Filipino Nursing Herald

Nursing registration applicants to Canada will begin taking the NCLEX-RN examination starting Jan 2015, says the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators. A one day educational conference in April this year is planned to allow educators and regulators to learn more about the NCLEX-RN program, which will be used as the basis for entry to practice in the nation. Volunteers are also being called upon to help develop the NCLEX exam bank.

Foreign-educated applicants of nursing licensure in New Mexico now need to get a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) report as part of the requirements for NCLEX eligibility. The New Mexico Board of Nursing issued an updated application handbook, which takes effect this month. The NM BON has accredited four agencies that issue a CES report: Educational Records Evaluation Service , International Education Research , Joseph Silney and Associates , and the Commission on Graduates of International Education (CGFNS). When applying for a CES report, choose the agency that is also accredited by other states so that in case you need to submit one to another state (for endorsement, for example) you won't have to pay for a new one. Click here to read the new requirements for nurse applicants in New Mexico.

A reader of this blog just informed us that registration with Pearson Vue was needed before the Eligibility was issued. So, if your CES report has been issued or, at least, when all the documents needed for the CES is already complete, you may want to register and pay the testing fee to Pearson Vue (http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/) so that your Eligibility and your ATT can be issued. Technically, you can register earlier with Pearson Vue since you have one year to get your Eligibility. We have only learned about this through this reader's feedback because, in our own applications, we had registered with Pearson Vue even before our CES report was issued. Once you get your ATT or Authorization To Test, you have three months (90) days to schedule your exam. The testing fee is $200, and if you're taking the NCLEX outside the US, there's an additional $150-fee.

I just got confirmation that CTS, which handles applications for nurse licensure in Illinois, has increased the application fee from $79 to $82. Both CTS' Web site and the application packet that can be downloaded from the Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation Web site shows the fee increase.

This post was initially intended as an answer to a question posted by one of my visitors, but I've decided to make it an entirely new blog entry so that others may also read it. I often encounter a lot of people who get confused about the entire US nursing application process. Although there are many resources on the Internet that provide information on this, I guess many still get lost and don't know where to look. Others, perhaps, look for a crystal ball that can provide answers in a jiffy without making them sweat even just a little when searching. Still, questions need to be answered, regardless if you belong to the first or the second, so I hope this satisfies those who are looking for information. Most of what I'll explain here was already discussed in previous posts, particularly in the NCLEX series of articles. Part 1 of the series is at the end of this link . To be able to work as a nurse in the US, you must have the following: 1. US Nurse license 2. US Visa that a...

Every year, thousands of Filipino nurses aspire to migrate and become a licensed nurse in the US. Here's a practical guide intended to help Pinoy nurses achieve this dream. Because the application process requires several steps and there are ongoing issues related to foreign nurse employment in the US, we've broken down this feature article into a series. Read Part 1 of the Filipino Nursing Herald's Guide to Becoming a US RN by clicking here . There are different methods for sending payments for the nursing registration application in the U.S.. Each board of nursing will have its own preferred method of payment. Going to the BON payment office is the best way to guarantee that your payment will be received, but if you're so many thousand kilometers away like in the Philippines, there are payment methods that you can use. The most convenient payment method is using a credit card. Most BON will have a payment form attached to the application form. Simply fill out this for...

Here's a list of hotels and other accommodation providers near the Pearson Vue test center in Makati City. I'll try to add a couple more later on. I advise those who are interested to avail of accommodations to book as early as possible. I'm only providing a list of the places I know which are close to the test center, however, please try to get more feedback from other people about rates and the quality of service they provide. If you can, call the hotel instead of booking online. Online booking rates are usually higher, and sometimes, promo rates are not posted fast enough. City Garden Hotel Makati - http://www.citygardenhotels.com/makati/main.html Salcedo Suites - http://www.salcedosuites-makati.com Fersall Inn - http://www.fersalinn.com.ph/makati/index.php Makati Prime Tower Suites - http://www.makatiprimetowersuites.com Oxford Suites - http://www.oxfordsuites-makati.com/ Sunnete Tower - http://www.sunette.com.ph/index.php Mandarin Oriental Manila - http://www.mandarino...

