anniputski

New site about the brain. Simple enough for families, too... http://www.savingthebrain.com/ Best of all, it's written by a nurse!

Hope you get the job! It's gotten so competitive it's scary!

Wow.... I've never needed a transcript to apply for a job before. It must be very competitive these days. It's true that BON with verify your transcript in the first place Best of luck!

No there is no longer a shortage at present. And it's true that even local new grads are finding it hard to land good jobs.

The Kaplan Study Tips really helped me a lot as a student nurse preparing for the NCLEX. They offer a few guides that lead you to the correct answer. And the rest is practice, practice, practice. It's definitely a must-read! http://ann2.net/pld/kaplan.html Also, I found that going through 100-200 questions a day helps with the pace and retention. Some may prefer a different number though...

I'm another one of those who loves working nights... less fuss, less family members to deal with, less activity... MORE money! Then again, night shifts are not for everyone. And mostly it's how much you sleep during the day that matters. I, for instance, don't have kids and normally sleep around 6 hours in between shifts. Here are some tips on how to sleep better and how to survive nights. http://www.ehow.com/how_6032587_sleep-during-day-working-nights.html http://www.ehow.com/how_6032548_survive-working-night-shifts-nurse.html Give it a chance! I've been working nights for 2 years and wouldn't trade it for anything.

sounds like you landed yourself a job in a subacute facility. It still isn't considered "acute care," unfortunately... I was in the same position as you. I worked in subacute for 5 months and tried my luck in a hospital. I don't think you'll need a refresher course... just get yourself into one of the new grad positions and you'll be fine. They'll train you well before allowing you to be on your own. All it takes is a little confidence. Guts! Us foreign grads often don't have that... we feel a bit inferior. Here are a few tips I've read that should help you. They're very true... http://www.ehow.com/how_6034386_succeed-foreign-nurse.html Best of luck! I've been working in a hospital for over 3 years now. The last 6 months in ICU.

I'm also one of those who rarely works extra.. if ever at all. Lazy lazy...

Congratulations on your new job! You sure have a funny schedule. It will be tough especially because you're forced to switch back and forth. Working the night shift per se isn't too bad if you follow a certain routine. I started working nights a couple of months ago and realized it wasn't as bad as I expected. The pace is slower; the unit is more quiet... I'm not the soundest sleeper, but I find sleeping during the day very doable. I guess it depends on the person. I've found a few tips through the net to help you adjust to night shift... http://www.ehow.com/how_6032548_survive-working-night-shifts-nurse.html http://www.ehow.com/how_6032587_sleep-during-day-working-nights.html I particularly find the tips on how to sleep during the day very effective.

I personally did self review for the NCLEX using Mosby and Saunders. But what I found most helpful were the Kaplan general study tips. After some practice you find yourself "feeling" the right answers. Here's a link to those tips: http://ann2.net/pld/kaplan.html

Hi everyone. Good news! My friend's visa is on its way according to delbros. She was interviewed June 9 and they found her passport in the embassy on the same day. According to experience, it seems like it usually takes a month after you submit the lacking documents till the visa arrives. God Bless us all...

Thanks for the input guys. It's been 3 weeks and so far her visa isn't here yet. It really is a test of patience.

I have 2 questions about PDOS... Can you just walk in on any weekday, or do you need an appointment? Also, I'm from the province. I was hoping to attend the PDOS just before (maybe the day before) I fly to the US. That way I won't have to spend for an extra round-trip ticket just for it. Can I do that? Thanks

I was wondering how long the visa arrives after the interview for those who've had minor problems or missing docs. My friend had her interview almost 2 weeks ago, but for some reason the embassy misplaced her passport. They let her go on with the interview. In releasing she was given a document list stating she had to go back to St. Luke to look for her passport there. After 4 hours with the embassy & St. Luke pointing a finger on each other, they finally found her passport in the embassy. I know interviews that are documentarily complete receive their visas within a week. But what about those with missing documents? How long after submission do you expect the visa? My friend's visa has not arrived yet. When they finally found her passport, the lady said it may take a slight delay because they have to reopen and review her file like all incomplete files. Any ideas?

