Filipina Nurses Going to US for Jobs? How is It Done?

How can Filipina nurses find jobs in the US and other Western countries? Is it easy? What do they need to get those jobs? How long does it take? How much money can they hope to make? What are the steps for a Filipina nurse who has just passed the board exam in her country to look for a lucrative job in the US?
Is the US the easiest or is Canada the easiest?

Philippine nurses speak English, so most english speaking countries allow RNs in the Philippines to migrate or immigrate. Countries include Australia, US, Canada, England, Ireland, UAE, and Singapore. Theoretically, a nurse could also go to countries like Germany, France, and Spain if they knew the language.

It's possible to immigrate because Philippine education and nursing schools are very good. But the process varies depending on the country they are going to and the means they use. My wife is an RN and I paid for her to study, and take the exams. We spent (counting everything), over $15,000 for her RN license. This included her returning to the PI for a study session, taking the CGFNS, the NCLEX, TOEFL, study groups, licensing and exam fees, registry fees, and so much much more. It's crazy.

Once a nurse passes the PRC board in the PI, she or he can go to an agency who will help them get a job overseas. Typically nurses start with UAE because its a little easier to go there without experience and they don't stay long because the locals treat Filipinos badly. Typically once a Pinoy/Pinay has enough money they will try to either use an agency or take the NCLEX exam in Manila. The process can take years and years or less time depending on a nurses ability to parlay passing the exams, and getting job placement. However, for the US the nurse does not need the agency anymore and can simply pass the NCLEX and CGFNS and get a provisional workers visa on her or his own.

How much money? Well, nurses tend to earn middle class salary in any country equal to an individuals share up to as high as 200% even 300% GDP. So in the US, the Individual GDP is about $35,000 and most nurses can earn 35-70-105 thousand before taxes and deductions depending on how many hours they work and their experience and specialty.

While some nurses immediatly begin looking for a US job from graduation, its harder for them because they are inexperience, and really they are just learning whats necessary because there's so many rules and they just got out of school so they'd like to keep taking tests now while they still have good habits and are not needing to work full time yet.

I don't know which country is easier, but typically a Filipino/a will go to any country they can get a job offer through their agency. Some things that help are experience for the nurse. Most countries like ER, ICU, OB, Pediatric, Cardiac, and rehab experience, so if a nuse has this they can get better offers, like more choices, higher pay, or even the hospital will pay their expenses to move and set up to a higher degree.

The first step for a nurse should be to take TOEFL, and pass the PRC. Not all nurses can take the PRC because the Philippines does not allow non-filipinos to take the PRC. Example, a chinese or taiwanese girl born and raised in the PI is not Filipino (stupid law), but basically the Filipinos want to send their children all over the world to work, but don't want to employ their own born and raised because of racist bias in the PRC laws.

I can answer at least some of your questions.
There are many recruiting companies that arrange for nursing jobs in the U.S. They are typically based in America but have representatives in the Philippines, or who travel there frequently.
Is it easy? No, but easier than getting here (the U.S.) after marriage or for a vacation. The recruiters I mention are good at filling in and submitting the necessary forms.
I'm not sure how long it takes. I suspect that varies, depending on how big a nursing shortage there is here. It takes 9 months, so I hear, to get a visa for your new wife or fiancee.
Canada is definitely easier. I don't know which country would easiest.
I would recommend working with the nursing school from which the nurse graduated. They likely have lines on the process and possibly on recruiters.

my cousin actually just went through that a year ago. from my understanding, she had help from a recruiting agency in the philippines and got a job in a hospital here (US). it took about 6 months and she had to take some sort of exams. when she came here, she was set up with free room and board for 6 months and got paid around $10/hour. after her 6th month, her pay went up to about $30/hour and she was then able to get her own apartment and brand new car. $30/hour is pretty good money here.

They work with a green card. I have been working for a company that sends them for free. They dont pay much. The US government gets them there

for a nurse to be able to get to the US, he/she needs to pass a lot of exams - local board, tofell, cgfns and the nclex.
it's not very easy especially these days where visas are under retrogression, but once you passed all those exams, you'll be good to go!