Why do Filipino Nurses want to work in the US?

ohhyeahh... · Aug 17, 2011

Just want to find out why Philippine graduate nurses want to work in the US.
I am a Philippine graduate nurse that got my licence back in '96. Took me five years to get to the UK but never wanted or intended to apply to work in the US. The NCLEX, CGFNS, TOEFL and other expenses put me off. Back in 2000, it was easy to go to the UK but not anymore. In 2008 we thought we would move to Australia because it was closer to the Philippines. No IELTS needed then either. I would have put off going to Australia if I had to take an English exam.
I know of batchmates that eventually made it into the US but it has taken them a long time to get there. One of them took around 12 years to get to the US. She was already in her 30s when she finally flew to the US. It just seems you have to put in a lot of work just to be in the US of A.
So again my question is for new grads, Philippine licenced nurses who are waiting for visas to go to the US, nurses who are reviewing, taking NCLEX, CGFNS or TOEFL and maybe even those who are already in the US, why go there?
Thanks for any reply.

There's a lot of advantage and disadvantage of living abroad, one positive things that I could mention to you is the healthcare, here in Canada, at the age of 55, your parents will automatically given a citizenship which could give them a lot of benefits, free healthcare, pension ($$$$$) etc. which I dont think that the Phi. could provide for everyone. Of course, you would like to have that benefit for your parents right?

In terms of money, I could say that $ will compensate in the cost of living, so the same thing with Phi. peso and the cost of living in the Phi. What I mean is that, you could get a meal here in Canada for $5, where in Phi. you could get a meal for 250pesos, which is the same if you compute it right? and the rest will follow..

The downside is that, your spirit will always be in your country. I am living here in Canada for almost 4 years now but I am very much comfortable living in my country and our culture. Have you had the chance to visit other countries? Let me know what you think, much thanks

bobby123 · Aug 17, 2011

Thanks for the post. I can say that I was fortunate enough to have lived and worked as a nurse in the UK for 8 years and I am now living and working here in Australia for more than 2 years as per my initial post. I am not familiar with how Filipino nurses can get to Canada ie exams and such but even back in the late 90s it has always been the NCLEX, CGFNS and TOEFL before you can get your eligibility to work in the US.

I can understand the financial rewards that may be available to you once you are abroad but my query was why the US? As I previously said if you need to take so and so exams to get your foot on the door to go to the US whereas back in 2000 you just needed to complete a 3-6 month Adaptation program, why would Filipinos still choose the US? What I mean is why not take the easy route? Going to the UK was much easier then (not now) compared to going to the US then. The question is more for Filipino RNs that are now in the US.

There are those of you guys that are still dreaming of going to the US even if they have a financial crisis - hospitals closing down and stuff. So my question still is why there?

mrmiyagi · Aug 18, 2011

dollars, benefits, relatives (high probability since there are a lot of filipinos there) and the image of the US as the promised land.

dibuh0 · Aug 18, 2011

of course, money.. dont you like $40 per hour ?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Aug 18, 2011

I'm an old nurse by your standards. I graduated in 1991 and left for the US in 1995. Back then, the only option was US or Middle East. UK and Australia was unheard of as far as nurse migration. Always wanted to go to the US for the high level of healthcare technology, renowned medical institutions, and respect that nurses get. There are downsides - expensive cost of healthcare, period of adjustment from being so far from home, and high cost of living. After 16 years, the US is my home and I can't think of living anywhere else.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Aug 18, 2011

Oh and back then, we only needed to pass CGFNS. We took the NCLEX-RN once we were already here in the US. Exams never really fazed me. I took and passed all my exams the first time around.

bobby123 · Aug 18, 2011

Thanks for the post.

It can't be just pay that's motivating our fellow Filipino nurses to work in the US. If it's just money, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states are offering much more and it's tax free and at times with free accommodation.

Would it be because of our culture? We are so Americanized that unconsciously when we want to travel outside of the Philippines we want to go to the US. Just a thought. What's yours?

