wolfgangRN

Hi, I have a friend in NY with the same predicament. Can you give me your lawyer’s contact information? Thank you!

“ Professionals who are unable to comply with the required CPD credit units are ALLOWED to renew their Professional Identification Card (PIC) upon execution of an undertaking to complete the required CPD credit units for the next compliance period. This undertaking can be availed until December 31, 2020.” https://www.prc.gov.ph/advisories/notice-public

I saw it somewhere in the prc website. I’ll look for the page again and post it here.

Nice! That was where I first started looking but there isn’t any full time offerings for the department I want to work at. I am so done with the ER. Nevada is still where me and and my husband want to live at long term, eventually.

Yes, I’ve seen that happen in my current hospital. I learned a lot, my co-workers are great, but the travelers I’ve met tell us our benefits as full time are crap. I have a chance to transfer to a unit I want to be in, at both hospitals I applied for. The other has a name reputation w/ less benefits, the other does not but has better benefits. I like the atmosphere at both. So it’s more of does having a brand name hospital in my resume a plus, a minus, or does not matter?

I don’t mean for my question to be a bashing of one vs the other. I believe Nursing should be of the highest standard of care no matter where one works...I was just trying to find out if there is any preferential treatment at all for applicants coming from a name-brand hospital vs a lesser known one. I have not ventured out enough to find out for myself. I’ve been a nurse for 8 years but sadly don’t have much variety in terms of employers.

Thank you all for your insight! I did like the atmosphere better at the smaller hospital, but as with everything new to me, I tend to overanalyze everything. I don’t have any experience in the other environment which is why I came here. In terms of benefits, etc, I do know which I want, but I wasn’t sure if hospital rankings affected future hiring probability at all. It’s reassuring to see that it is still dependent on the individual and not the past employer name.

Hahaha! That is very reassuring!

I’m curious as to which one you chose?

Oh, by balance I just meant not going home too tired to do anything else. I got lucky that both had openings in the department I want...the lesser known has better benefits and unionized which is why I’m leaning towards it.

Yes, I’ve actually researched on that. My current state is on the top 5 with the highest cost of living and meh nursing salary. I have offers from both a well known hospital (less pay, non union) and a smaller community facility (steady pay increase, union) but I’m trying to see if there is an advantage in choosing the well-known with less benefits over the other. I applied at a unit that will provide me the work-life balance I want at both of them...I’m favoring the lesser known hospital but the thought of not having that “name” to fall back on is a little scary to me...or is this just all in my head and there’s really no advantage to it?

Hi! First of all, I’m sorry you’re going through this. It’s not right for the hospital to transfer you to another unit or schedule when that was not discussed during your interview/not in your offer letter/not in your contract. That being said, maybe it’s not burnout you’re feeling, but more like you just haven’t found your groove yet? When you were in the cardiac ICU on day shift, how did you feel then? If you felt happy and motivated, then maybe it’s just the unit atmosphere...you could try applying at another hospital and do a share day so you see a glimpse of how people interact with each other. If you didn’t like the unit CICU even in the shift you wanted, then maybe you can try another unit? There’s PACU, ambulatory surgery, infusion, home health, etc. lots of options even for new grads. The schedule is entirely dependent on where you work...you could be doing MD clinic nursing - no holidays/on call but you’re there, 8hrs x 5 days a week...Or you could be in an ER with 12 hour shifts x 3 shifts a week with as much as 8 straight days off in between. You have to set your expectations in the reality we live in, you can’t always have it your way. Remember the standard work hours is 40/week. You can also go PRN if you still wanna give bedside a shot but don’t want to be too involved, or there’s case management/utilization review but you’ll be competing with nurses that have patient-care experience. There’s also Informatics...but again, you may not get the schedule you want as they are often standard office hours. It’s easy to say ignore the bullies, it’s absolutely horrible to be in a place like that. Try to reflect if the cause of your stress is nursing in general or just the work place you’re in and go from there.

