State of Nursing Education in the Philippines

suzanne4, RN · Jun 12, 2007

It still has nothing to do with just the CIR. But more towards the programs that are popping up around PI like little mice. Most have no idea of anything about nursing, what in the world does an IT school have to do with nursing. These are things that all of you need to take up with your government. The training of the nurses there should be a high priority and schools not permitted to open because they paid an official off. And then add in the number that are now taking up nursing as a means to get to the US the quickest that never would have touched nursing if it would not help them get to the US.

You cannot tell me that judges, attorneys, etc. have a new calling and they truly want to help people in this way. Just is not going to happen. They will be out of nursing as soon as they get their green card, and this is not the way that is should be.

What you need to all realize, is that there are many nurses from many other countries that have completed a real nursing program and have years of experience in their country and wish to work in the US. And there is no reason why nurses from PI should be under the belief that they are better than the others that have proved themselves over and over again. The excellent reputation of the nurses from the Philippines was created by the nurses that came over here years ago, not the same is being said about the new grads out of there. And when I hear from a newbie from there that everyone wants them because they are a Filipina, sorry, but it makes me sick. Theyhave not proved themselves in one way or another at all. Passing of the NCLEX exam does not make a nurse. Skills and what you can do with them does.

Perhaps they will go to a skill test like they do with the physicians.......could be a very good thing. And test them on different nursing procedures, and what they would do in a certain situation. More in depth than the NCLEX exam by far. How them would many of you fair in that situation?

Sorry to sound like this, but you need to hear all of it from the other side as well.

aeonflux14 · Jun 12, 2007

I just hope that parents who are persuading their daughters/sons to take up nursing will be enlightened on the status of nurses here in PI. Its a sad thing that some of them see nursing as a dollar sign.

mpineda10 · Jun 12, 2007

hi suzanne 4 this is directly quoted from you:

The excellent reputation of the nurses from the Philippines was created by the nurses that came over here years ago,not the same is being said about the new grads out of there.

--sure this is true, but who says that the new graduates from the PI has less skills than the previous generations, I PERSONALLY work with new grads from the PI and it makes no difference, their skills are up to par--- i BELIEVE YOU ARE GENERALIZING HERE.

And when I hear from a newbie from there that everyone wants them because they are a Filipina, sorry, but it makes me sick. Theyhave not proved themselves in one way or another at all. Passing of the NCLEX exam does not make a nurse. Skills and what you can do with them does.

-- Again, i believe this is a big misunderstanding PERHAPS on your PART, some NURSES maybe arrogant, but again this does not go for all FILIPINOS/FILIPINAS coming from PI--and sure some maybe lacking skills to work as a nurse in this country, but for you to pass judgement seems alittle harsh, and suzanne i have to ask you, WHY DOES IT MAKE YOU SICK, IF YOU HEAR A PERSON FOM THE PI SAYING THAT THEY ARE WANTED??

Perhaps you should explain yourself, it seems you are GENRALIZING, especially about the nurses from the PI-- im pretty sure that it goes for all countries, not just the PI that the training for nurses are not the same as that of the USA. It seems to me everytime i hear you talking BADLY about nurses, it is from PI, not from China, India, Pakistan or anywhere from Europe, and just specifically about the nurses from PI

so pease if you can enlighten me about this i would be so grateful, I understand youve been around for a long time, much longer than i have been, but it seems the above comments were HARSH, and the people you have offended deserve an appology.

IF I HAVE WRONGED YOU I APPOLOGIZE, i just want to clear up some underlying issues that i have observed since joining this website. thank you for your time.

mpineda10 · Jun 12, 2007

I just hope that parents who are persuading their daughters/sons to take up nursing will be enlightened on the status of nurses here in PI. Its a sad thing that some of them see nursing as a dollar sign.

hey aeonflux-- let me ask you something, are you from america?--i mean did you go to school here?-- if not why are you talking badly about people from PI-- if you graduted from the PI-- why did you come over here?-- is it not also for the money? the luxuries of of America? or whatever the reason is, you left PI...

so lets not be so harsh with our comments.

BTW i STUDIED HERE..in AMERICA, and yes i am from the PI

Nurse!Nurse!Hello? · Jun 12, 2007

The excellent reputation of the nurses from the Philippines was created by the nurses that came over here years ago,not the same is being said about the new grads out of there.

**************

I totally agree with the above comment, and I am glad someone has the guts to say it! I have worked with many Filipino nurses, and I have noticed that many of the new grads are ill-prepared for real-world nursing. What has happened to quality nursing education in the Philippines? It used to be that nurses went into nursing because they wanted to make a difference in the lives of their patients. From what I read on these boards, it seems like nursing has simply become an easy way to get out of a poor third-world country: love of money, not love of nursing.

And you think the rest of the world doesn't notice? "Nurses" so desperate to get out of their countries that they cheat on nursing exams? "Nursing schools" that pop up out of nowhere to rush people through school like it's an assembly line? Believe me, I am not the only US nurse that has noticed the declining quality of nurses coming from the Philippines. It's sad.

