Study in the Philippines or U.S.A?

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Apr 14, 2011

Check the passing rates of International Educated Nurses, while US educated nurses enjoy a first time pass rate between high 80's low 90's% , IEN are going down every year of mid to high 30's%. Years ago nursing education seemed transferable between countries but now it seems the difference are getting more significant. This mean most fail, about 60%.

The fact your GPA is low is a predictor that you will have trouble with the Nursing courses which are harder. US Schools try to admit students who will succeed. Believe it or not $100K is the norm for a US degree. You would find it very challenging considering your English grade was borderline.

Why not apply to a Practical Nurse Program, it will allow you to gain study skills and then you can apply for an Bridge Program. You will need to maintain a B average usually for admission. Also I would suggest you take a course to increase your study skills, otherwise wherever you go to school you will struggle. I would try and retake the courses, and get a better grade, I would also use the tutoring services the college has.

I always recommend students in healthcare study is the country you wish to practice. You will have a much more difficult time getting permission to sit for the NCLEX being schooled outside the USA. You will always be considered a foreign grad. When applying for a position you will have to explain why you did not go to school in the USA.

goseiba · May 3, 2011

Studying in America is very hard and very expensive I will explain that in a little bit. Community colleges is cheap but here is the catch, you need to have a very high GPA, even you have a minimum GPA it doesn't guarantee that you are going to be in the program. Therefore, you have to boost your grade in to a cumlaude level to get a secure position into the position or if you are lucky enough you will be picked in a lottery basis or be in a waiting list forever. However, once you are in the program it doesn't it mean its going to be easy it will be harder and harder until you graduate. Repeating classes to boost your GPA that's how they make money from you.

Now I'm going to talk about small private nursing school. These schools are easy to get in to the program if you meet their minimum GPA requirement beacuse they are really not popular as community colleges or universities. However, they are expensive 3X the amout of you are paying in community colleges. Since private colleges sometimes have a small group of students who attend their school you will get in the program in an instant, but it is often hard to stay in the program. Let say a B- is the minimum requirement to pass for all nursing classes it sound easy right? Trust me it is very hard to obtain a B- grade.

You will have no life when you are doing this program because you have to study all the time.

Philippines. You need to find a very good school for nursing. Studying in the Philippines you need at least $8,000-$10,000 in order pay for the entire 5 or 4 years of college for BACHELOR degree how can you beat that? Take note this is only for college fees not including your expenses in the Philippines such house/dorms ($100) a month, food ($5-$10) a day and other expensess. After you graduate there are review centers that will prepare you for your nclex exam. Just check the school you intend to go for their reqirements. Once you start their major which is the nursing class I heard it is intens too but not as bad in US. Just keep in mind it is in your hand if you will study hard in the Philippine you will have no difficulty passing your nclex here in america. But if you don't do what you supposed to do you may graduate in the Philippines but you will not pass the NCLEX in the US. Just go hard core when you start on studying in nursing classes because that is the key for passing the nclex.

Let me know where you going to school because my brother will be stuying in the Philippines too maybe next year and maybe you and him could go to a college.

rninmyheart · May 3, 2011

goseiba, is your brother decided to study nursing in philippines. i just got back from philippines and decided to study nursing in cavite. took test, physical exam and came back to work and save extra money for june. due to financial difficulty, i decided to study in cavite, philippines. i'm a second courser too, but it will take me 4 years because my previous degree was marketing only the minors subjects has been credited. but it's okey. i will be studying with my sisters too. i've been thinking about this for almost 4 years and now my son is grown (9 yr old), i can pursue my nursing dream there. i do believed that as long as i study hard, i will pass the nclex avoid college party and etc.

luisacart · May 3, 2011

I have the same dilemma. The waiting lists in all the affordable schools here in Jacksonville, FL are too long. Some students wait 2-3 years so get into the nursing program. I am wrapping up my AA this summer and currently school shopping so I can start the RN program in the fall. The private colleges average tuition fee (those that I've gone too) for the RN program is b/n $30k-$40k. Even with financial aid and a stafford loan, I'm not gonna be able to pay that much. My parents suggested that I go back (been living in the US for 6 years now) to the Philippines to study Nursing.

Ginger's Mom has a valid point though. If I go back to study in the Philippines, I want to make sure that when I return, I'm prepared to take the board exam, or moving there for a couple of years wouldn't have served its purpose. Are there any Filipino-American nurses here who had gone back to the Philippines to finish their degree there, and was perfectly fine when they came back? I suppose the passing rate would depend on which school you go to. How competitive are the "good" schools there?

