4fifteen

You can get your qualifications assessed by UK NARIC (for a fee, of course) and they'll provide you with an equivalent which you can use when you submit applications. I'm not sure what NVQ level they ask for, but you could probably check out on some job sites and check ads since they usually specify the requirements.

I'm not sure about this "before this" period, as the latest document printed on the NMC website pertaining to the Overseas Nurse Programme is still the 2005 one. Ahh, found it. "All applicants will be required to undertake 20 days Protected Learning Time (PLT) and a programme of supervised practice (ONP) for a minimum of three months." (Link) Made last April 2. Hm. I wonder if they're creating an entirely new directive exclusively discussing ONPs, because that 2005 obviously needs updating! I'm overseas trained, and had to do a combination of the 20-day protected learning time and supervised practice. So yes, I am obviously not from the US, which I think is the closest resemblance of the nursing curriculum from my university. Nothing to support this claim though; I definitely should look into this. ANYWAY. If you're most concerned about the pay, how long the NMC wants you (or anyone) to be ONP course (mine was 3 months) isn't the only factor you'll have to consider -- look into how long the university deliberates on results and sends it to the NMC as well (mine took 6 months because they're crap), because you will obviously be paid (if you are employed on the hospital while undertaking those supervised clinical hours) not as an RN during all the wait. Look into the Agenda for Change pay scales (found on RCN) to see where they're paying you. HCAs are on band 2, Associate Practitioners are on band 4, and registered nurses are on band 5. Haven't completely looked into where employed ONPs would fall under, but my employment contract gave me a band 4 salary.

I dunno about the rest (resume, board rating, board certificate, etc) but the most important are -- University graduate 78% and above board rating BLS certified IVT licensed If you're a non-Metro Manila university graduate, you need to be on the Dean's List.

Hi, I'll be working in an NHS hospital soon (coming from another country), and I was wondering what kind of shoes are allowed to be worn for work. I'll be working as a ward nurse. I've learned the basics -- closed black shoes, low/no heels. However, I was told we can't wear trainers. I'm not that comfortable walking around in black leather shoes though, so I'm trying to find a really comfortable pair, but I'm a bit cautious as to whether if it would be approved or not. I tried looking at online nursing shops to see, but then I saw trainers there and got myself more confused, so I thought I should ask here instead. :) Thanks for all the help!

Yes. I remember when I was a new graduate, I haven't heard of PTR until I had to look for a job. I was late for just a couple of months (you normally pay for it at the beginning of the year, I think) and I had to pay a penalty. Just go to your city hall. I can't remember which department I went to exactly; I just asked the guards.

CMC doesn't accept volunteers. You just go to the Personnel Department, hand in your papers, and wait for the call. There are tons of applicants though, so it is going to take a while. I think it's the way with a lot of hospitals nowadays. Anyway, they just finished the 36th (I think?) batch of skills training for nurses. So if you're waiting for their call, it may be after a few months. I can't remember how often they do the training, but I think they do it 3 or 4 times a year.

Yes, I agree. I sadly just learned of it today, after searching through different Saipan topics, and if I had known of this site before and read of this info, I wouldn't have sent my application to this board. The speed of getting the ATT isn't worth all the stress. I definitely would have to pay for that additional year. Thank you for all the information! This really is the best place for international nursing. :)

Ohmygod, FOUR months? My application expires this April! I should have asked on this forum sooner. My dad is going to kill me. I feel like pulling my hair myself.

Wow, I didn't know they issue a board certificate! How did you find out about this and the cost of the license verification? Not that I'm doubting you or anything, just that you are such a lifesaver! I can't recall how I sent the money when I applied for an ATT; it was probably cash...but I can't remember if they accept cash.

I sent the form (with the letter asking them how much it costs) via DHL courier, so I got notices from them that the letter was sent and that it was received. I was just stupid that I deleted all of it from my inbox because the last time I did send via DHL to Saipan, I did get results (this was when I was applying for my NCLEX), so I thought it'd be the same. =\ I haven't thought about faxing, so yeah, maybe I should try that route too. Just fax a note asking about how much it costs? I'm wondering how they would get the information back to me, since calling and emailing don't seem to be something they do, and sending a fax reply back to me would mean it would cost them something since it'll be international fax.