I've also been hearing reports about this. My cousin, who took the exam, complained endlessly that a gapuz reviewee friend admitted leakage of some questions. He claims they were the exact questions -- word for word -- and had as much as 40 questions in one test. If true, I just think it is unfortunate. It may mean a delay in the release of the results. I don't think they'll force everyone to take the exam again. It'll cause too much burden -- studying... spending to get to test centers (some of them travel to other cities). It may deter current plans of building an NCLEX testing site in the Philippines. For those non-gapuz board takers who feel that things are unfair, don't worry too much. As I told my cousin, those who truly deserve to pass will pass regardless of leakage. God bless our future nurses!

Yes, you actually don't need packet 4 for your medicals. Just bring your passport and 3 passport-size pictures. To enter, just tell the guard your case # and visa category (EX for nurses). He will ask you if you already have an interview schedule. Just say yes. I also went for my medicals without the original packet 4.

Hi, It is highly recommended that you appear for your interview. Not having an updated job offer in hand will not be a big problem. I have a friend who was interviewed today with exactly the same situation. Her job offer has not arrived yet. She was interviewed like everyone else, and at the end, they just asked her to submit her job offer when it arrives. You can do so by mail, or you can go to the embassy anytime Mon-Thurs, at 1pm, to drop off lacking documents. Don't worry, you will not be denied. When everything's complete, they will review your file again before printing the visa.

Jepoy, admitting that you're entering with your B1/B2 visa and then adjusting status may sound honest, but it'll immediately be cause of denying your entry. Ethan is right. Only certain visas (H1B and other working-related I think) can claim dual intent. For tourist visas, you have to prove you're there for pleasure and will be coming home. I still know many people with tourist visas who adjust status after passing the NCLEX. Naturally, at the POE, they say they're there to visit relatives, etc, and adjust status after a few months.

Hi everyone. I just got back from the US embassy interview and all seems ok. As you may know, my contract is NOT notarized, only on letterhead. The Filipino pre-interviewer mentioned that sometimes consular officers want to see notarizations, but it's up for them to decide. I explained what the lawyer said, and he said just explain to the consular officer if he asks. I was interviewed by a nice, male consular officer and I don't even think he took look at the notarization part. He said "everything looks fine." No other document was required of me, and I was asked to pay Delbros. Job offers / Contracts should be original though, not photocopies. I saw a fellow nurse who was asked to secure an original copy after the interview. When you present the original documents, submit a photocopy along with it. I gave copies of my VisaScreen, Nclex result and even my contract. The releasing section gave me back all the originals after the interview. Thanks for your help, everyone. I sure feel relieved that all seems fine.

thanks so much, gwapo. unfortunately, I'm out of time as my interview is already next week. I mentioned this to the lawyer (give me a notarized job offer instead of a contract), but again, he insists that the employer would prefer a contract. It is more binding and has 2 signatures, and therefore a better legal document. My contract is also on letterhead, but NOT notarized. Does anyone know anybody who got into trouble because their job offer or contract was not notarized? Perhaps it's just common practice, but not really necessary.

Hi King. I am also facing the same dilemma. I'm having my interview on June 7. Instead of a job offer, I have contract (2 signatures), and it is NOT notarized. The lawyer insists it cannot be done legally. I will let you know after my interview if the consular officer accepts it. As for you, since you are in the P3 stage, I think you have no choice but to ask your agency/lawyer to send an updated contract or job offer once you're scheduled for interview. Firstly, I think it it has to be original (not photocopied), and secondly, it has to be updated (current date, not more than a year ago).

I received my packet 4 today, and it doesn't say anything about an ITR... There's a note on one of the pages that said "If you have not provided tax information for the most recent tax filing year, you must bring them with you to the visa interview." And just as the others said, this sounds like a requirement for family-based or K-1 petitions. It's placed on a sheet separate from the list of other requirements.

I'm confused. Are they requiring ITR now? I never heard of this requirement before. Is it the employer's ITR or the nurse's ITR?

Thanks suzanne. I'm in the Philippines and the employer is in the US. I know it seems impossible. But I called the US Embassy hotline in Manila today and at first they said, yes, the contract has to be notarized. Then I argued with them, and then they said "just make it as genuine as possible... only the Affidavit of Support needs to be notarized" I am so confused. Can anyone who's had experience help out, please? What about a job offer letter? Doesn't it only need the employer's signature... and therefore notarization is possible?

Hello, I'm scheduled for interview and preparing the contract/job offer. When I told the lawyer preparing the contract that it should be notarized, he said in California, unless the person actually signs in front of the notary public, it cannot be done. QUESTION: In the interview, is it absolutely necessary that the contract/job offer is notarized by a US notary public? Please help.