Comments on: Think twice before starting with a nursing course http://butalidnl.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/think-twice-before-starting-with-a-nursing-course/ Reflections of a Filipino in the Netherlands Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:15:15 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Pete Martinez http://butalidnl.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/think-twice-before-starting-with-a-nursing-course/#comment-823 Pete Martinez Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:17:17 +0000 http://butalidnl.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-823 Hi Carlo, I just stumbled across this blog, and WOW! You just pulled the words right out of my mouth! I completely and absolutely agree with EVERY SINGLE point you mentioned in this blog. Thank you for writing it. I am not a nurse, but I am so sick of the whole nursing hype. Every single Filipino family in the US (I am based in New York City) does nothing but encourage its children and grandchildren to be nurses. Is there anything else that the Filipino CAN do? C'mon now! We need to start getting more creative here and break out of our stereotype... I will not dispute the fact that nursing provides the best job security out there (not to mention the great pay that comes WITH overtime- and notice I emphasize WITH OVERTIME because that's how they make their big bucks), but I am almost certain that there are other professions (even WITHIN the health care field and outside) that make as much, and even MORE money than nursing. Bottom Line: If you have a passion for nursing, GO FOR IT! MORE POWER TO YOU. But if nursing is just an easy ticket to a US working permit and big bucks, good luck to those people, because in the end, they will realize that nursing takes compassion, patience, and most of all, fortitude. The desire for money has nothing to do with nursing. Thanks once again, and continue your blogs. I actually learn a lot! :) Regards, Pete Martinez Hi Carlo,

I just stumbled across this blog, and WOW! You just pulled the words right out of my mouth! I completely and absolutely agree with EVERY SINGLE point you mentioned in this blog.

Thank you for writing it. I am not a nurse, but I am so sick of the whole nursing hype. Every single Filipino family in the US (I am based in New York City) does nothing but encourage its children and grandchildren to be nurses. Is there anything else that the Filipino CAN do? C’mon now! We need to start getting more creative here and break out of our stereotype…

I will not dispute the fact that nursing provides the best job security out there (not to mention the great pay that comes WITH overtime- and notice I emphasize WITH OVERTIME because that’s how they make their big bucks), but I am almost certain that there are other professions (even WITHIN the health care field and outside) that make as much, and even MORE money than nursing.

Bottom Line: If you have a passion for nursing, GO FOR IT! MORE POWER TO YOU. But if nursing is just an easy ticket to a US working permit and big bucks, good luck to those people, because in the end, they will realize that nursing takes compassion, patience, and most of all, fortitude. The desire for money has nothing to do with nursing.

Thanks once again, and continue your blogs. I actually learn a lot! :)

Regards,
Pete Martinez

]]> By: quarterlifec http://butalidnl.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/think-twice-before-starting-with-a-nursing-course/#comment-692 quarterlifec Mon, 19 May 2008 04:12:07 +0000 http://butalidnl.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-692 Sadly, the reality here right now is the reality that there are thousands of unemployed nurses because of "oversupply". There are no visas available for US-bound nurses as there is a retrogression in place, plus other countries require that nurses be experienced at least 2 years before they even consider hiring these foreign nurses. With the unemployment getting worse each year because of so many nursing graduates, and no visas are available, it seems like nursing is not a good choice at this time. If there is a dark period in nursing recruitment to other countries, that happens to be now. Nurses are being asked to pay a fee to be VOLUNTEER nurses. It's sick. It's exploitation. But I guess with the retrogression in place, and false hopes the government is drilling into the heads of its people about nursing, this is bound to continue. Why I know all these? I'm an unemployed nurse myself. Even volunteer positions are somewhat on freeze-hiring. The agencies for recruitment abroad spit me out once they find out I have no working experience, even if I've passed nclex (US), ielts (for US, New Zealand, Australia, UK), and have a visascreen (US). I'm sure I'm not the first to say this. There thousands out there who echo these same sentiments. And there will probably be more. Sadly, the reality here right now is the reality that there are thousands of unemployed nurses because of “oversupply”. There are no visas available for US-bound nurses as there is a retrogression in place, plus other countries require that nurses be experienced at least 2 years before they even consider hiring these foreign nurses. With the unemployment getting worse each year because of so many nursing graduates, and no visas are available, it seems like nursing is not a good choice at this time. If there is a dark period in nursing recruitment to other countries, that happens to be now. Nurses are being asked to pay a fee to be VOLUNTEER nurses. It’s sick. It’s exploitation. But I guess with the retrogression in place, and false hopes the government is drilling into the heads of its people about nursing, this is bound to continue.

Why I know all these? I’m an unemployed nurse myself. Even volunteer positions are somewhat on freeze-hiring. The agencies for recruitment abroad spit me out once they find out I have no working experience, even if I’ve passed nclex (US), ielts (for US, New Zealand, Australia, UK), and have a visascreen (US). I’m sure I’m not the first to say this. There thousands out there who echo these same sentiments. And there will probably be more.

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