Sorry that I have to be so blunt about this issue

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There are many of you that wish to come to the US. That we can all agree on. But the fashion that some of you are doing it in; is quite frightening. And I should say, intolerable.

1. When you sign a letter of intent, it is the same as signing the contract. It is an agreement, and you agree to abide by it.

2. Do not accept an offer, if you are just planning to continue shopping for something better. You have then taken away a position for someone else that may have wanted it. At least until you have officially declined it.

3. Some of you are coming to the US with the idea of buying your contract out right away. Don't do it. If you do not like the contract, do not sign it.

4. Contracts are legally binding. Unless the agency or facility were terrible or did not have work for you, just to back out because you got a better offer is just not acceptable. Adn you have to have just reasons for a contract to be cancelled, not just because you found something better, but real reasons.

5. There are actually hospitals that will not petition for Filipinos right now, because of contract cancelling, etc. And this is right in California.

6. No one is going to buy you out of your contract for $20,000, so please get that idea our of your head. just more empty promises that someone is making.

7. If you decide to try and be sneaky about things, it will only come back to bite you, and you will find issues of even being able to keep your job. And remember that if you get fired, you will be responsible for paying out the cancellation clause of your contract. No way around that.

Sorry to have to be so candid, but I am seeing more of this everyday, and I am not happy with it.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

We've been seeing some of this in KY. They start out here and get their license, training, etc. and then move to CA or FL. Which sucks, because most of them are great nurses.

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somebody's got to say it anyway and i'm glad it came from you... people can be so obsessed with themselves and their own plans they forget how it is to be decent. it was even mild for you to put it as "intolerable" when all this behavior is nothing short of shameful...

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Suzanne, do not apologise for being blunt. You are right to say these things. As a foreign nurse myself coming to the US, I agree with all you have said. There is absolutely no reason or excuse for anyone to try to 'cut corners' to get to the US. You know my story and I am living proof that foreign nurses can come to the US with a contract which both parties (nurse and employer) are happy with. It is a major life-changing decision, and to "use" a petitioner as a "ticket" just to get a foot on US soil is foolhardy to say the least. I think I can read between the lines what you are saying, there is another nursing forum (you know the one ;) ) where some foreign nurses blatantly admit to abusing the system and then become quite aggressive when their motives are challenged. I have to say though, I believe my fellow UK nurses follow correct procedures and act with integrity and courtesy, and for that we appear to be received with respect and friendship by our US counterparts. Thank you Suzanne for all you do to help us :icon_hug:

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I agree with Letina. Thank you Suzanne for all your advices, help, and patience.

Just want to add my two cents on this topic for my fellow Filipinos:

It's fine to go around and look for offers, whether it be thru agency or otherwise. Just don't sign anything that you can't commit. If you have a little bit of doubt or 2nd thoughts - don't sign. If you want to look for other offers then do so, as long as you haven't sign any thing yet.

In my opinion, it's better to delay yourself a couple of months just to find the right employer for one's self. A reliable, honest, and competent employer whether it be thru agency or a direct recuiter is very much worth-while finding even if it means delaying yourself on signing anything for the mean time.

Also, I personally think that if you are an honest, reliable, and sincere person then you would also look for a recruiter with the same qualities. Likewise, if you think you are a quality applicant then you would also look for a quality or the best employer for yourself.

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Specializes in awaiting for Schedule A visa...

Thank you for this advice. As a prospective future US RN, there are many agencies who are trying to convince to sign in their contracts but I always refuse. I don't want to bind myself to a contract that later will give me headaches.

As much as possible, I want to do it myself. I will spend for it thinking that it is a sort of investment. I will pay for my own NCLEX and IELTS, and if I pass both of these, I will pay for my own Visa Screen.

Hopefully, I don't need to sign a "one-sided contract" once I get into this bargainable position.

Whew....so much to say....but easily said than done....let's wait and see....

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It doesn't matter if one signs a contract or not, that is not the issue. But living up to the contract is the issue. There are too many that are coming over here with the idea that they are just going to walk away from it after they get here, and that is wrong. Because they get a better offer.

Please to all of you, unless your physical seafet is at issue: Do not do this.

If so, and it continues, it will become quite hard for any Filipinos to get decent placements.

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Work over here is going to be different. Period.

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Well said, suzanne4! I agree with nrswnabee.. it's shameful.

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Specializes in awaiting for Schedule A visa...

Well, I've seen four or five contracts being offered here in the Philippines.....in my own opinion, not one is worthy of being signed for one single reason - all of them are "one-sided" in favor of the agency. Specific clause that puts Filipino Nurses into a bad position is the one that says you have to pay certain amount of money (up to 30K US$) to withdraw from the contract.

I have not seen a clause that allows the nurse to withdraw from the contract if the agency is not helping him/her at all in processing his/her papers.

I have not seen a clause that automatically makes the contract "expired" once the nurse is not able to pass NCLEX or CGFNS and Englist Test(s) in two years period. This clause is favorable to both parties.

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I have to say though, I believe my fellow UK nurses follow correct procedures and act with integrity and courtesy, and for that we appear to be received with respect and friendship by our US counterparts. Thank you Suzanne for all you do to help us :icon_hug:

Letina, i agree with your point but lets not make this thing a racial thing.....my wife and I were befriended by 2 UK nurses and 1 Irish nurse that we met at the Advance Job Fair in NYC 2 weeks ago and they all told us that they would be jumping ship to another hospital in Nevada because of the signing bonus the hospital would be giving them even without finishing their contracts here in NY....

peace :balloons:

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Letina, i agree with your point but lets not make this thing a racial thing.....my wife and I were befriended by 2 UK nurses and 1 Irish nurse that we met at the Advance Job Fair in NYC 2 weeks ago and they all told us that they would be jumping ship to another hospital in Nevada because of the signing bonus the hospital would be giving them even without finishing their contracts here in NY....

peace :balloons:

Oh my goodness! Please.....this was never meant to imply racism :no: However, when I re-read my post, I can see why it may have come across that way. I guess what I was trying to say was that the only 'foreign' nurses I know are UK nurses, and I can only speak of our (UK) experiences.

And shame on those you mention who will be deliberately jumping ship without finishing out their contracts, their greed will (and should) come back to bite them :o

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Oh my goodness! Please.....this was never meant to imply racism :no: However, when I re-read my post, I can see why it may have come across that way. I guess what I was trying to say was that the only 'foreign' nurses I know are UK nurses, and I can only speak of our (UK) experiences.

And shame on those you mention who will be deliberately jumping ship without finishing out their contracts, their greed will (and should) come back to bite them :o

i agree with you Letina....God bless to all of us and SHAME to those who jump ship without honoring their contracts ;)

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