blabber

Hi flors, The eligibility has an expiration date if I'm not mistaken. Therefore, you should register with pearsonvue to sit for the nclex exam before your eligibility lapse. If you want to take a review course, then go ahead and do it but you also mentioned that you want to take the nclex exam soon after the review so, why not register with pearsonvue already so you will have your exam schedule. Just my suggestion... :)

IPAMS was my agency when I was still employed in the Middle East (Saudi Aramco). I have not encountered anybody who was deployed by IPAMS to Canada but if they are now recruiting for a Canadian employer, I don't see any reason to think twice because they are a very reliable recruiting agency. No placement fee. Employees are very helpful, friendly and courteous. Good luck! :wink2:

Hi DianneRN, When I said BE PREPARED, I meant prepare yourself emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. EMOTIONALLY - because you'll be away from your family and loved ones. No support system around you. You'll be lucky to find trustworthy friends but always be critical of people around you. Even your fellow countrymen (kabayans as we call it there) will take advantage of you. Trust no one but yourself, that's what I learned in my 5 1/2 years of stay there. PHYSICALLY - because the demand of work is very different here in the Philippines. Although most hospitals in KSA is already computerized, the demand of the job is stressing and you will encounter different type of family members that you need to please more than the patient itself. MENTALLY - because of the different cultures and mentality of the different nationalities you'll be encountering not only on your workplace but socially. that is if you will have any social life. :zzzzz SPIRITUALLY - because you're going to a Muslim country. take note of their practices, beliefs and teachings. there are some things that you cannot do to a patient who is muslim so be careful. at work, you may find yourself alone (if you're the only one who is not muslim) during prayer time . Hope this helps.

Hello echo23... I do hope that you did not grab this nonsense offer! 18 thousand pesos a month with 3 years of contract?! that is insane! i am working here in the philippines earning 19 thousand pesos as a company nurse. please be very careful with this kind of offers from agencies. you will be working as a stay-in caregiver and not a nurse in a hospital . please....think twice! do not be so desperate in accepting this kind of offers from any agency here in the philippines. you will be exploited!

hi burbeestar! can i just recommend this site for your IELTS review? http://www.ielts-exam.net. this is the one i used for my review. a lot of practice test that are so very helpful. with regards to speaking, my advice is relax and breath... Good luck!

Hi! I just retook my IELTS exam last Jan. 17th (for another country) and I'm happy to say that I got a 7.5 band score (listening 8, reading 7.5 writing 7) and speaking 7. It was different from my previous score (2005) wherein I only got 7 band score (listening 8.5, reading 6.5, writing 6, and speaking of 8). Anyhow, as Suzanne said, requirements change through the years. Before, most countries are just requiring 6.5 over-all band score (no matter what score you have in listening, reading and writing) and 7 speaking, but now Australia and New Zealand are requiring 7 in all categories. If you don't meet the required score for speaking (which is 7) then sad to say, you have to retake it again. With the speaking, from my experience, it really depends on the type of questions that will be given to you. You can be familiar with the topic asked or not. When I had my speaking test (retake one), I was so nervous that sometimes, I had to stop during the conversation to think and that I guess, influenced my score. They also judge you by the way you interact with the examiner/interviewer during the speaking test. For those really planning and thinking of going to the US, Australia, Canada, UK and New Zealand where IELTS is one of the major requirements, you have to really prepare for the costs of all exams.

As far as I know, 50 is the maximum age limit.

Hello Pizzalady! During the initial application, interview and signing of contract, there was no way of knowing which area I will be assigned. I only found out which area I'll be working in when I arrived in the company that hired me. Basically, I was assigned to the area where I am most experienced at which is the MICU. I used to work in the general ICU here in the PH. I think choosing which area you would be assigned depends on the hospital/company that is hiring you. You can try asking or telling them during the interview of the signing of contract that you prefer to work in this certain area. I resigned because I got married last year and my husband is based here in the PH. Hope this helps.

Hi! I used to work in Saudi Aramco. Actually, just resigned there last year. Worked in Dhahran area. If you're in the Philippines, IPAMS is the only accredited agency of Saudi Aramco. No placement fee. Good experience for me in terms of equipments, policies and cases handled. Multi-cultural environment so be prepared to face different cultures more so of the Arab culture. As mentioned previously, salary,benefits and accomodation depends on your nationality and pay-grade. Hope this helps.

I used to work in KSA and my only advice for those planning to go there is BE PREPARED. Don't only think about the money that you'll be earning. The culture in KSA is very different. The mentality of Saudis can be degrading and demeaning sometimes so before applying, ask yourself first if you are really ready to go there. If you think you are, then try and look for agencies that are only accredited by POEA. As they say, BEWARE OF ILLEGAL RECRUITERS. I was lucky to have worked in a well-known company in the Middle East. The salary is also very good compare to salaries of other Filipino Nurses in KSA. If I remember correctly, the salary in KSA range from as little as SR 2,500 to over SR 5,000. Multiply that by 11 or 12 and you get the equivalent in Pesos. You also need to have at least 2 years hospital experience. That is the requirement as far as I know. Good luck to all of you.

Can I just agree with pollen in saying that it is very unfair for applicants if hospitals give priority to their own grads or hospital affliates? Although there are great advantages in hiring "your own" nurses, I believe that no matter how short an orientation will be or how familiar a nurse is in the hospital environment, it will always goes down to who is more qualified for the job. Just my own point of view. :wink2:

i tried applying in NKTI last Sept 2007. I have been working in KSA for almost 6 years and when I went there at NKTI, the guy I spoke to at HR, did not even read through my CV. He just looked at it, ask me silly questions (eg. have you worked in the PH before? is this a hospital?) and then said I should have a valid IV therapy license. I was very disappointed to know that although I am a well experienced nurse (ICU background, ACLS and BLS certified), I was not even entertained well. It made me think, what about those new nursing grads who are looking for hospital work? It's a very sad fact that here in the PH, unless you have a good backer in the place you are eyeing for, then there's no hope for you. I am presently working as a company nurse here in Makati. Not at all fulfilling as hospital work but while waiting for my papers in another country to be processed, I opted to apply here. Pay is almost the same (if not better) as government hospital and workload is not much. I do still miss hospital work and if there will be an opportunity for me to come back to bedside nursing, I will go back in a heart beat.

hi there! please remember that if you're going to look for recruitment agencies in the philippines, it is a must to look for the poea license of the said agency. jcaho or jci has nothing to do with recruitment agencies because as far as i know jci is for hospital accreditation only. i should know because i'm working in a jcaho accredited facility here in the middle east and jcaho has nothing to do with recruitment facilities. please please. be very careful when applying for work abroad with agencies that don't have poea license. you can check if the said agencies are accredited by poea by searching thru poea's website. :typing hope i was able to clear this up for you.

hi glyza! you may want to check out this website: http://www.workabroad.ph/list_specific_jobs.php?by_what=specialization&id=57 it's true that most agencies and hospital in the mideast require at least 2 years work experience. make sure also that agencies that the agencies are licensed by poea so you won't have any problems. best of luck!

Thank's lawrence! I gained another useful info from you... God Bless!