Filipino Nursing Herald

Hundreds of Filipino professionals, including doctors, lawyers, engineers, and accountants, among others, are going back to school to pursue a degree in nursing. Even Filipino immigrants in the US are going back to the country to enrol in schools here because of the tight competition for slots in community colleges and the high cost of private nursing colleges there. We've provided a list of Philippine nursing schools that accept second-degree enrollees to help would-be nursing students find the right school for them. This list is by no means an endorsement of any of the institutions included here. Before you enrol in any of the nursing programs, check with the Commission on Higher Education (www.ched.gov.ph) if the school you've chosen has full accreditation and that they are allowed to offer a nursing program up to the fourth year. Some schools are only licensed to offer the associate program (2 years), which means that if the schools has not received the full accreditation b...

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It's always good to know who to contact when you've hit a bump in your application. Here's a short list of people who could help sort out your concerns when applying for a license in Illinois: If you want to request for fingerprint cards or ask a question about applying for a nursing license in Illinois, you may get in touch with: Kittie D. West FPR.PRFGROUP09(at)illinois.gov Board Liaison, Health Services Section Division of Professional Regulation IL Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation When applying for Illinois, you send your application to Continental Testing Services. If you have concerns with your application, you could contact: Sue Zajda szajda(at)continentaltesting.net Continental Testing Services Fingerprinting is mandatory for most US states, including Illinois. There are several companies that can process your fingerprint cards, one of them is Integrated Biometric Technology. To ask for the current prices or other concerns you might have, you may conta...

Here's an FAQ from CGFNS for June 2006 passers: Does passage of the NCLEX or the CGFNS Exam make someone who passed only the June 2006 Exam eligible for a VisaScreen certificate? No. In order to become eligible for a VisaScreen Certificate, CGFNS has required that a June 2006 passer must first re-take and pass, with a score of 75 percent or better, the “special voluntary examination” covering the subject matter of Tests 3 and 5. Passage of the NCLEX or the CGFNS Examination by any passer of the compromised June 2006 PRC examination will not substitute for the requirement that he or she take the “special voluntary examination” authorized by Executive Order 609 issued by the Philippine Government on March 12, 2007. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Does the CGFNS decision have an effect on the validity of the Philippine nursing licensure? No. CGFNS recognizes the validity of the Philippine nursing license obtained by the June 2006 passer...

While US legislators continue to debate solutions to the nursing shortage, hospitals everywhere in the state go on hurting with inadequate nursing staff on their floors. Khou.com reports that the nursing shortage has hit Texas hospitals hard. See story here: Nurses needed, stat: Nursing shortage hits hospitals hard

Many Filipino nurses, including this author, continue to hope of finally being able to work in the US and start a new life there soon. Here's an article written for Basta Pinoy News by Vanessa Barcelona, a US immigration lawyer, about the steps needed to get papers processed and dreams fulfilled. http://www.bastapinoy.com/immigration_0203a.htm

The Japanese government is looking to introduce a new less-stringent license category for Filipino caregivers to allow an increased number of caregivers to work in the country. The Japan Times reports that the new scheme will enable Filipino caregivers to be employed despite failing Japan's national exam. The caregivers will be allowed to work under a practical license, which will likely have certain limitations compared to the regular license. Read the full story here .

There are hundreds of success stories of Filipino nurses working in the US. A story from The Times-Tribune in Pennsylvania tells about how a community in this state has welcomed Filipino nurses and their families and how these immigrants are adjusting very well to the weather, culture, and new environment they're in. Read the story here .

Here's the training schedule of the Philippine Heart Center for the months of April and May. For more training dates, please click here BLS and ECG April 2, 2007 BLS and PALS April 10, 2007 PALS April 16-17, 2007 ACLS April 17, 25-27, 2007 ECG April 23-24, 2007 BLS May 10. 2007 PALS May 16-17, 2007 ECG May 23-24, 2007 ACLS May 25-27, 2007 To get more information, you can call the Division of Nursing Education and Research at phone numbers 9252401 loc 3209/3210.

UPDATE: In Sept. 2011, IDFPR made some changes to the application guidelines that affect internationally-educated nurses. Updated information is provided after each step, where necessary. Here's a quick rundown of the things to do when applying for a nursing license in the state of Illinois if you're a foreign-educated nurse: 1. Apply for a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) report from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). Request for a Course by Course evaluation or the Full Education report. Download the application form from the CGFNS Web site (http://www.cgfns.org). *** You may apply for a CES with either CGFNS or with Education Records Evaluation Services . 2. If your school's medium of instruction is NOT English, apply and take the TOEFL iBT (www.ets.org/toefl). How do you know if you're school's medium of instruction is English? Aside from trying to recall if your teachers taught in English and made you read books in Engli...

