PNA vs institutionalizing practical nursing program
By Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 20:14:00 06/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) on Wednesday declared its opposition to the proposal of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to "ladderize" the nursing curriculum to institutionalize the practical nursing course Wednesday.
At the same time, the PNA called on schools offering practical nursing to be "honest" and not "mislead" prospective students into believing there is a high demand for practical nurses abroad when there is none.
I realized that there is a problem with the Commission on Higher Education (ChEd). First, they cannot close down low performing nursing schools and now they plan to ladderize the LPN program. Are they stupid? The LPN program should be abolish. They are misleading LPNs in their career.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi ,
thank you for your reply . So , you mean it's okay to study lpn - lvn here in cebu . Actually i talked to uha caregiver school in mandaue cebu , they are also offering lpn course , it's a 12 month program and 400 hours training in an affliated hospital , the school says that their lpn program , is base on new jersey curriculum . After completing the program , i can go back to us and take the nclex -pn . I think it's okay ? Right ? What do you think ? Thank you .
You need to check with the state that it is acceptable as it would be a shame to spend time and money doing the course if it isn't acceptable in the US and you can't sit the exam. I would also suggest you check out and see what sort of jobs are available for you as a LPN in the US as many LPN's find they can not work in hospitals and really struggle to find work
There are no NLN approved programs in the Philippines. When someone refers to an "accredited" program this is where they will be listed. In the US there are "state" approved programs but many employers will not hire unless the you are nln approved.
LPN are mainly employed in skilled nursing homes, as far as I am aware there are no nursing homes in the Philippines, there for you can't be getting the same clinical experience as in the USA.
There are no NLN approved programs in the Philippines.
This is completely false.
The programs I refer to in the Philippines are programs established as satellite colleges of US schools.
One for example is Genlor Training and Development Center. It is set up as a partnered program with Seattle Central Community College in Seattle, WA. The education and training comes directly from Seattle Central; hence the program is 12 month instead of 2-year like some of the other programs.
There are a few legitimate programs which are similarly constructed by establishing a satellite campus in the Philippines, therefore the NLN accreditation is with the original school.
Your statement about LPN experience, on the other hand, is accurate. There are precious few care homes in the Philippines so LPNs are placed in hospitals and the experience they receive is very different than what they would get in the USA and would be incompatible with the expected work experience of an LPN/LVN in the USA.
Most of these LPN graduates end up going to neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia to work in care facilities while others get experience in Arab Peninsula nations. Those nurses will get the same type of LPN experience that a US LPN/LVN would receive since most of these facilities are, in fact, established by US hospitals or care networks.
my fiance enrolled in kennedy global school of business, inc. davao. four weeks from graduation i contacted our board of nursing. kennedy global is proud to show it's registration from tesda, but they do not even hold accreditation with them or ched. all of their advertising proclaims that it is the answer to the u.s. nursing shortage. my fiance and one or two classmates are the lucky ones. they have a different way. this is the answer we received from the arkansas state board of nursing:
norilyn,
i am sorry but we do not recognize kennedy global school of practical nursing since it is not accredited by the philippine commission on higher education or are the graduates licensed by the official philippine professional regulation commission.
you would not be able to take the nlcex for ar or endorse a license into the state.
calvina thomas rn, phd
asbn coordinator
501-686-2786
and i think of all the families that have sacrificed everything they have to put a family member through this course thinking that it will improve their way of life. hoping for a better future. only to realize their money was stolen from them. educational institutes have an under-lying fundamental responsibility to guide students in the pursuit of their goals. this school guided it's students to the benefit of their own bank accounts. totally not u.s. based course curriculum, as they claimed. we are heart-broken over this. now my fiance will have to start all over when she is here. as if she received no education. and they are still enrolling students!!!!! what gives??
That problem boils down to a fundamental misunderstanding on the part of the Board of Nursing with regard to how schools are licensed in the Philippines.
LPN programs cannot be accredited or licensed by CHED because the CHED limitations specify that they only oversee 4-year programs.
Anything less than 2 years is covered by TESDA as it is classified as a vocational training and education program rather than a higher education program. There is no way for a 2-year course to be certified under CHED. It won't happen.
In order to avoid this, you need to make sure that an LPN school is directly connected with a school in the USA. Spend the time and money to CALL THE US SCHOOL AND CONFIRM THIS!
Of course; my advice is to take the extra two years of study at a good school and get your BSN.
Finding any employer willing to sponsor a foreign LPN is like finding a specific fish in the whole ocean. I won't say it is impossible.. but it's damn unlikely.
No, the fundamental problem is that these diploma mills know what the problem is and continues. KGS claims it's curriculum is based on U.S. curriculum. Here in the U.S. we believe it is the educator's responsibility to guide their students in their educational goals. They need to advise the students that this course will not open any doors for them. But they advise the students to the benefit of the schools bottom line. And it is Filipino preying on Filipino!!!! This is very sad to me. There is no problem licensing Filipino nurses in the U.S. As you say, bypass the "PN" course, go for RN at a recognized school. There are plenty that are recognized. My fiance will be alright. She will have to redo all of her schooling here in the U.S., but my family is well connected in the medical field. She wanted to do this on her own, but..... Live and learn, right? Thank-you for your advice.
I wish they ask these other countries to accept "volunteer" programs to be accepted as real job experience.
Some countries do as long as it can be proven that the volunteer and training experience had you in complete responsibility for the patient and that you were at an acute care setting.
It takes some effort but it can be done.
In the case of the USA it is up to each individual employer as to whether or not they will accept it. I have spoken to some employers who have been to the Philippines and understand the situation. They are willing to accept for certain hospitals and certain criteria but it is still on a case by case basis.
It would be a good idea if the pn program is affiliated to any schools in the US or if they can help students get a job outside the Philippines. Some people who graduated from these programs especially from PPTS Davao are now working in countries like UK, New Zealand, etc.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
It would be a good idea if the pn program is affiliated to any schools in the US or if they can help students get a job outside the Philippines. Some people who graduated from these programs especially from PPTS Davao are now working in countries like UK, New Zealand, etc.
Why? when PN doesn't meet US immigration requirements and PN (EN) hasn't been trained in the UK for several years and the NMC will not accept anyone with less than 3 years of training and must be RN therefore they can't be working as a nurse in the UK
I agree that the chances of local (Philippines) residence to get a U.S. visa as LPN grad is NADA! Nothing! Somehow this program is good or recommended for those U.S. citizens like me or those about to leave for the U.S. For examples those with pending VISA, fiancee visa etc. Why waiting for such visas from the embassy, you might just as well take the opportunity to study to enhance your chances of getting a job in the U.S once you arrive. So I will say that practical nursing school in the Philippines are not all that bad. It just gave the likes of me that is already in the U.S. a chance for a new life.
Silverdragon102, BSN
1 Article; 39,477 Posts
You need to check with the state that it is acceptable as it would be a shame to spend time and money doing the course if it isn't acceptable in the US and you can't sit the exam. I would also suggest you check out and see what sort of jobs are available for you as a LPN in the US as many LPN's find they can not work in hospitals and really struggle to find work