misspowers

Hi erjean, I am still keeping the faith. Thanks for the updates. May I know the source of the article you posted about Retrogression Ending Legislation Introduced in Congress. Thank you very much!

It depends on your qualification. I think all the countries that I mentioned are very good place to start or have a career with. It really depends if you qualify. I am not picky but I chose the long route...Its so hard to wait. I am using my time well while waiting. For those who lack the nursing experience I think Saudi is the best option. But if you have the much needed number of years of experience then I think all of the above is an option for you.

Ok thanks for all the reply. I will wait for October then

The Visa Bulletin is out for June 2009 http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4497.html as expected, there is no movement. Visa remained to be unavailable. God will take care of the rest for me. Anyway I still look forward for July 2009 Bulletin. E. EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA AVAILABILITY DURING THE REMAINDER OF FISCAL YEAR 2009 Applicant demand for numbers, primarily for adjustment of status cases at Citizenship and Immigration Services offices, has been extremely heavy throughout the year. As a result, visa availability during the final quarter could become limited as categories approach their annual numerical limits. Therefore, visa availability throughout the remainder of the year cannot be guaranteed, and the establishment of cut-off dates, or retrogression of existing cut-off dates, cannot be ruled out. Sorry for the ignorance, what does fiscal year meant? I'm still here waiting...

Hi kiah...we have the same fate...I have volunteered and now grabbing every straw to land on a job. I was choosing and hoping to be a nurse but times are tough veery, verrrrry tough!!!! specially for second coursers like us. Just look at the various threads here. You will see different emotions pouring. Pain and frustrations. I am over the anger stage (DABDA Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Despair Acceptance) Did I remember it right? hehehehe Maybe im somewhere in between bargaining and despair... If you choose to stay in the Philippines here are your choices: 1. Work in a callcenter 2. Volunteer for no fee 3. Be a bum 4. Cry... If you intend to work aborad: 1. US is still an option but mind you...you will be like me...(I passed all the exams, got an employer, petitioned and is now waiting in line for retrogression to end) 2. UK- NVQ thing...i do not know this but you can search allnurses they have very good forums for this. I just mentioned this because I have friends who went to this route and they are earning. 3. Middleeast-I already submitted my application at MOH Saudi at POEA window M last March. No text or reply yet. 4. Canada- Take their CRNE and fly there. 5. Other european countries(Ireland, New Zealand)- Most no longer accept second coursers. They want a 4 year nursing degree (No crediting of the previous course). And they have a bridging program which is very expensive for me. 6. Australia- I do not know much about this but I know you need to be screened and they also have a bridging program I think Whatever path you choose, good luck and God Bless. Right now I am a market researcher for a cosmetic company. The pay is better however this is a project based work so its not really that regular. But its better than not to have a work at all.

It really depends on your goal. You have to choose a prospective employer. Check what do they require for their applicants. There are hospitals that require 1 year of volunteer work (I will not advice you to do this). In my case it is alot tougher to land a job since I am a second courser. I only have 3 months of volunteer job. I took BLS. I find IVT expensive...I am still contemplating if I will jump into this training. I really find this training odd...IV insertion is a skill...so after completing the training and if you do not practice it that often then you lose the skill. I have been inserting IVs for three months during my volunteer stint. I have learned the art without undergoing the training. But right now since I haven't been around inserting IV then my confidence level has dropped significantly.

I have submitted my requirements today...let us keep our hopes high!!!God bless us all

With the recession in US I think its not wise to apply there. In my case there is no more turning back for me. I am waiting in line now. But for those who just graduated and are planning to go to US just think it over 10 times!!!! IF you are willing to wait and take the risk then nobody can stop you. There are other countries who are open to nurses...

I lost my high school diploma, are they strict with that? All i have is a photocopy. My school has change its name...all they can provide me is a certification. They can no longer give me a diploma

Hushdawg you are right that this program is better than offering volunteer services. However, I am needed home...and I can't leave my family to stay in the province for this. The solution is a just a temporary patch up. After six months and if you are not deployed then your back to being unemployed.

I applied at California BON, took it last Feb 26, 2008 and passed (Thank God!!!!) In my opinion it does not matter where you applied or where you are taking it. I heard people fly to different test sites believing that a particular testing center would make them pass. Sad to say if you are not prepared you will eventually fail.

I am not a resident of any of the municipalities listed there. Oh well...I aborted my application. I can't seem to see the logic here, why choose nurses only living in rural areas? What about city dwellers who can't find a job.

It really depends on the school. This is business. Plain and simple explanation.