Registration for the special review classes for nurses who will retake Tests 3 & 5 of the local licensure exam will start on March 21 and end on April 4. However, slots are limited. Each review center would only accommodate up to 100 participants and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration can be done at this Web site: http://www.specialnursingreview.dole.gov.ph

Hospitals in Arkansas continue to feel the shortage in nursing staff, despite the wage increases introduced since last year. Part of the solution that health administrators in the state are looking at is hiring Filipino nurses. One hospital, for example, had hired 25 Filipino nurses, but only five were able to start work before the visa retrogression. Read the story here .

A new study on cardiopulmonary resuscitation says that patients who receive mouth-to-mouth breathing during CPR are twice as likely to die than those who receive only chest compressions. Although the new study is not conclusive enough for CPR instructions to be changed, the study provides new insight on improving the rescue procedures. Here's a story from Australia's Herald Sun about this new study. New theory a lifesaver The current CPR guidelines in Australia require providing two breaths followed by 30 compressions every 15 seconds. In the Philippines, the old guidelines of giving a ratio of two breaths for each 15 compressions is still being taught in schools.

The government has identified 29 nursing schools which will serve as the review centers for nurse who will retake Test 3 and 5 of the June nursing licensure exams. Among these schools are eight Centers of Excellence recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). These are the University of the Philippines-Manila (UP-Manila), University of Sto. Tomas in Manila, St. Paul University Philippines, St. Louis University in Baguio City, Silliman University in Dumaguete City, and San Pedro College in Davao, St. Paul University Iloilo, and Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro. Under a memorandum of agreement signed by the Department of Labor and Employment and the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN), each school will provide the physical facilities, and faculty for the review classes. The government is currently working on an online registration Web site (www.specialnursingreview.dole.gov.ph), although reviewees can also register with the participating schools...

A one-year old infant died in a Batangas hospital after a student nurse allegedly committed an error in the administration of potassium chloride. Based on reports, the student nurse allegedly infused potassium chloride to the infant, who was hospitalized due to severe diarrhea, directly through the baby's IV line, instead of mixing it with a saline solution. Here is a video report (in Filipino) by GMA 7 of the incident: Child dies due to wrong injection Potassium chloride, if administered improperly, can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Here are some tips to remember when administering this drug: Potassium chloride causes an increase in intracellular potassium shifting that is why it is never administered directly into an IV line. Doing so would lead a cardiac arrest. Diluting the drug in normal saline is the recommended administration, if it is being given intravenously, and a pump or controller is used to control its flow. Potassium chloride is never given by bolus infusion because...

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has allocated a P20-million budget for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to administer a special voluntary examination this year for the nurses licensed pursuant to the June 2006 Board of Nursing examination. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced in his press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Executive Order No. 609 on March 12 directing DOLE, acting through the Board of Nursing (BON) and utilizing the administrative processes of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) to administer a special voluntary examination to the nurses who passed the controversy-laden June 2006 BON examination. The special voluntary examination maybe taken in the June 2007 and December 2007 BON examinations or once at either dates. "The examination shall be for the equivalent of Tests III and V of the June 2006 BON examination. The results of these tests shall not affect the validity of the license...

The Philippine government is inclined towards conducting a partial retake of the scandal-marred June 2006 examinations instead of a complete retake of the entire test, which an American organization of nurses have asked them to do. In an interview by the Manila Times , Dante Ang, chairman of the Commission on the Filipino Overseas, said they would likely send a team to the US to meet with officials of the American Nurses Association (ANA), a professional organization of around 12 million registered nurses in the US. Sending a Philippine delegation is currently the option being considered by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in light of ANA's clamor for a full retake. Although ANA is not a regulatory body, it wields significant influence among US legislators, a matter that has some local officials wary of clashing with ANA over the exam retake.

After months of deliberating a comprehensive US immigration reform bill, Sen. Edward Kennedy has decided to bring back an old bill from last session that was adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Kennedy hopes to make the bill the starting point for discussions on what the new immigration law should be. Although the original bill underwent major changes before getting the nod of the Senate, the bill took on the same principles of having improved border patrol, electronic worker verification, guest worker program, and a path to legalization and citizenship. US legislators have had difficulty trying to come up with a new proposal for a comprehensive immigration reform act that will be filed in the Senate because of the complexity of the issue, which has political, economic and social repercussions in the country. Some Internet reports claim that there is an estimaed 12 million illegal immigrants in the US, and they account for about 5%-7% of the country's work force. The bill al...