RNGrad2006 · Jun 13, 2007

Does this have to do anything with Immigration news and updates?Posts not related should be moved and be given their respective titles so that people concerned can relate to it properly.Moderators should know better.

Point well taken. I feel the same way at times and read this site daily for news and information from those that are able to decipher what is going on in the news. On the immigration note my family has made a lot of sacrifices and we are anxious to see an end to the retrogression. It seems the government is pretty determined in passing CIR. I am really worried what this will mean for nurses. The more I read about it the more worried I become. I read somewhere today that Visas for parents of U.S. citizens would be capped annually at 40,000 and those for spouses and children at 87,000". I am not sure if that would mean that my family would have to leave the US when we are able to apply and wait for Visas if only the primary is given a Visa, or if that would just mean a further delay for all of us since dependents are limited. Currently we are in a holding pattern and can't visit our families and I have an ailing father who I have not seem for quite some time. I am hoping we will know soon if an end of retrogression is in sight.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 13, 2007

hi suzanne 4 this is directly quoted from you:
The excellent reputation of the nurses from the Philippines was created by the nurses that came over here years ago,not the same is being said about the new grads out of there.
--sure this is true, but who says that the new graduates from the PI has less skills than the previous generations, I PERSONALLY work with new grads from the PI and it makes no difference, their skills are up to par--- i BELIEVE YOU ARE GENERALIZING HERE.
And when I hear from a newbie from there that everyone wants them because they are a Filipina, sorry, but it makes me sick. Theyhave not proved themselves in one way or another at all. Passing of the NCLEX exam does not make a nurse. Skills and what you can do with them does.
-- Again, i believe this is a big misunderstanding PERHAPS on your PART, some NURSES maybe arrogant, but again this does not go for all FILIPINOS/FILIPINAS coming from PI--and sure some maybe lacking skills to work as a nurse in this country, but for you to pass judgement seems alittle harsh, and suzanne i have to ask you, WHY DOES IT MAKE YOU SICK, IF YOU HEAR A PERSON FOM THE PI SAYING THAT THEY ARE WANTED??
Perhaps you should explain yourself, it seems you are GENRALIZING, especially about the nurses from the PI-- im pretty sure that it goes for all countries, not just the PI that the training for nurses are not the same as that of the USA. It seems to me everytime i hear you talking BADLY about nurses, it is from PI, not from China, India, Pakistan or anywhere from Europe, and just specifically about the nurses from PI
so pease if you can enlighten me about this i would be so grateful, I understand youve been around for a long time, much longer than i have been, but it seems the above comments were HARSH, and the people you have offended deserve an appology.
IF I HAVE WRONGED YOU I APPOLOGIZE, i just want to clear up some underlying issues that i have observed since joining this website. thank you for your time.

Sorry, but I have been in contact with nurses from all over PI for sometime, and what I have stated above has happened quite frequently to me and observed by me on this forum as well as in pms and e-mails sent to me. You are not in the US at this time, and there is actually a big issue with nurses that have trained in PI in the last two years or so of getting petitioned by hospitals here. And we are seeing this even more so in the CA area right now. There are very few hospitals now in the LA area that will petition a nurse from there, especially with the issues of the clinical training over there at this time. You may not be aware of what is happening, and I probably know more about specific programs there than do many of you. As well as their teaching capabilities, as well as the clinical experience of their instructors. I make it my business to be very up to date on everything going on over there.

You are free to have you own opinions, but when I am now seeing nurses from PI fired for their lack of skills, etc. And have seen 6 plus just in the LA area in the past six months or so, hospitals are backing down. I have also been to meetings with the Human Resource officers of many of the facilities in CA and this is what they are saying. I do not make up these things without having something to back me up.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 13, 2007

There is definitely no apology that I owe to anyone for what I have posted. I do have years of experience working in the US to back me up. and have seen the decrease in the skills of the nurses coming from PI of late.

There actually is a thread on this very same topic on the Philippine Forum, and I suggest that you look for it and read it. And you will find many from your country backing up what I have said. It is you that does not have the full information.

And to take it one step further: I am very tired of hearing that someone must work in the US, that they were destined to be a nurse in the US from your country. And yet they complain about how immigration does things here, why this is done and something is not done. But the focus should be on what they offer the US if they would come here, how they could make things better if they came for others.

And a better question yet for you: Knowing what you do know, would you feel comfortable with a new grad from your country caring for a critically ill family member of yours with only three days of orientation in a facility, and they never learned any clinical skills in your country? Or caring for you? I should hope not, but that is what is happening when someone comes here and never had the skill set that they should have had before they gradauted.

What about the people that have cheated to get the required five documented deliveries so that they could turn in their papers so that they could take the NLE, but never delivered one baby? The information was bought and paid for. We are not dumb here and are very aware of what is going on there, as well as the hospitals that it has been happening at.

