Journey of My Nursing Career

City of Abha Saudi Arabia

Journey of My Nursing Career 


Nurses has always been in demand since as long as i can remember.Thousands and thousands of Filipino nurses have left the country to to work overseas because of better pay.As the trend of nurses going abroad continue,the school of nursing have significantly increased their enrollment that new school of Nursing has opened. Graduates of other courses decided to redirect their careers into nursing.

Filipino nurses have traveled and worked to developed countries such United States of America,  Australia, Canada, all over Europe, Austria and many parts of the middle east Asia (Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates,Libya). Filipino nurses are able  work as a license nurses in these countries without having to complete any additional training. Verification of school records and of nursing license will suffice.

May 1992, I got my first placement overseas in Saudi Arabia.We were given a welcome party by the group Filipino nurses. I was not surprised to see that there were many Filipino nurses in the hospital.
In fact the Chief Nurse was a Filipino. Almost 90% were Filipino nurses. The 10% were Indian nurses from Kerala.


It was a small Hospital so i feel so at home. It was a community of nurses living together in one building. Because we were hired as contract workers our families was not included. We have to stay in the accomodation provided by the employer as part of the contract.


Saudi culture is different.We are not allowed to go out ourselves to the stores.  A shuttle bus takes us to the place we want to go for shopping then go home together in the same bus. It was different but it was fun because we have enough activities to do to pass our days off. Cooking (there were lost of food to cook). Everyone's birthday is celebrated with a big party. 


After 3 years I decided to pursue my nursing career journey soon as i get the chance.I passed the C.G.F.N.S. (Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools), a requirement by the US nursing board for foreign nurses who wants to go and work in the United State.The US stopped hiring nurses in 1995. After more than 2 years of waiting,I decided to try the other places in  Middle East Asia while i wait for my US application.
So...off I go to Oman