Questions on Taking Nursing in the PI?

Question

Questions about the schools and how they are run and how the students are run over there, specifically for Colegio San Agustin in Bacolod.

http://allnurses.com/forums/f235/us-citizen-going-pi-nursing-questions-328607.html

Thats the forum that I've been trying to get some information on without much luck other then discouragement/sadistic remarks and advice.

Whats the average cost of tuition per year/semester for nursing?

What are the usual hours of classes? (like how in HS we go from 7:20 AM - 2:05 PM)

What are the class sizes like (20-30, 30-40, 40-50, etc..)?

Are we allowed to use laptops in class to take notes or record lectures?

How are the teachers? I've heard that they're more caring for the students to pass, but I've also heard that they can be brutal.

Would I have to do any entrance exams? (Problem with this later)

What kind of subjects do they assign in a usual schedule for the year?

Like how this year in HS I have.

1) Law and Society

2) Spanish 2

3) Computer Aided Drafting

4) English 3

5) American Government

6) Algebra 2

Would they follow some kind of a similar format or would it be completely be different? (I'd love for someone to post up an example schedule including subjects)

Would I have to do the National Service Training Program (ROTC/LTS/CWTS)even though I'm an American?

Whats the ratio like on book work vs hands on training? (Kinda like how Police Officers do more hands on training then book work, while Lawyers do more book work with maybe a few mock trials)

Are there many projects? Group? Individual?

Essays done at all?

CSA-Bs site states that "Students are required to register personally." how well do they hold that up? (Problem with this later)

Answer 1

Why you want to study there is beyond me but I'll give you reasons why you shouldn't because I'm an experienced traveller to the Pines and I must with a clear conscious voice my concerns to another fellow human being who is about to make a mistake. OK, first of all the courses are longer,study is harder,there is no work for foreigners to support themselves while they are there,you will be looked down upon by your other classmates simply because your white I would pressume,you don't know the culture the language I pressume again,Nursing in the Philippines isn't world recognised and you would have to pass tests in other countries and to top that of It's got bad idea written all over it.

I'm sorry to burst your bubble but you really are better of just studying nursing in America,passing and getting a job straight away rather than wasting years of study in a foreign land you probably know little about and where it will be very difficult in the end for you to become a nurse. You seem inteligent so do yourself a favour and just visit the Philippines instead have a good holiday and then get real and go back to your home country. Best of luck with it all

Answer 2

That's alot of questions!

First you will not have to take any "National Service Training Program". I was excused from taking ROTC in the 90's as I was a Foreign student.

Your subjects / courses might vary from school to school but if I remember right the max load is 23 units/hr per semester. This is broken up into about 5 subjects 3 minor worth up to 3 hr / units ( english, math and minor science ie. philosophy , psychology )  and 2 major more than 6hr / units such as Anatomy, Chemistry, Microbiology and in later years Fundamentals of Nursing ) .

Essays ??? Not to much. Although you are required to do a Thesis before graduation.

Class sizes are usually 30 to 45 students per section.

Laptops are allowed but not common. Be prepared for a ton of writing.

Taking notes. Nobody records classes.

Classes are all day! Typically a full time student has a schedule from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

Tuition per semester is around $800. This is a Guesstimate. My brother is in nursing school but I don't recall the exact amount he is paying.  

Now book work versus hands on training is not equal, in your later years you will do 3-4 days class and 2-3 days hospital duty. So I would say more books.

BSN courses are 4 years.

No remedial work to be licensed in the US. Some States require a CGFNS certificate (Commision on graduates of Foriegn Nursing Schools). It's like a pre nclex exam. Upon passing cgfns and state boards you will be an RN.

Teachers are not brutal. Each year only about 40% of those taking the Board exam in the Philippines pass. So alot of students graduate that have no business passing.

You will encounter a couple of classes in Filipino, will that be a problem?

I hope I helped.

Of course you can use a laptop to take notes, it's not common but in bigger universities it's no big deal. I wasn't the only filipino american in my school back in the 90's, so you'll be fine. I am absolutely sure you never look at life the same after living in the Philippines for a few years. You will get to know your heritage and learn the language better than any book.  Don't be discouraged by what others say, you seem pretty determined anyway.