Hi joy, thank you for sharing your experience please give us updates on your application. I will also try my luck here...for those who have not yet visit the site http://www.nars.dole.gov.ph Let us see where this will go. I have been sending resumes and application forms. Should my application advance I will let you know

I live in the city. They only entertain applicants who live in their target rural areas. (poorest of the poor) I just called one of their trunklines (who btw is so rude). I was trying to clarify this clause in their website and I get a rude remark telling me to just read what the site says. This is a long shot solution to unemployment of nurses. I just hope somebody can actually share their experience.

I was wondering if anyone here actually applied to this program. Care to share your experience? Are there nurses already deployed to rural areas because of this program? Please enlighten us and share your application experience. My family is really skeptic about the whole process...thank you very much:nurse:

Thank you very much for the reply. I needed that perspective. I just want to add my thoughts on retrogression...specially for us who are now waiting in line. All we had is hope. In building a plan, hope is a necessary fuel to keep one going. Sometimes its hard to create a goal when you are trying your best to keep the fire burning and there are some people who I understand also gives their respective opinion on matters but in doing so offends or hurts another person. I have nothing but utmost respect to experienced people here. I am very much aware of what is happening not only in US but all over the world. It is a survival of the fittest challenge. If you have the patience to fall in line and continue with the wait then no one can stop you (that includes me). Sometimes it helps to air your angst or despair here and hopefully somebody with the same plight as you are in will say hello and help you out sort matters. It is just so hard for applicants like me, to just turn my back simply because of an opinion or an observation. I am at the end of the long tail, this is my own battle. To my fellow nurses...who are also fighting tooth and nail just to hang on and keep the spirit I salute you. It is a very tough fight. May the good Lord continue to Bless US!!!! Peace

My case was filed June 2008, got an approval Feb 2009. When can I expect to have my embassy interview. Do I get an email notification? Thank you very much

Got 84.8%, I forgot the other details. I only took it once thank God!!!!

I have been promoting this hospital for quite a while now. I had a great time, but I have to face reality after my experience with them. I have to work. It was the best 3 months of my budding nursing career.

I am excited to work in Montana. Any information about Benefis? Its in Great Falls. I just hope you can give any information. Thanks

All of the suggestions here are very good. I just hope that PNA and our government can do something about it. The plight of the nurses is the least of the priority of our government. It is a very difficult situation and since no agency will take action for our condition, as a struggling new nurse you will do everything just to get hired. I already destroyed 2 pairs of shoes walking from one hospital (just imagine the whole stretch of Taft avenue, Manila)and to my dismay all of these hospitals are asking money for the "Basic Skills Training". It is not even a guarantee that you will be absorb by this hospitals. I told myself that this is a clear case of exploitation and I won't be victim of it. Now, its been a year since I refuse to pay these so called training fees. Until now I am not employed. Desperation will eventually sink-in, I volunteered my services at a government hospital for 3 months. Right now I am helping in the family business, but that doesn't mean that I have stopped applying. I am now imploring all the help that I could get (prayers and people) to be hired. You have all the brightest ideas here but without political will, nothing will change. Nursing is a skill. If you remain dormant for some time you will eventually loose everything you learned and start from scratch. If one truly desires not to loose all these skills even in the worst scenario like here in the Philippines, you will do everything in your power: train for a fee, volunteer nursing services or enroll to training schools. This is what we do here. So far, I really enjoyed my 3 months volunteer job at Caloocan. I am also applying as a medical transcriptionist. Should I be hired as one, I will find time to volunteer so that my nursing skills will not suffer. I rather volunteer my services for free than pay for the training. I don't know if this is the best option but this is what I am facing now. To all the moderators and experts here, I know that you find most of our posts ridiculous or absurd but this is surviving for us. We want to be the best nurses and I believe most of us here really wanted a career as a nurse. Just like your popular TV show "SURVIVOR", you will do everything to be a nurse. Even if most of you here are discouraging us from going to US, we will not stop. We are taking this long shot towards our dreams and nothing will stop this. This is a game of chance and opportunity so its hard not to be in the arena and loose it all. To all my fellow kababayan, just stay focused and know what you truly want. If you really want to be a nurse, fight neck and tooth to become one. Have a goal...to most of the US Nurses here working in the US is not possible right now so take other alternatives. But for others who already passed the nclex, ielts and are already petitoned by their employers, let us not stop praying!!! Look what prayers did for Manny Pacquiao!!! HEHEHE God Bless us all

Visit the Lung Center and go to ANSAP office for all the schedule

I used the new Passport issued by DFA last February when I took the NCLEX. They honored my passport, but they asked me for another valid ID (I presented my PRC License) with my signature. I think you will not have a problem. Goodluck and God Bless on your exam

For me the best experience I got as volunteer would be from Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Hospital in tala Caloocan. It is free and they really teach.