Hi awesome human beings (aka nurses), I am at a point in my life where I’m looking for more work-life balance than experience. I am currently on a job hunt at states that pay higher than where I’m at. I’ve only worked at teaching/high ranking hospitals since graduating from Nursing school. I’ve heard a lot of other nurses say that these facilities are notorious for not paying well/not treating nurses right because it is a “privilege” to work for them, but since I’ve not been anywhere else, I can’t really compare. That being said, I know that being a great nurse is not dependent on what facility you work for. My question is, is there an advantage in staying employed at a name-brand hospital? Are hiring managers impressed by that at all or does the actual years of experience matter more? Do they look at where one worked last and factor that in deciding whether to hire you or not? I know for education, it’s the idea that “Harvard/Yale/whatever opens doors” that’s why a lot of people aim for them. I’m wondering if it’s the same for hospitals.

Are you required to have been in the department x amount of years even after you’ve completed the minimum number of successful ultrasound sticks before you start PICC training? I guess what I’m asking is how does it get decided when one starts training, by seniority or skill level?

Hi, I recently transferred to a vascular access team and was wondering what other hospitals’ policies are regarding when to start PICC training. My current hospital requires a minimum of 2 years in VAT regardless of previous experience and only day shifters get trained. I’m curious to know if it’s the same in other hospitals. Thank you!

I hear you but I think those cases are generally ok provided they are completed on schedule. They actually gives Phil grads an edge...but California, being the most litigious state is the US, has unreasonably strict standards - which doesn't necessarily equate to high standards. Seriously, California has so many lawyers compared to other states. Tss.

Hi! I was in the same predicament as you a few months ago. I'm pretty sure I am eligible to take the NCLEX in California but decided against it when I learned how long I have to wait. Haha Anyway, I applied in another state and passed the first time (77 questions to boot. Yes, I'm a proud proof that the Philippine Nursing program is competitive). Relocating isn't a problem for me, I didn't want to be out of practice for too long since I know new grads and returning nurses (those who've been out of practice for more than 5 years) are having a hard time getting into hospitals. I've been out of practice for a little more than 1 year so I was in a hurry. So after that, I applied at major hospitals in 4 states, got invited for interviews, went on a multi-state trip, and now I'm relocating to Maryland. So what am I trying to say? Do what you think is right. Don't let all the negative comments get to you. If you're unsure of something, don't rely on hearsay information. I had people tell me my Philippine nursing experience is of no value here, that the gap in my practice is most likely a death sentence, but guess what Hopkins just called (and Loyola and Northwestern and Montefiore and Baylor), and they want me. You left friends, family, and a whole life behind. You might as well make that sacrifice worth it by doing everything you can to get that dream job, wherever that may be. Best of luck to you!

Correct me if I'm wrong but in the US, students are not required to do 5-5-5/3-3-3 cases correct? They're not allowed to be as hands-on. And those cases we're required to have are actually beyond that of the basic nursing program being offered here in the US...so essentially, Phil grads are being deemed ineligible because of something that US-educated nurses are not even required to do?

I see this is an old thread, but I'm glad I found somebody who knows the Philippine Nursing program well. I get miffed whenever I see posters saying our country's curriculum is insufficient, not competitive enough, or not up to par with the US, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TRUE. The problem in the Philippines is that these standards are not strictly implemented BUT there are schools that have taken care of their reputation for a very long time. To post a general statement is unfair and misleading. It breaks my heart when I see comments by US nurses demeaning Filipino nurses based on the hasty generalizations fellow Filipinos post here. I mean come on, we all know which schools are substandard. Why go there anyway?

...As for those who speak in Filipino even when they're in the company of other nationalities...I know it's really disrespectful but in moving to another country, there is some sadness in the loss of language, the sudden uselessness of the mother tongue, so if it's an occasional slip, maybe it would do well to remind them to speak in English within the work premises. Some may be conscious about their accent and grammar LOL (which is a cultural thing: Filipinos that speak and write fairly well are those who were sent to elite schools and those who are gifted enough to qualify in special science high schools/state universities. There's discrimination within the community itself, but that's another topic altogether).

