Nursing is an unpopular job in Europe. It is a relatively hard physical job. You need to work in shifts (night, weekends, etc.). In comparaison with other jobs it is not that well paid. Without wanting to generalize I think a lot of young European people are self centred and are not really willing to care for the sick and the elderly.
A smiling Filipino(a) nurse would do wonders in an European hospital. There are alas great language barriers in most European countries except for the UK and Ireland.

heehhe proud to eb a Filipina Nurse!

yipeee

yes! i agree with you.

i plan to study nursing as a second course. i want to become a nurse and work abroad.

i agree, our nursing schools here in the country must follow standards set forth by employers or hospitals in the US, UK, and etc. there must be a partnership between these educational institutions and the employers abroad so that quality education and training is ensured.

however, the sad reality is that we have a lot of sub-standard nursing schools out there. we have a lot of schools who exist not to offer quality education and training for aspiring nurses but to take advantage of the phenomenon of the rising of demand for nurses abroad. the government is not concerned about ensuring quality nursing education.

another sad reality is that there is greater, more dire, need for nurses here at home, but everyone is leaving to meet needs in other countries. we produce hundreds of thousands (i'm guessing) of nurses every year, but we can't even supply our country's desperate need for health professionals.

[3]
ey dante…
do you know any accredited school where i can take up nursing as my second course?
i am a physician here in the philippines.
hope you can help me
thanks

hi, im taking nursing now as my second course im afraid that the school that im studying now will not meet the quality teaching that i need to be a good nurse someday.Can you help me find a school of nursing here in manila where i can get quality nursing education and will accept 2nd courser like me?Im planning to check on Lanting school.What do you think?im hoping you could help me.

Hello Cris and Vince! Thanks for dropping by at my blog. As for your query, there are numerous schools that are offering competitive nursing curriculums. But, the efficiency of their instructors are what bothers me. Most of them are not actually academe individuals that can impart to their students of what nursing is all about. However, based on what I know, these are the schools that I believe offers great alternatives for those contemplating on taking up nursing as their second course: Philippine Womens University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Southville International College, UPHR and Metropolitan College. Upon reviewing their system, I saw potential for these schools. However, you must be very keen on the current review program that they offer. Hope these inputs help.

JP,
I applaud your enthusiasm and passion in encouraging others to pursue nursing. It is the noblest of all professions and the global desperation for quality nurses is ever so apparent today.
Nursing, unfortuately, does not have a universal standard of what a "good nurses" embodies. In Italy, a good nurse may be one who is technically savvy and can anticipate the physicians needs in performing procedures. In an American academic medical center, a good nurse is one who questions physicians if an order or plan of care does not appear to be in the best interest of the patient.
In some other institutions, just keeping the patients alive at the end of your shift is good enough.
In migrating to a new country, there will always be some barriers to overcome, cultural, language, etc. In the US, it is expected for nurses to question orders and not always "do as your told." My observations are many new unexperiences nurses from abroad have some challenges with confrontation with physicians. (Sometimes, doctors can be downright mean) But, I would like to know if you can offer any insite on how communication in the healthcare setting is taught in Filipino nursing schools. Do nursing schools teach students how to care for their own population with their own specific healthcare needs? Or do nursing schools train with the expedctation that they are going to be serving a global market. If so, are they provding cultural competencies for the nation's they will service? I would appreciate any insite you have to offer.

Hi Jennie,

Nice of you to drop by. Anyway, in relation to your comment, I have to disagree with you that nursing doesn't have a universal standard. If you try to analyze the nursing profession, you will discover that in health institutions, students are being introduced to the concept of independence. What alot of people don't realize is, Nurses can function independently in any medical institution. Cynical as it may sound but the real boss are the patients themselves. In the health care team we have different corresponding roles. And as such, the number one rule for patient care is: "The patient is always right. If the patient is not right, just refer to the first sentence." The question I believe would be on how nurses of today function in a medical institution. The nurses themselves are the main reason why the profession is in a different dilemma much to lesser degree than that perceived of by Nightingale herself. In Filipino nursing schools, it is basic that the Philippine health care system is the fundamental standard used in educating student nurses. But, lets face it, in this global environment we live in, we must also learn the system that exists abroad. Schools all over the Philippines are now focusing on identifying the needs of the foreign market and incorporating this to the current curricula. However, these may not be enough due to the fact that industrialized nations possess state of the art medical equipments. Although currently, because by nature Filipino nurses can easily learn and with the situation they were exposed at home, it appears to be easier for them to learn these new stuff. But I would still suggest hospitals in the U.S, Europe and other countries to establish their own training network in the Philippines. I think for them to satisfy the needs of their market in terms of manpower, it would be best to actually train the current pool that the Philippines has for their market. And with this network, they will be assured of a quality supply line. Right, all they are doing are hiring nurses for foreign opportunities. The problem is, you are depleting the supply in this market therefore risking future needs. Just imagine if the Philippines will lose competent trainers, who will train the next batch? Correct me if I am wrong but I strongly believe Filipinoes are the best in the world because of the X-Factor in care. This is something that the world needs to understand. Nursing is more than just a profession or a degree, rather it is a cultural phenomenon that does not exist everywhere. Nursing itself has a universal standard and is continuously evolving into an independent entity. This is what needs to exuberated by all nurses alike. Every RN must understand one fact, they will be the global players that will ensure that the markets are well taken cared of.

