Studying Nursing in the Philippines and coming back to California to work?

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Good day Everyone!

I am currently a senior here in California. I'm balancing my options of going back to the Philippines to study nursing or staying here in California and start off at a community college.

Sadly, only one Cal state accepted me with the major that I want and I still opt not to go to that university for now because it is tooo expensive and I don't want to take out loans. I also don't get that much from FAFSA(Financial Aid) because of my dad's income that's why I want to go back to the Philippines because it is cheaper to study there.

DO YOU THINK I SHOULD GO BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES TO STUDY NURSING AND SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS?? OR STAY HERE IN CALIFORNIA??

I heard about concurrency issues that foreign nurses have, especially those who wants to get a license and work here in California. I was wondering if that will be my problem(if i choose to go back to the philippines) as well even if I am a green card holder as of the moment?

PLEASE REPLY BECAUSE I AM REALLY TORN AND CONFUSED AT THE MOMENT :--(

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There are multiple threads on this topic.

The best way of looking at it is study nursing in the country you plan on working in.

You network as a student on placements, it does help when looking for work.

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Specializes in OR-DR-PACU.

I personally think you are better off studying nursing in the states because with all other expenses (board and lodging), extra payments for sending documents from Philippines etc (when after you graduate) would also be expensive. You can ask other nurses who studied in the Philippines that it is not very simple or cheap anymore to study nursing. Even the living expenses are getting more expensive.

It will save you the hassle from doing the IELTS and having to convert your education from foreign-educated to educated-in-an-English-speaking school/university. I heard of some issues of getting a RN licenses in the states, despite having the visa/green-card. Because it is NOT whether you have the visa to stay in the country or your nationality that they are looking at, it is WHERE you get your education.

Don't get me wrong, I never regretted studying in the Philippines, because I personally think I was given a more thorough and comprehensive training, despite it being a"non-English-speaking-country". We did 4 years of studying not just nursing health education (but also other useful subjects like Logic & Philosophy, Psychology, Economics etc), plus 3 summers in between of RL experiences (& other subjects). The experience you get with dealing with 3rd-world country patients cannot also be thought at any 1st-world country. It makes you stronger, wiser, and manageable.

Like I said, if it's expenses you are looking at, it depends on which province (for the living expenses) or University in the Philippines you will studying. Just do your Math and make sure it is somewhat accurate or close to reality. Because you might get disappointed especially after realising you almost spent the same amount. Give an allowance of extra $1,000 for getting your training/college education accredited. 10 years ago when I was applying to take the NCLEX, I only needed IELTS. Nowadays, you also need to do a credentials evaluation. Just check this out: https://www.ncsbn.org/16_IEN_manual_WEB.pdf

And check the requirements of states of california's licensure application; see what's the difference of the application for foreign -educated and locally-educated onces. If it is the same requirement for those who studied in the states, then go for it: study in the Philippines. I hope this was somehow helpful. Goodluck!

FYI: My cousin considered studying in the Philippines for PT (because it only takes 5 years in PH while it takes 7 years in US). She decided to stay in the states because the adjustment she has to make in the Philippines, the board and lodging and to figure out all the expenses from studying to getting her US PT licenses was just too much hassle and headache. I'm sure there are more valid reasons. But yes, just so you know, she choose to stay in the states.

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Specializes in Medical Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant.

Strongly recommend study in the US if you want to work there after graduation. It will be much easier in terms of licensing and paperwork for verifying education. Also, Cali is saturated with new grads I believe, so it will only add to your difficulty if you didn’t go to school in Cali to make connections for your first RN job.

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Thank you so much for all your responses.

My dad and I talked about if ever I'd go to the Philippines to study nursing, I would have to start working at a different state other than California.

We still HAVEN't decided on where to actually go, but if ever I stay here, would you recommend STARTING AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE or STARTING COLLEGE AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY? because my cousin(who is a nurse rn) said that starting at a community college was a waste of time because it took him longer to graduate.Sooo do you think it'll be worth it to take loans and start off at a private or should I stick to community college and just transfer to a 4-year university after 2 years?

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Hi! Where did you end up with? 

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