I have information to back up everything that I have posted. You can't make up things like that.

rkm · Jun 13, 2007

there is definitely no apology that i owe to anyone for what i have posted. i do have years of experience working in the us to back me up. and have seen the decrease in the skills of the nurses coming from pi of late.
and to take it one step further: i am very tired of hearing that someone must work in the us, that they were destined to be a nurse in the us from your country. and yet they complain about how immigration does things here, why this is done and something is not done. but the focus should be on what they offer the us if they would come here, how they could make things better if they came for others.
what about the people that have cheated to get the required five documented deliveries so that they could turn in their papers so that they could take the nle, but never delivered one baby? the information was bought and paid for. we are not dumb here and are very aware of what is going on there, as well as the hospitals that it has been happening at.
i have information to back up everything that i have posted. you can't make up things like that.

it is unfortunate that many ambitious nursing students (and their parents pushing them) seem to think that the us is the final destination. there's a lot of luck involved, but mostly if there are enough visas (which there are scarcely enough to go around) available.

it's really amazing just how many babies those 78,000 test takers this june must have delivered to get their clinical experience (78,000 students x 5 babies; 5 major ors; 5 minor ors; etc.), and that does not include those taking the december exams.

somebody once stated on this forum that the situation in the pi was getting out of hand, and that a demand is being created or hyped by businessmen where none actually exists. it is up to those who took their chances of applying in the us to believe the shaky idea that their ultimate goal is the us, or whether to take a more pragmatic and realistic (if sad) view that you can't always get what you want :nono: , and waiting (in desperation and anxiety) may not even be enough. so looking at other options, as susan opined is indeed worthwhile.

patience is a virtue...... :lol2:

YAJRN · Jun 13, 2007

I think this thread needs to be close because it doesn't do much any good to both sides. I mean we could also broke the moral of these younger generation nurses.

In democracy, every people has this chance of improving himself. It's up to them if they will settle for less or more. In the PI too much is very disastrous. Once again prodding nursing related establishments like schools and review centers that are out of touch must be regulated and check. PI has this big chance to improve but our civic core groups ae weaker in the essence that most of our countryment are passive.

A strong civic group that chooses to be vigilant on all ill forms of the society must be vibrant in the PI. I'm just frustrated the way the majority percieve a civic organizations to that of communists. Thus, bad elements in the government are all laughing out loud because nobody wants to be active in joining or sponsoring civic organizations that will steward the cause of the many. I say education and education still saves many of us.

This Nursing phenomenon will die down as another item would become a craze for another generation.

Our sentiments were all aired already. Cheating is man's instinct to survive but we must not tolerate it because we nurses are dealing with lives. Many ideas in this forum can't come out in the open. I hope that by reading, would enlightened each one's mind about the sad state of our health system.

Let's take a break ... contemplate on what we had added fire on this thread.

I move to close this thread for the record that it is out of the topic though its has meat but its hurting one another.

Agree. I move to close this. Lets move forward. Accept the truth its really there we can't say we have to kill them all. But understanding and patience must prevail. No more enviness please for the betterment of this forum.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 13, 2007

it is unfortunate that many ambitious nursing students (and their parents pushing them) seem to think that the us is the final destination. there's a lot of luck involved, but mostly if there are enough visas (which there are scarcely enough to go around) available.
it's really amazing just how many babies those 78,000 test takers this june must have delivered to get their clinical experience (78,000 students x 5 babies; 5 major ors; 5 minor ors; etc.), and that does not include those taking the december exams.
somebody once stated on this forum that the situation in the pi was getting out of hand, and that a demand is being created or hyped by businessmen where none actually exists. it is up to those who took their chances of applying in the us to believe the shaky idea that their ultimate goal is the us, or whether to take a more pragmatic and realistic (if sad) view that you can't always get what you want , and waiting (in desperation and anxiety) may not even be enough. so looking at other options, as susan opined is indeed worthwhile.
patience is a virtue......

thank you for posting that. and if i am aware of what is happening there, then many others are as well.

instead of wishing that this thread be closed to bury what is happening, it should cause many of you to want to get pro-active and get the nursing back to where it used to be there, not to where it has gone today.

and yes, the money hungry businessmen that do not know a thing about nursing and the policiticians that have been bought off to approve things should be held accountable.

and it is not that i am picking on those from pi, but that is where the biggest problems are occuring. when you have 15 to 18 students per patient, how in the world are you going to get the skills that you need?

another question? why in the world has your government approved lpn programs there? your own country does not even have jobs for those that went thru that program and does not recognize the training there, and the other countries do not accept it for a visa to work, so it is useless to go thru that. yet we still see people that are enrolling because they are being lied to by these schools. the only way that you will see any of them in the us working legally is if they already have a green card or are a us cirizen. without either of those, useless.

and for any of you that get a job offer with that degree from an agency, please be aware that you will be entering the us on an illegal visa as unskilled labor and that is immigration fraud and you are subject to deportation.

and until things get fixed in your country, i am going to continue to voice my concerns, the same thing that you should be doing.