John Paul,
Thank you for your comments. I agree that Filipinos are wonderful nurses and that nursing is the heart of hospitals but it appears to me, in the US, there is an East Coast/ West Coast perception or phenonmena of Filipino nurses. Mind you, everything I say is based on perceptions and discussion with other Filipina nurses who have worked in various part of the US. As a nurse who has worked in New York, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, Filipina nurses are viewed as excellent, caring and intelligent clinicians. I have many physician friends in New York who have nothing but admiration and praise for Filipina nurses. The East Coast nurses and doctors have a strong appreciation for Filipino culture and food and rarely will you ever hear ill words about the Filipino nurse. Having worked in San Francisco for the last two years, the perceptions are much different. Many, not all, Filipinas are viewed as "clickish", lazy, incompetent. The respect and admiration I grew accustomed to hearing has been replaced with unsafe and scary. These sentiments were also relayed to me by other Filipina nurses and other physicians who recently moved from the East Coast. (This one Filipina nurse thinks that the greed of making more money tends to make some nurses lazy)

I agree that caring is an essentia key component to quality nursing. I disagree with the concept of independence in nursing (or perhaps we just have different definition for the same concept which I will later discuss) Healthcare is an industry that is highly dependent on multiple disciplines (medicine, nursing, physicial therapy, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, etc.) Nursing does have a limited amount of autonomy within the profession but they are not capable of prescribing medications or writing orders independent of a physicians (unless s/he is a Nurse Practitioner). Physicians, too, cannot write orders or carry out a plan of care without the collaboration of nurses.

The concept that is missing in the new Filipino nurses working in the U.S. is critical thinking (perhaps this is what you meant by independence). Critical thinking being the independent or collaborative thought process that is involved in caring for the patient. We cannot just agree with the doctors. As nurses, we are trained in anatomy and physiology, pharmacy and other key courses, that allow us the ability to say, "Doctor, that order makes absolutely no sense. Can you please give me a reason why you would want to order a medication that could potentially harm a patient."

I know that all people are capable of thinking. Unfortunately, because of negative outcomes, with some inexperienced nurses who did not use critical thinking or question orders (and who just happen to be of Filipino origins), the perception becomes that Filipino nurses are not competent and do not provide safe care.

I am glad to hear that the nursing curriculum is including independent thinking. I look forward to meeting the next group of nurses who are a product of the new curriculum.

Again, I appreciate your input and hope that you will encourage all the Filipino nurses to use their voice and articulate their knowledge.

Hello Paul,
I'm a nursing student of Philippine College of Health and Sciences. I'm in my 4th year level and presently doing a research about "The difficulties of Non_Allied students taking up nursing Course" I am badly in need of articles related to these. Hundreds of nursing students are second courses now a days and their first course non-related to science. That's why I decided to have a research on this. Please email me at tagtagainep19@yahoo.com
Thank very much.
Ricardo

hi JOHN PAUL, i am taking up nursing and i am on my last year. I'm currently doing a research about nursing students (Second coursers) who are non-science major on their first course. I'll be needing an articles about this. Please help me fellow nurses. Thank you very much. tagtagainep19@yahoo.com RIC

hi guyzz! for me, the best school for nusring is De La Salle University - Health Sciences Campus..

pakopya ng introduc mo… tnx.. kaw ang tumpos sa problema ko….salamat tagaga

[6] hi i just dropped by and i read that you said southville is a good school to study nursing, i would just like to ask what made you say that? because its a fairly new school….what im sure of is that ust and up are the ones who has the best nursing programs. just wonderin. thanks =)

Hello, I'm an LPN (License Practical Nurse) here in Hawaii . I'm a Filipino but a naturalized US citizen. I'm 34 years old and I have a degree of Engineering in Electronics there in the Philippines. I have taken LPN here in Hawaii and I'm interested to come home there to take RN (Registered Nurse) the reason being US education is very expensive and I have a family with 2 kids and I hold a full time position in a night shift. It would be so hard for me to find time to study with the kids and my full time job. Can you recommend and accredited school of nursing that I can enroll to. I would prefer somewhere close to Baguio City where it is really cool to study.

hello

I just want t ask if theres anyone out there who can advise me im 28 years old and currently enrolled as a practical student (well thats what i know but the schol inform us that its now 2 years nursing asst.).
My concern is if ive finsh as a nursing asst am i qualified to take a nclex pn just to become lpn if im holding a 2 years nursing asst cert.instead of 2 years practical nursing.

thank you and more power!

HELLO IRENE
Just wanna ask what is the points t become an lpn in us kasi im studying a 2 years nursing asst you think pwede ako .

Thanks

HI! My sister just graduate from computer engineering and we are planning to send her in nursing school. She is a little bit concern because some school says it takes her another 3 more years to finish nursing. Right she thought about practical nursing at St. Augustin school of nursing. Does a practical nursing graduate can find good job abroad? thanks

Which schools offer best for 2nd course? pls name at least 10 not including outside Mmanila

Hi! I’m a clinical instructor in one of the biggest university here in zambo. I’m finishing my thesis and i want to make a study comparing the clinical competencies of second-coursers and nursing students enrolled in the regular program. Do you know of any other researches made related to this study? Or do you know of any site where i can get a background on this?
thanks! Great site! Keep it up!