US-Philippine Dual Citizen with US BS Degree and recent Philippine BSN Degree

[PaxTibi]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this website and have been perusing old threads about foreign BSN graduates wishing to practice nursing in the United States. It's been somewhat overwhelming trying to sort through the myriad of posts, and I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction as to what to do to begin processing my application to take the NCLEX (and/or CGFNS, if needed). From what I've read so far, it seems like it will be a long struggle. I would like to practice either in California or New York.

If it makes any difference regarding what I may or may not have to do, here's some personal background information.

>I am a dual U.S.A.-Philippines citizen.

>I earned my 1st bachelor's degree from the University of California at Los Angeles, USA.

>After graduation, I took up nursing prerequisite courses from various community colleges in Los Angeles.

>Then I moved to the Philippines, enrolled in a BSN program, and was given credit for some of those prerequisite courses.

>I've just completed the BSN program, and am now deliberating whether or not to take the local Philippine National Licensure Exam for nurses. I understand I may not have to, if I can immediately take the NCLEX-RN in the USA if I'm already a US citizen?

If anyone could shed some light on any of this, or point me to the correct literature, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you so much! :)

[perioddrama]

You really should peruse the threads. Lots of excellent, excellent information and helpful information.

It does not matter if you are are US citizen. What matters to the BON - CA or NY or any other state - is where you received your nursing education from. They will base their decision on that and other requirements (English test, completion of required classes such HIV/AIDS, child abuse, etc). Go to the BON website and see what the requirements and forms are.

If you are a US citizen, great! You will be issued your RN license if your are deemed eligible to write the NCLEX in CA or NY (or wherever you want to settle and work) and pass the NCLEX (since you must have a SSN in most states to be issued the actual physical license).

Good luck!

[steppybay]

Since your last degree was a BSN from the Phils, that's what the CA BON will evaluate. It's a good idea to read the many threads on many of us PH grads and even nurses have been getting denied left and right due to the concurrency issues in CA and several other States and so far, it seems that the 2012 PH grads are also being rejected.

The very strict enforcement of the concurrency happened around Nov. 2011 and very few PH applicants have been given the ATT at all, not so say don't try to apply, just know that if you do get the love letter (of denial) from the CA BON it's no surprise. Even the top 5 PH best of the best schools have not met the concurrency rules as I have several friends from them and none have been given the ATT.

With regards to getting the local PH license, I would go for it as other States (if CA is out of the picture) will ask for it as a minimum requirement and they don't care if one's a USC or dual-C and the PH nursing board doesn't allow USC or dual-C to take the exam. I know of several who still did take and get the license. They simply didn't check off the citizenship box or just claimed they were PH citizens, they don't check.

Until any State reviews your degree credentials it is not an immediate thing to take the NCLEX-RN even if you're a USC. You are now considered an international or foreign student due to your BSN degree status.

Also, should your degree not meet the CA BON requirements, getting an out-of-state RN license and then trying to endorse (transfer) back into CA will not work, as CA like the other States will ALWAYS require the original college transcripts for evaluation and if there's a chance for rejection now, then there's the same high chance, it will be denied once they review the transcripts. So be prepared to work and practice and settle down in another state other than CA and several states enforcing the concurrency rules.