US-educated nurse seeking work in Manila -- some questions...

purplechicxiii, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

as per this link: http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2002/ra_9173_2002.html

article iv

examination and registration

section 12. licensure examination. - all applicants for license to practice nursing shall be required to pass a written examination, which shall be given by the board in such places and dates as may be designated by the commission: provided, that it shall be in accordance with republic act no. 8981, otherwise known as the "prc modernization act of 2000."

section 13. qualifications for admission to the licensure examination. - in order to be admitted to the examination for nurses, an applicant must, at the time of filing his/her application, establish to the satisfaction of the board that:

(a) he/she is a citizen of the philippines, or a citizen or subject of a country which permits filipino nurses to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subject or citizen of such country: provided, that the requirements for the registration or licensing of nurses in said country are substantially the same as those prescribed in this act;

(b) he/she is of good moral character; and

purplechicxiii, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

and this too, from the same link:

section 20. registration by reciprocity. - a certificate of registration/professional license may be issued without examination to nurses registered under the laws of a foreign state or country: provided, that the requirements for registration or licensing of nurses in said country are substantially the same as those prescribed under this act:provided, further, that the laws of such state or country grant the same privileges to registered nurses of the philippines on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or country.

section 21. practice through special/temporary permit. - a special/temporary permit may be issued by the board to the following persons subject to the approval of the commission and upon payment of the prescribed fees:

(a) licensed nurses from foreign countries/states whose service are either for a fee or free if they are internationally well-known specialists or outstanding experts in any branch or specialty of nursing;

(b) licensed nurses from foreign countries/states on medical mission whose services shall be free in a particular hospital, center or clinic; and

provided, however, that the special/temporary permit shall be effective only for the duration of the project, medical mission or employment contract.

section 22. non-registration and non-issuance of certificates of registration/professional license or special/temporary permit. - no person convicted by final judgment of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude or any person guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct or any person declared by the court to be of unsound mind shall be registered and be issued a certificate of registration/professional license or a special/temporary permit.

the board shall furnish the applicant a written statement setting forth the reasons for its actions, which shall be incorporated in the records of the board.

periodical · Feb 21, 2012

Thanks purplechicxiii!

As I understand this, "(a) He/she is a citizen of the Philippines, or a citizen or subject of a country which permits Filipino nurses to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subject or citizen of such country: Provided, That the requirements for the registration or licensing of nurses in said country are substantially the same as those prescribed in this Act;" ---------- since the USA allows Filipino nurses to practice within its territorial limits, I should be allowed to practice within the Philippines.

It does look as though I must take the licensing exam even though I carry a US nursing license and a BS in nursing?

Has anyone met a US nurse working in the Philippines?

Guest289655 · Feb 21, 2012

@periodical ..The only foreign nurses I find working in our country are those who does medial-surgical missions.

About your question, yes you need to take our nursing licensure exam because both our countries does not have reciprocity agreement in terms of our profession. That is why Filipinos who want to work in your country takes the NCLEX.

As for the work, Im not so sure, many nurses here in our country does not work as a nurse because we have an oversupply of nurses but very limited demand for them at the hospitals. Also, I think you will be more than culture shock if ever you work esp. on government hospitals and you will most of our equipments obsolete compared to the hospital equipments used in your country.

periodical · Feb 21, 2012

Thank you for the quick reply hobiecute! Very informative. I will look into medical-surgical missions--

purplechicxiii, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2012

Thanks purplechicxiii!
As I understand this, "(a) He/she is a citizen of the Philippines, or a citizen or subject of a country which permits Filipino nurses to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subject or citizen of such country: Provided, That the requirements for the registration or licensing of nurses in said country are substantially the same as those prescribed in this Act;" ---------- since the USA allows Filipino nurses to practice within its territorial limits, I should be allowed to practice within the Philippines.
It does look as though I must take the licensing exam even though I carry a US nursing license and a BS in nursing?
Has anyone met a US nurse working in the Philippines?

Most foreign nurses I met here does medical-surgical missions only or an exchange professors, just like stated in Section 21. Practice Through Special/Temporary Permit.