I'm a Filipino nurse and currently still in the Philippines, but I'm also licensed in Northern Marianas (also known as Saipan). I applied for a visa screen last year and (stupidly) declared that I'm also licensed in aformentioned US colony; the problem is I don't know how much I should pay the board to process my license verification and send it to CGFNS. Last August, I sent them the form, along with a note saying that I have no idea how much I should be paying them to process it, so if they could please email or call me (I left my email and number) to let me know so I can send the necessary amount right away. NADA. Now my application is going to expire in MAY, and I've emailed them, left them messages in their phone (because no one is answering, ***?) but I'm not getting any reply! This is frustrating, because I shelled out 300+ USD for the visa screen application, but if it expires, then it's just like I threw away that hundreds of dollars. My question is -- do you have any advice on what else I should do? I'm thisclose to calling CGFNS and asking them as well, but I have a feeling they won't really care. And I'd like to ask my co-nurses first, just in case someone had a similar problem.

Capitol Medical Center just finished an IVT this month and there is another one this May but I think they're prioritizing their college's graduates and the PDNs. So far, it seems they're conducting IVTs every month (they had one in March too) so I suggest you call up the Nursing Service Office mid-May to ask if they'll be having one in June. Slots fill up really fast for some reason though, so make sure you ask/reserve a spot early.

If you sent in your application this year to Capitol Medical Center, you may get in the scheduled skills training (they just finished one last month though, and they have yet to schedule a next one) but it takes a really long time for you to get called for the interview, then another long wait for the pre-employment physical exam. They use up all the acceptable applicants per batch before moving to the next, and they've yet to call all the applicants from last year's batch of skills trainees (around November or December, can't really remember). They had another batch early this year, then the March/April one, and each batch had more than 50 participants. Add to that the actual need of the nursing service, plus the time it takes for the papers to signed and approved as 'for employment'... They don't call everyone though, and there probably is some priority over the graduates of their own college, but it still all depends on the grade.

First off -- if this isn't the right forum for this topic, I'm sorry. I've no idea where to put it. Anyway. Our hospital has been on using the narrative method for charting for, well, forever and now they want to change it to the focus (DAR) method. Aside from not liking change to something you've been used to doing for years, focus charting is so foreign to us; I've only heard of one hospital in this country using that method. What I'd like to know is how this works for you guys. I mean, I know what DAR is and have an idea how it's done; what I mean is how it affects the overall workload. We aren't utilizing computer charting (and I doubt we'll ever be). Also, we use the functional method of giving nursing care, so in our unit where we are full with 16 patients (others have 20-21) there are only two nurses -- one is in charge of giving meds and watching the IVs, the other works on admitting & discharging patients, notifying doctors, carrying out orders, making sure labs and procedures are done, charting (usually the senior nurse) -- and one NA. So now I'm wondering -- is it doable to use focus charting with this set up? When we're really swamped (doctors making rounds simultaneously, then patients needing something right after, and you still have to carry out doctors' orders when another doctor comes up or a new patient is to be admitted - you can barely squeeze in time to pee much more eat) we have sometimes just cram everything in our heads then chart everything at the end of the shift after endorsement. Obviously, we end up charting something we did hours after the action and then I have to do some guesstimates for time (add to that thinking of appropriate terms and words) and yes, we stay overtime for an hour or even more just to finish the charts and we don't get paid for that. Personally, I'm just not too keen on the probability of having to go on overtime much longer than we already are doing which is why I'm rather apprehensive on this. Also just wanted to ask -- I've read about 'checklists that accompany your charting'. Er, checklists on what?

Hi. I was wondering if there is anyone here who applied for an RN license at Saipan BON (Commonwealth Board of Nurse Examiners) or anyone who could answer my question -- how did you get your exam results? I know they send your official results via mail which may take up to 4-6 weeks, but my friend who took the NCLEX-RN with Saipan as her board got her results in three days via her agency. The board doesn't have a website so I figure her agency called up the board, but do they actually release the results via phone? And if so, how do you call the board? I'm from the Philippines and I've been trying the number found in ncsbn.org (670.664.4812) but it kept saying 'the number you have dialled is incorrect.' Help?