Just to clear things up: the Philippines' 10 year curriculum is the same as in the US/UK, depending on the school. I know because I applied to and was accepted in three ivy league schools after high school and wasn't required to attend two additional years of high school (it was just so expensive, with the tuition and housing and all!). I have former teachers who are now leading a major advancement in the curriculum of some schools in Texas, and what they just recently helped implement there is what these teachers have been doing in the Philippines for 10+ years prior to moving to the US. It's just compressed to 10 years (I have a niece in the Philippines, she's in 3rd grade and what they're studying is the same as what my 5th grade niece is taking up here in California. The 3rd grader can throw hoops around the 5th grader, mind you). Now, the BSN curriculum is also the same, just with additional units for Community Health Nursing, and hands-on practice (deliveries, assists, major and minor OR cases). Even the number of students per instructor (8 to 10) is the same. AND no, the first two years of college is not equivalent to grades 11 and 12. A student in the Philippines, who finished 1st and 2nd year of college can continue his/her studies in the US without having to start over (again, and I have to stress this, provided that that student is from a reputable school). So also no, Philippine BSN is not equal to US LPN. That is the standard. Now, understand this standard is not implemented strictly so only those schools that care about their integrity adhere to this, and only those students who are qualified can enter the program of those specific schools. As a result, we all get to encounter nurses with subpar knowledge and skills, and they **** the hell out of me, too. Don't even get me started on those who fake documents. Now, why are there more Filipinos than other nationalities coming to the US? Because the Philippines was acquired by the US when Madrid sued for peace during the American-Spanish war (RE: Treaty of Paris), but note that as early as the 1800s, there was already a documented presence of Filipinos in the United States (RE: Manila men of Saint Malo village, Louisiana). The Philippines has a long history with the US. If you have time, here is a great article about the history of Filipino immigrants: ASIAN JOURNAL a San Diego original. The 1st Asian Journal in Ca,USA. A Filipino American weekly. Online | Digital | Print Editions. "Since the early pensionados did not experience much prejudice and discrimination, they came back to the Philippines with glowing reports and unrealistic views of mainstream American culture. These false impressions gave false hopes and expectations to the second group of immigrant laborers known as the “manongs” (old timers)." Why do US hospitals hire immigrants rather than homegrowns? Remember the process for work-based visas take years so it might just have been a matter of timing. They were probably hired years ago and were just able to finish the process now. The salary is the same, except maybe for those privately owned nursing homes that hire undocumented workers who, of course, these employers can get away with paying less. Other than that, maybe it has more to do with qualifications? There are Filipinos (and other nationalities) who are just as qualified. After all, there are world-class hospitals in the Philippines, 4 are JCI-accredited (but then there are also the severely poorly-managed ones I'd-rather-die-on-the-side-of-the-road-than-be-treated-in. LOL.). I'm sure there are a lot of skilled American nurses (both my aunts are US-educated nurses) and new grads and it may seem like the immigrants are "taking away" the jobs simply because there are so many competing for it.

True dat :) It really depends on your study style. I tried doing all questions first without bothering to read, didn't work for me. Also if you did self-study before, maybe you could try attending classes this time? I didn't use Kaplan and passed on my first take but everybody else I know recommended Kaplan. If you have the budget, go for it.

I used Saunders (the yellow one, 5th edition I think) and PDA 3rd edition online. For the practice tests, I used the Lippincott's app (it's free), and the accompanying CD of the Saunders book. For topics that I want to have a more thorough understanding of, I watched some of Michael Linares' videos on youtube. I'm really lazy when it comes to studying that I only did about 10-25 questions per day. Some days I'd only use flashcards and didn't do practice tests at all LOL. I did read the Saunders book cover to cover but not consistently. I only read when I was in the mood, it felt useless to force myself to study - I end up not remembering a thing anyway. I didn't study as intensely as others did, with lots of books and all, but I did make sure to understand what I was reading. I heard a lot of good things about Kaplan but I didn't have the budget. I went to the testing center really nervous, I've been out of school for several years and the last serious test I took was the local boards back in 2008, but I psyched myself to think that I'm going to kill this test. I felt so frustrated when I reached the 76th question (I conditioned myself to finish at 75. LOL), almost cried when I reached the 77th. And then the screen went blank. I got mostly prioritization questions, and for those I just had to think who'd most likely die if an intervention isn't done. For the SATA questions I made sure to reach the question twice or thrice before answering, and then once again before submitting my answers because I tend to be careless. I sometimes unintentionally ignore parts of the questions that goes like "which one does NOT belong" or "which one would you NOT advice".

Got my years of experience already. There are only a handful from my batch who are still there. Some left even before we finished our 2-year contract, and most were already abroad by the time we hit the 3-year mark.

Not anymore :) I just left. I think the one who could answer that is the training dept. or whoever evaluates your performance