The Dreaded Exams (NCLEX, CGFNS, IELTS)
Category: About the NCLEX-RN, Filipino Nurses, Posted on August 13th, 2009 by adminNo Comments
As a nurse in the Philippines, you need to go through various decision-making after successfully passing the licensure exam; where to go, which path to take, etc. Most often than not, nurses in the Philippines try to tread the path that leads them to other countries. Countries that grant them the most beautiful offers, benefits and compensations are the most targeted. Top of the list, or should I say, top of my list of course is the US. Offers in the US (for nurses) are excellent, offers that you could not experience in the Philippines for the next 20 years or so I guess.
Aiming high is a good attitude, and as enormous as the target country, so is the ambition. If you’re an alien, working in the US isn’t just as easy as counting 1, 2, 3, in your fingers. In my case after passing the licensure exam, I need to pass more exams for me to practice my profession in the US. Let me reiterate that, more EXPENSIVE exams. Next to the licensure exam is the CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools), this exam is taken to assess your chances of passing another exam which is the NCLEX (Nursing Council Licensure Exam, an exam to be passed for you to be a licensed nurse in the US). After passing both exams another exam should be taken to assess your English capability (English being the medium of communication in the US), the IELTS (International English Testing System). After passing the three exams, then you will be ready to apply for a visa. How about the costs of the exams and the hustle that bugs as during the application process. I might need to liquidate my expenses.
CGFNS ———————————— $295 —– Review program — P 7, 000
NCLEX ———————————— $560 —- Review program — P 24, 000
Airfare to Hong Kong and back ——————————————- P 15, 000
Hotel accommodation (including meals)———————————- P 15, 000
IELTS ————————————————————————– P 8, 900
Review program for IELTS ———————————————— P 2, 500
———– ————–
$ 855 P 72, 400
x
P 53
————
P 45,315
P 72, 400
+
P 45, 315
————
P 117, 715— total expenses
Wow! A huge amount, I could have bought a second hand car. Mind you, this is just a rough estimate of my actual expenses because I didn’t include the money that I spent during the processing of the exams (courier, board and lodging, transportation, etc.), just a negligible amount of money but if summed up would make a fortune. This estimate may not be the current one but this is what I’ve spent during my time. Dollar rate during that time was $1:P53 and the NCLEX isn’t offered yet here in the Philippines so I needed to take the exam in Hong Kong or Saipan. I chose Hong Kong.
The aforementioned exams are a no laughing matter. You only have the minutest chance to pass if you’re just taking it lightly but the financial risk is colossal. So one should study, study and study real hard to make that chance as colossal as the risk. For example, if one would take the NCLEX and unfortunately fail, then he could kiss a pretty big amount of money goodbye.
Sure enough, the exams are really expensive for someone who isn’t earning much here in the Philippines, but the promise of a bright future in the US could actually lure Filipino nurses to become daredevils and encompass the dreaded exams. However, with the recession that’s been occluding the pipes where the milk and honey are flowing, the realization of this dreams are becoming vague.