$40/hour, not bad. Is that for a 'regular nurse?' or is it for Theatre, ICU or other specialty? Just curious. Thanks.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Aug 18, 2011

I don't know if it's cultural. The phenomenon of migration of professionals and workers from the Philippines began in the 70's. That's when the Philippine economy really started going south and Marcos was plundering the treasury. I think Filipinos would go wherever there's a better opportunity and now after all these years it's been ingrained in our culture that it's "better" to go abroad than stay in the Philippines. The US has been a symbol of strength for many years in the world, not only in the eyes of Filipinos. People from other countries have been immigrating to the US as well. But that image is changing in my opinion because of the weakening economy. Despite that, I love the US (and the Philippines as well as the land where I was raised). I still believe in the American ideals of innovation, liberty, freedom, justice, and the pursuit of happiness. It sounds corny but the spirit of '76 is still very much alive.

dibuh0 · Aug 18, 2011

Thanks for the post.
It can't be just pay that's motivating our fellow Filipino nurses to work in the US. If it's just money, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states are offering much more and it's tax free and at times with free accommodation.
Would it be because of our culture? We are so Americanized that unconsciously when we want to travel outside of the Philippines we want to go to the US. Just a thought. What's yours?
$40/hour, not bad. Is that for a 'regular nurse?' or is it for Theatre, ICU or other specialty? Just curious. Thanks.

yes of course, compared to dubai, saudi, canada or even there in UK, the salary pay in the US is much greater.. starting regular nurse base pay in california (bay area) without experience new graduate is $40.. and if you work night shift, it's 12% difference, plus overtime? overtime is time and a half, and full time is just 3 times a week and 4 days off.. and if you're an experienced nurse with 5 years, you can be earning $60 per hour without differential

bobby123 · Aug 20, 2011

Thanks for the posts guys.

Now I think I have an understanding of why Filipino Nurses want to work in the US. Having relatives is a no brainer. The financial rewards as per dibuh0 is tempting, very tempting and the history of Filipino nurses' migration to other countries by Juan de la Cruz had been very informative.

But if you look at the recent posts about the job trends in the US, thanks to the GFC the jobs are no longer there.

For those guys who still want to go to the 'Promised Land', equip yourselves with experience so that when those doors open you'll be ready... or take a detour

Daly City RN · Aug 21, 2011

dibuho wrote: yes of course, compared to dubai, saudi, canada or even there in UK, the salary pay in the US is much greater.. starting regular nurse base pay in california (bay area) without experience new graduate is $40.. and if you work night shift, it's 12% difference, plus overtime? overtime is time and a half, and full time is just 3 times a week and 4 days off.. and if you're an experienced nurse with 5 years, you can be earning $60 per hour without differential

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The $40 per hour in the San Francisco Bay Area seems about right. In the hospital where I used to work, the starting salary is now about $50/hr. and it tops to over $70/hr. for RNs with more than 25 years of seniority.

I have a nephew who work in Phoenix, Arizona who is earning around $30/hr. The salary is lower compared to the Bay Area but the cost of living in Phoenix is much lower.

Florida RNs earn even less and the working conditions are less than desirable compared to California's. In California, an RN in acute care hospital cannot have more than 5 patients, in other states such a Florida, RNs are typically assigned 6-8 patients. But in Florida, the cost of living is lower. It is "all relative" as they say.

At the risk of sounding too materialistic, but if you are the type of person who wants to earn lots of $$$, California is the place to come. I see many RNs driving luxury cars (Mercedes Benz, BMW, Lexus), able to afford nicer homes and expensive vacations because they get paid handsomely. This is not to say that RNs in other states cannot afford these finer things in life though.

If you are one of the lucky RNs who work or used to work in a government hospital here in the U.S.A. like myself, then you have that "early retirement" privilege and you get to retire in your 50's and get lifetime pension.

The thing nowadays is that there are so many unemployed American nurses desiring for the same U.S. nursing jobs nurses in the Philippines hope to bag. Sadly, things aren't so rosy right now for Filipino nurses wishing to get hired here in the U.S.A.

Just be patient folks. For how long? I wish I knew.