Returning to the Phiippines to get there BSN

dishes, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2009

A BSN from the Philippines is generally not considered equivalent to a BSN from North America. In the Philippines many students start their nursing education while they are still in high school; however in North America, students can only start their BSN after completing high school.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 11, 2009

A BSN from the Philippines is generally not considered equivalent to a BSN from North America. In the Philippines many students start their nursing education while they are still in high school; however in North America, students can only start their BSN after completing high school.

Not really true. Students accepted to BSN programs in the Philippines are required to have received a High School Diploma prior to admission. They do not start the BSN program while they are still in High School. However, elementary and secondary education in the Philippines is shorter in duration compared to how it is in the US. Elementary education covers Grades 1-6 (Grade 1-7 in some private schools) and High School covers Year I-IV. With approximately ten to eleven years of elementary and high school (and not having a "middle school"), Filipino students typically enter college at age 16 or 17. By age 20 or 21, they would have completed a four-year degree in a university or college. It is also common for students to enter college right after High School graduation.

Graduates of BSN programs in the Philippines are eligible to sit for the NCLEX and receive licensure in all 50 states. State to state rules vary considerably with some requiring a course by course evaluation of the Philippine BSN program, a Philippine RN License, etc. I wouldn't hazard to say that the Philippine BSN is an exact copy of the BSN in the US but the fact that graduates of programs there are eligible to be RN's in the US is a statement that the programs in the Philippines are regarded as "adequate" for training as an RN in the US.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 11, 2009

np gilly, i like your avatar!! anyway, i think you may be correct about being able to sit for the nclex post bsn from the philippines. i know of people from other european countries that were able to do so. however, i have a friend who attended a university and received a bsn in europe who had to return to america and receive another bsn from one of our universities because her bsn was treated like an american adn. of course, i have no idea if this will be the case for a bsn from the philippines. what do you think?? you sound like you may have experience that will assist the op with making his/her decision.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 11, 2009

Thanks, MBARN08. My BSN is from a university in the Philippines. I have been licensed in the US since 1995 and have a Master's degree from a state university here in the US.

To the OP:

Foreign BSN degrees are assessed by each BON on a case-to-case basis. Graduates of Philippine nursing programs generally have no problems getting eligibility to sit for the NCLEX but there are other requirements imposed on them that are not required of those who have finished a degree in the US. Many states require a coure-by-course evaluation of the foreign program, test of English (if degree is from non-English speaking country and/or if program was not taught using the English language), and a current RN License in the country of origin.

Studying in the Philippines is definitely an option but there are cautions you must be aware of:

1. You will be considered a graduate of a foreign nursing program forever. That means that there will be additional requirements you will need to submit to the BON before you receive eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN. This will be true even when you are already licensed in one state and just endorsing your current RN license to another state.

2. You will need to ensure that whichever program you choose to attend maintains acceptable and consistent passing rates in the nurse licensure exam in the Philippines. There is a wide variation in the quality of nursing programs in the Philippines - some are excellent and have consistently produced graduates who have no trouble passing the licensure exam for nurses there and yet some schools have passing rates below 50%.

3. You'll have to post in the Philippine forum to find out how long it will take you to finish your degree if you already have a previous Bachelor's in another field. There are very few accelerated BSN options there and many are not in reputable institutions unlike here in the US where most states have at least a handful of accelerated BSN programs for those with non-nursing Bachelor's degrees that can take anywhere from 12-18 months to complete and are in reputable colleges and universities.

Rook · Sep 12, 2009

Just wondering why do you have to go to the Phillipinnes to get a BSN? No student loans and from what I hear from my co-workers tuition is in the 2K-4K range which isn't exactly cheap.