I feel sorry for those who were not allowed to take their NCLEX because they forgot to sign their passports. International NCLEX test-takers, including those who will take the test in the Philippines, are required to present their Authorization to Test (ATT) and their passports as proof of identification. The passport is the only form of identification accepted by Pearson Vue, which administers the NCLEX, from international applicants. Sadly, some have been barred from taking the exam on their test date because they forgot to affix their signature on their passports. This is a very simple matter, actually. Signing your name on any ID is a very basic rule that that requires the smallest of efforts. Unfortunately, some still fall into trouble because they forget to sign their name before presenting their passport to the receptionist at the Pearson Vue test center. We received a report that said some were turned away from the Pearson Vue test center in Manila because of the lack of signat...

Those waiting for the June 2007 nurse licensure exam can sleep well tonight. With the first day of the NCLEX in Manila tomorrow, the PRC won't announce the results of the local board exams just yet, according to my source.

Tomorrow, Aug. 23 is a big day for Filipino nurses as the first batch of Pinoy applicants take the NCLEX right here in Manila. Pearson Vue, the authorized test administrator of the NCLEX which is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) in the US, began scheduling exams in the Manila center on July 13 this year and testing will finally begin tomorrow. Contact information: Pearson Professional Centers-Manila 27th Floor, Trident Tower 312 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Manila 1227 Tel. +612-9478-5400 Extension 3 (Sydney office) Get a map to the testing center here and directions here .

Every year, thousands of Filipino nurses aspire to migrate and become a licensed nurse in the US. Here's a practical guide intended to help Pinoy nurses achieve this dream. Because the application process requires several steps and there are ongoing issues related to foreign nurse employment in the US, we've broken down this feature article into a series. This is Part 1 of the Filipino Nursing Herald's Guide to Becoming a US RN. What is the NCLEX-RN To be able to practice as a nurse in the US and its territories, you must be registered in the US state you wish to work in. Each state has a nursing board that regulates the registration process. A major requirement for registration is that applicants must pass an examination that "measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level registered nurse". The National Council of State Boards of Nursing ( NCSBN ) develops this examination, which is called the Nursing Counci...

Test-takers of the NCLEX will sit for the exam for the first time right here in Manila starting Aug. 23. This is indeed a big relief for Filipino applicants and by extension, all other applicants from other neighboring ASEAN countries. Compared to Hong Kong, accommodations and the cost of basic goods is surely much cheaper in the Philippines. Earlier, we uploaded a map to locate the Pearson Professional Centers-Manila test center. If you're taking public transportation and need directions to the test center, here's a short guide to help you. Getting there: From Quezon City -- The fastest way is by riding the MRT. Get off Buendia station. Walk towards the Shell gas station, across it is a jeepney terminal. Get on any of the jeepneys plying the Buendia route and ask the driver to drop you off at RCBC Plaza. After you get off, cross the street and walk towards the Shell Maya gas station. Trident Tower is a building or two after the gas station. Another option is by taking...

The Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) says that the results of the June 2007 Philippine nurse licensure exam won't be available until Aug. 15 or onwards, so while waiting, here are some things you can do to relieve your stress and make the most out of this quiet period. 1. Go to a park, a beach, or a nature trail . If you haven't done so already, now is the time to breathe in some fresh air and take in the soothing effect of nature's healing charms. Forget the mall, you've been there every day after school or clinical duty. 2. Cook for your parents or your loved ones. If you don't regularly do this, now is the perfect time to show some appreciation for your parents. If you're the regular cook in the house, prepare something special--a dish you've never cooked before. Remember that a happy stomach is the source of all happiness. For guys who don't know how to cook, this is highly recommended because the effort already makes it extra special. 3. Br...

