in Japan and establish the law system. The treaty to recruit Filipino nurses to Japan is one of the government's effort. I completely agree with the government to open Japan for foreigners. BUT the society and Japanese people's mind is still closed.

Lt Dan, Thanks for the great advice. I may still talk to a recruiter again, though. I know it is a tough road if I join as enlisted. I don't want to give you a wrong impression, though. You may think that I join the military just for a citizenship or that I think it is cool to join. No. I do know that being a military is tough and challenging especially now during the war. I do like the American ideology of democracy and freedom. I sometimes feel like the democracy and freedom are not exercised as much even in Japan, compared to them in the U.S.. I cannot imagine how people in the world live. I want to be a part to defend the people's rights. Plus, I feel like America is my second home since I lived there for such a long time. When I went back to the States for the first time after getting a green card, an immigration officer said, "welcome home." I was so moved and just cried when I heard what he said. Thanks for your advice, again. I may contact you when questions arise. Kelly

Hi Trauma RUs, Yokota base is not too far from where I live now. It takes no more than 2hours to get there. Actually I live closer to Atsugi base more than Yokota, though. It is so great to hear you and your husband met in Japan, and your son was born here. I am curious about your impression of Japan. I see many military people here, and I wonder what they think of Japan. What was the biggest surprise? What did you wish Japanese people would have done in the situation you wanted to get some help? I am just curious how I can help them (if they need) because I know, from my experience, it is hard to live in a different country.

Lt. Dan, Thank you for the reply. Now it makes more sense. One more thing, though. You said, the recruiter shouldn't even attempt to get me into the military since I have a degree already. What do you mean by that? Don't people who have BSN and have experience in nursing join the military later on? Or you are saying military nurses join the military program before they graduate and join after graduation? ( I know many people use this system) Well, I have several reasons I wanted to join the military as RN. 1. Many people whom I look up to as nurses were (non-nurses, too) in the military in the past (or now). They have wide range of experience in nursing. They act in a professional way. I want to experience different fields of nursing like in the military because you never know what areas you may be assigned to. 2. I got an impression that nurses are treated more in a professional ways in the military. I have seen military docs who treat nurses as team members in a professional manner. 3. I want to advance my degree. The military usually has better education plans, in terms of out of pocket costs! 4. Last but not least, I want to have opportunity to work in different parts of world. I thought about travel nurse, too. But I'm not totally sure about it. Anyway, I like the international atmosphere in the military. I experienced many situation where some people discriminate foreign born people. People in the military whom I met in the military treated me without prejudice. Do you think my reasons to join the military are not so professional??

Thank you very much for your message. It really helped!!! I am little dissapointed, though. I knew the recruiter I talked to did not seem to tell me the truth, but I think I was right, according to what you wrote. I think the recruiter just make me join the navy, knowing that it is hard to switch the status from the enlisted to the officer. So let me clarify what you are saying. 1. There are foreign nurses in the military, but they cannot be officers. 2. Once someone is enlisted, it is almost impossible to become an officer until the contract is over. Well, I have BSN from a college in the U.S. and have passed NCLEX. My RN license is from the U.S. Do you think I should become a citizen before joining the military if I want to be an officer as RN, rather than joining a military first? It usually takes 5 years to become a citizen without using a military system. So if I want to join the military after getting the citizenship, it would take 5 years. But if I join the military now, I won't be able to become an officer,. It would also take about 4-5 years ( isn't this the usual duration of a contract, right? ) to finish the contract as enlisted. I am still confused.

I really wish what you said is true!!! Actually, a non-U.S. citizen with green card can join the navy. But I don't think it does not apply to Navy nurse. I look at the Navy website, and it says to be eligible for the navy nurse program, a person has to be a U.S. citizen. But I might be wrong. If there are other military branch which allows to become military nurse without a citizenship, I love to find out!

Yes, I am a Japanese citizen. Unfortunately, I don't have a dual citizenship. I believe neither U.S. government and Japanese government allow dural citizenship over 18 years old. There are only some countries, like Eygpt, which allow people to have dural citizenship. I don't think your son has dual citizenship if I am not wrong. Japanese government does not give citizenship to people who were just born in Japan. Citizenship is given only to people whose parents (either mother or father) are Japanese. Of course, non-Japanese can apply to citizenship later on if they wish. The U.S., on the other hand, give citizenship if a person 1. was born in the U.S. (This is what Japanese government does not allow) 2. was born into a parent who is U.S. citizen (including who was born overseas) Even if your son happen to have dual citizenship, he has to claim the citizenship to either American one or Japanese one at the age of 18. No, he does not need to join military in Japan. Japanese laws do not force people to join, like in the U.S. I heard Korean men has to join the military for 3 years. In Japan, it is a choice. Actually there are only few people who want to join. I have only one friend who is related to Japanese defense force. Hope it helps!

Thanks for the encouragement. I wish you all luck to become RN in the near future. I am glad to hear some others want to become a military nurse as a foreigner. P.S. I am a female. So I don't wish to be called Sir. Thanks.

thanks for the reply, wtbcrna. well, i have bsn from a college in the u.s., though. i wonder if it is still hard to become an officer. kelly

i need an advice to join the navy as rn. i am not a u.s. citizen yet but hold a permanent residentship (=green card). i talked to a navy recruiter overseas where i am staying at my parents for a short time period. he told me only a u.s. citizen can work as rn in navy. he said only jobs that i can take in healthcare is a medical assistant job. i have to wait about a year to get a u.s. citizenship once i join the navy, and after that it is possible to work as a nurse. i really want to be a navy nurse, but i don't know how trusting what this recruiter is saying. i know, for sure, that only u.s. citizens can become military nurses. my question is, once i get a citizenship (according to the recruiter, it takes about a year to get it in the military system. usually it takes 5 years after holding a green card), if i can really work as a navy nurse. i am afraid they still keep me in a medical assistant job. does anyone know a military nurse who was non-u.s. citizen in the past and join the military?