Here's a list of US states whose Boards of Nursing no longer require licensure applicants to take the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Certification Exam. Some of these states still accept the CGFNS certificate but they will also accept alternative screening certifications like the Credentials Evaluation Service. For more detailed information about each state BON and its specific requirements, just google the BON or go to the NSCBN Web site and search for your desired BON from their directory. List of States: Oregon / Minnesotta / North Carolina California / Arkansas / New York Nevada / Illinois / Vermont Arizona / Kentucky / New Jersey Colorado / Ohio / Maryland New Mexico / Florida / Massachusetts Kansas / Georgia / Texas / South Carolina Michigan (New) If you know a state that should belong to this list, please call our attention.

Just a quick note on an English review center that helped us study for the TOEFL iBT exam, which we recently passed with flying colors. Here's our way of saying thanks to the people behind the review center, particularly Ms. Cathy. Speakwell Academy provides helpful tips and valuable lessons when reviewing for IELTS and TOEFL iBT exams. We had our reviews at the QC center, but they also have branches in Makati and Manila. Here's their QC address: Unit 400 C-I Delta Bldg, Quezon Ave. cor. West Avenue, Quezon City. Tel.: (632) 412-2758 to 59. Fax (632) 412-2760. E-mail: speakwellacademyqc@yahoo.com. Before finalizing your application, ask about how you can get a 30% discount, which they offer if you refer another person to them. Please mention you got their contact info from Filipino Nursing Herald (nursingherald.blogspot.com).

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH), a leading tertiary government hospital, is accepting applicants for full-time nurse positions. The PGH, created in 1907, is a tertiary referral center and the teaching hospital of the University of the Philippines. The hospital sits on a 10-hectare lot in the City of Manila, with 45 buildings, 19 clinical departments, and a total of 1500 patient beds. Interested applicants must contact the PGH Division of Nursing Research and Development (DNRD). Here's a list of requirements. Only original documents are accepted. 1. Accomplished Dean's Form (request this form from the DNRD at the 2F Central Block Bldg, PGH) **The Dean's form requires that you submit a summary with your GWA, RLE grades and class ranking. The form must be signed by your school's registrar or dean.** 2. Transcript of Records 3. Board Rating (with breakdown) 4. Related Learning Experience form (similar to the one nurse exam applicants submit to the Prof. Regulatory Com...

The test retake for nurses who took the June 2006 board exams would be held on June 11 and 12, the government announced this week. Although a retake is not mandatory for all nurses who took the scandal-ridden June exams, the Commission on Graduates Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) have pressured local authorities into conducting a retake of Part 3 and 5 of the local licensure test for nurses who took the June exams. The CGFNS in a recent ruling said it will not issue a Visascreen certificate, a screening process needed when applying for immigration status in the United States, to nurses that took the scandal-tainted exams if they fail to retake the test. Local authorities, meanwhile, are still weighing the decision of the American Nurses Association (ANA) which is calling for a full retake of the exams, not just parts 3 and 5. Although the ANA is not a regulatory body in the US unlike the CGFNS, the group is very influential among nursing employers in their country. The organization has...

A new bill to provide working visas in the US for foreign-born nurses has been recently filed with the US House of Representatives. This new bill, known as the Nursing Relief Act of 2007, seeks to amend the US Immigration and Nationality Act and create a new nonimmigrant visa category for registered nurses. Under this bill, which was filed by Arizona Representative John Shedegg last March 6, seeks to create a Nonimmigrant Category for Nurses. Under this new category, nurses can apply for nonimmigrant status, through a lawful US employer, and be able to work in the US for an initial period of 3 years and which can be extended to a maximum of 6 years. Nurses who avail of this proposed visa category would have the option for permanent residency or adjustment of status filed on their behalf while they are on a nonimmigrant visa. However, this petition must be filed a year or 365 days before their nonimmigrant status expires. The bill also stipulates that aliens already in the US can have t...

Over 15,000 Filipino nurses leave the country every year to work abroad, primarily in the United States, the UK and Ireland. Although this number might have gone down last year and maybe even this year because of the retrogression on Schedule A visas in the US, the diaspora is expected to accelerate anew once the US Congress ratifies a new immigration bill that covers the recruitment of nurses into the country. Some experts are predicting that legislation needed to allow new nurses into the country might come as early as April, while others think October is a more practical target. The more conservative soothsayers believe it might come early next year. Whether it comes tomorrow or the next decade, one thing is certain-- Filipino nurses would be the first to queue at the US immigration office. The promise of an economically-stable life attracts many Filipino nurses to pursue work abroad. Many veteran nurses have left local hospitals for nursing homes and hospitals in California, Illino...