I would live in Baguio. Anyone know of any good schools in Benguet? ty in advance!

cebuana_nurse · May 3, 2011

I agree with above posts. It's not easy to be in nursing school here in the US. Being a foreign grad, sitting in the NCLEX was nerve wracking as well as the processing took forever. If you go to the Philippines, there's no question of you getting into nursing school, but they have to transcribe all your credentials to match the Philippine curriculum and the colleges there could care less about your grades. All they need is you able to afford it. If you stay here in the US, and try to get into an LPN program, it would be easier and at the same time give you an ample time to rehash your skills and get better grades.

My opinion, stay here in the US. It's easier and hassle-free. All you need are good grades, so strive harder.

Good Luck! =D

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · May 4, 2011

Unless you are US citizen leaving the US on a green card you may loose your right to re enter the USA. When applying for PERM status you are saying you wish to make the US your home.

So what I am hearing, you can go to school very cheaply in the Philippines, not have to worry about being challenged in school like the USA. Have to return to the USA, wait months for paper work to be processed. Study very hard for the NCLEX- with only a 30% chance

chance of passing the first time.

I would also say if you are not getting good grades in the AA courses in the US, or finding it hard to get into a nursing program in the USA, there is a reason for that. US colleges will try to take students who will succeed in the program. It is cruel to take students who will not be able to pass the program. Programs in the USA who do not have most of their students pass the boards are closed by the state.

There are no real short cuts to become a nurse. Going to school in the Philippines is great if you wish to be a nurse in Philippines. But if you are lucky enough to be in the USA and wish to work in the USA. Go to school here. If you can't make the grades, there is a reason for it, meaning nursing may not be for you.

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 4, 2011

If you have a green card you can apply for a visa that protects your gc for a couple of years whilst at school. If I get chance later will try and find you the info on this

D.Bajamonde · Jun 6, 2011

PLEASE, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME & MONEY ON THE PHILIPPINES!!!

The PRC & BON of the Philippines discriminates against all foreigners who would like to take the nursing board exam.

If you're a U.S. born citizen and cannot avail of a dual citizenship in the Philippines then please, do NOT waste your energy on that country!

Due to such a law a U.S. born citizen can NOT practice as a nurse in their home state, if that state requires a license from the country that you were educated in.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 6, 2011

PLEASE, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME & MONEY ON THE PHILIPPINES!!!
The PRC & BON of the Philippines discriminates against all foreigners who would like to take the nursing board exam.
If you're a U.S. born citizen and cannot avail of a dual citizenship in the Philippines then please, do NOT waste your energy on that country!
Due to such a law a U.S. born citizen can NOT practice as a nurse in their home state, if that state requires a license from the country that you were educated in.

There is no law that states you can not practise if you have no license in the country you trained in. Currently many have done this and have met state eligibility by submitting letter of explanation

Lilmissmayshine · Jun 19, 2011

I am currently a US citizen studying in the Philippines as Trinity University of Asia. There is a 3 year International/American program that they just started recently. Mentioned in the earlier posts that schools could care less about grades is not happening at my school. At the end of the year, all first year students must go through a screening process that includes GPA and NAT (nursing aptitude test) scores. More than half of our batch got cut and was told to find another school because of their low scores or GPA. St. Luke's College of Nursing has been educating student nurses in the Philippines since 1907 and take much pride in their excellence.

Previous college classes are credited provided you have the course description. Validation exams for A&P and microbiology must be passed in order to get credited as well.

I came to the Philippines because the waiting lists were outrageous in California. I was already on the waiting list for a year and a half and they told me I might have to wait another 2 years!! I've been here one year now, with two more to go! I love it here and so glad I made the decision to come here!

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jun 19, 2011

I am currently a US citizen studying in the Philippines as Trinity University of Asia. There is a 3 year International/American program that they just started recently. Mentioned in the earlier posts that schools could care less about grades is not happening at my school. At the end of the year, all first year students must go through a screening process that includes GPA and NAT (nursing aptitude test) scores. More than half of our batch got cut and was told to find another school because of their low scores or GPA. St. Luke's College of Nursing has been educating student nurses in the Philippines since 1907 and take much pride in their excellence.
Previous college classes are credited provided you have the course description. Validation exams for A&P and microbiology must be passed in order to get credited as well.
I came to the Philippines because the waiting lists were outrageous in California. I was already on the waiting list for a year and a half and they told me I might have to wait another 2 years!! I've been here one year now, with two more to go! I love it here and so glad I made the decision to come here!

A question, how does 3years of schooling equal 4yearsi in the Usa? Does this school have a simulaltion lab like most US schools? Do the clinical instructors have 5years of clincal exoerience? Do you clinicals include 1-2 patients who are on telemetry,ng tubes,tpn etc? Do you have access to computer based charting? Are medications dispensed by a pyxis system? Do staff nurses has immediate access to electronic literature to practice evidence based nursing?

Saint Lukes is an excellent program to train nurses for nursing in the

Phillipines,but as the US moves to more inovation it is hard to learn nursing using a system different systems, I think that is the reason nurses trained outside the Usa fail the NCLEX the test more then they fail.