An NCLEX-RN test center is finally here in Manila. Although the center officially opens on August 23, when the first NCLEX exam in the Philippines will be conducted, applicants may now schedule their test date. Two days ago, all the exam slots in the Hong Kong test center from July to October were all booked, but today, numerous slots have opened from late July onwards. It was about time that a Manila test center opened, for such a long time Filipinos have had tremendous difficulty scheduling test dates there, so many had to resort to extreme measures such as taking the NCLEX in Saipan, Taiwan, South Korea, and even Japan. More importantly, the opening of the Manila test center is a great financial relief to many Filipino nurses who don't have the resources to pay for plane fare, food, and hotel accommodations outside the country. The Manila test center won't be conducting exams until August 23, but if you want to know where it's located so you can scout transportation rout...

Pearson Vue today will begin scheduling services for the NCLEX-RN exam in its Manila testing center. Here's the contact information for the Manila center: Pearson Professional Centers-Manila, Philippines Telephone: +63 2 887 2198 Address: 27th Floor, Trident Tower 312 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Manila The number listed above has now been updated and is the official number of the Pearson office in Manila. If you can't reach this number, you may try other Pearson Vue hotlines: * The Asia-Pacific call center (based in Australia): +612-94785400 * You may try this number as well: 1280061294785400 (The prefix 1 and 2 might be for int'l dialing, so you can replace it with your use your provider's int'l dialing instructions, for ex. +1 or +001, etc.) * You can also try this: 1800-1110-0796 loc 3 (Contributed by Kokeshi) * Chicago, Illinois office: 312-525-3667 or 312-525-3600 (submitted by a reader) You can see a map of the Pearson Vue testing...

The news today about the opening of the NCLEX testing center in Manila is the best news we've received in a long time. The NCSBN, in a press release, said the Manila center will begin accepting calls on Friday, July 13, NCLEX applicants who already have their ATT can start scheduling their exam dates this Friday, but actual exams will only begin on Aug. 23. I've e-mailed NCSBN to ask additional details about the Manila test center, hopefully they'll reply soon. Except for the start of scheduling and exam administration, the NCSBN press release contained little else. There were no details about the location of the testing center and the number of examinees it can accommodate in a day. The testing center will be operated by the NCSBN's test service partner Pearson Vue. NCSBN said the center will have the same security systems as in other NCLEX testing centers. In the past, there were reports that the NCLEX testing center would be located in the Enterprise Building in Maka...

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) will begin NCLEX testing in Manila at the international Pearson Professional Center on Aug. 23, 2007. Scheduling for examination appointments will begin on July 13, 2007. Read the full story here .

About two weeks ago, I had trouble running the original CD that came with the latest edition of the Saunders Q & A Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination Edition 3 . The problem didn't seem to come from the CD itself, instead, there was an issue with a library file that came with Windows that was incompatible with the CD application. Whenever I attempted to install the CD, an error message came up that says connection to the data had failed and it kept asking for the CD, which was already inserted into the CD slot. So, I googled to see if anybody else had the same issue and if they had the solution. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any so I had to e-mail Elsevier about it. To my surprise, I got a very prompt answer from them. Keith, one of their technical support agents, was very helpful and he responded quickly to my questions. To fix the bug, a library file needs to be copied to the Window/systems32 folder. Apparently, in some Windows installations, the latest version of the m...

Want a quick way to memorize the specific functions of each lobe of the brain? Here's a handy one-page bullet list, which you can print out, and use to quickly remember which part of the brain is responsible for short-term or long-term memory and more. Download this one-page document here .

Candidates in the following jurisdictions may access their "unofficial" results via the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) NCLEX® Candidate Web site or through the NCLEX® Quick Results Line: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia-PN, Georgia-RN, Illinois, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana-RN, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia-PN, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Your "unofficial" results will be available two business days after taking your examination. Via the web ($7.95) - Go to www.pearsonvue.com/nclex, sign in with your user name and password. After logging in, you will see your Current Activity. Under Recent Appointments, find the row with your current test, go to ...