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

ANA celebrates nurses week..

American Nurses Association (ANA) celebrates National Nurses Week from May 6th- May 12th. The purpose of National Nurses Week is to raise awareness of the value of nursing and help educate the public about the role nurses play in meeting the health care needs of the American people. NURSES go!

nursing Shortage

The shortage of nurses is critical.
The dramatic increase in the overall population and the decrease in the number of nursing student projects an unfavorable trend. The advancements in medical technology and a corresponding complexity in nursing techniques needs nurses who are competently capable of being a mentor for these coming new nursing graduates.

The Department of health and Human services have an estimate of 110,700 registered nurses full time in 2000.The Bureau of labor and statistics identifies nursing as one of the twenty occupation to be affected by the baby boomers retirements with employers needing to replace an estimated 331,000 between 1998 and 2008 estimating a half million shortage of nurses by the end of this century.

IN 2020, ACCORDING TO JAMA 2008,there will be an estimated shortage of 800,000 nurses? With the world population living longer and needing more care, the healthcare field is one of the best places to get a job, and will likely stay that way for many years to come.
Because of the increasing need for nurses, some hospitals are offering sign in bonuses of up to $14,000 for experienced nurses.

The ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE OF NURSING, projected nursing shortage in 2025 to be 260,000 registered nurses.This is said to be twice as large as the nursing shortage in 1960. What will be the implication of this nursing shortage to the care of the sick and the aging baby boomers?

This alarming number should challenge those who are interested in this field. This is a huge challenge to the health care industry and anyone who has a little bit of interest in this caring profession should start now. Many hospital are launching hospital sponsored educational opportunities for students who want to pursue a nursing career.