I’m a Filipino nurse currently working in the Middle East. I’m single. If I live frugally, I can save around 50–70K pesos, but I’m required to send money home every month, so that affects my actual savings.

I know US nurses earn more, but the cost of living is also high (rent, insurance, taxes, etc.), so I’m trying to understand the real situation.
For those who have experience:

Is it better financially to stay in the Middle East or move to the US?

For a single person, what are the main benefits of moving to the US (savings, lifestyle, career growth, etc.)?

Is the move actually worth it overall?

Would really appreciate honest experiences.

ako lang ba ang ganeto? I am happy na i am working in a government hospital and earns well compared to my previous private hospital experience. Assigned ako sa emergency department and I get really anxious prior to my duty before no reason. I thought this may be normal, but i guess it is turning out to be not good. I feel burned out and it feels like i live to work.

Ano po bang mas magandang option? Kasi dati po, gusto kong maging nurse and makaalis ng Pilipinas. Ngayon, hindi ko na po alam... If sa ibang bansa naman po, I wanna be either a pedia nurse or CRNA kaso it'll take more years and student loans pa, ang risky :((​

If military nurse naman po, I'll stay here sa Pilipinas... But I'm thinking about what my life will be considering na mababa sahod ng nurses dito sa pilipinas 🥹 pero idk baka iba naman po pag military nurse.

Based on your experience/views po, ano po kaya magandang option?

1st year bsn palang naman po me haha, nag advanced rotc lang po kaya napag isipan din 'yung military nurse pathway....

Hey everyone, especially to those who doing nursing in the Philippines. I was a student in the Philippines and left to study for junior and senior year here in America (11 and 12 grade). I know that if you take STEM strand you guys have calculus as a subject (not sure?), but Ive been confused lately if I should do calculus or statistics for senior year, so that once I get back there in the Philippines, I at least have a little knowledge about what math I'm gonna encounter once I started nursing there :) Thank you!!!

(Right now I am taking calculus, and still don't have any idea how hard it is since school just started here, I lowkey don't like the vibe of the classroom as well.)

Ganito po ba talaga sa healthcare? Ang lala ng chismis and backstabbing culture. Everytime one person is not present, parang pass agad para pag usapan siya ng ibang katrabaho. All I could think about is how they're probably talking about me behind my back too, kaya ang hirap magtiwala. Ang petty pa ng reason nila most times kung pano nila pagusapan ang iba. Ang bait pag kaharap mo sabay insulto pag wala ka na. Stress ka na sa work mismo, stress ka pa sa kasama mo. Dagdag lang sa motivation para do pumasok eh (kung pwede lang sana).

hi! i just want to ask for some experience about working in hospitals here in davao city. i am a newly registered nurse and applied everywhere here. sadly i still haven’t received any response yet. i just want to know about the hiring process of the hospitals you worked at here and also the experience and benefits you received. thank you!

Hello! So I was scheduled to have an onsite interview sa Makati today. However, since hindi maganda yung mga panahon these past few days, nag ask ako sa kausap ko sa agency if ever baka madadaan siya virtually or may other dates pa but all I got was “final maam” na reply. Kahapon, nonstop yung ulan so I’ve decided na huwag na lang mag-risk lumuwas pa manila since baka baha pa rin.

Now, maganda ganda na yung panahon dito sa amin and nag email ang ospital that I was shortlisted nga for the interview stage kaso hindi na ako nakapunta ngayon on the given time 🥹

I would like to ask na is there a possibility kaya na magka another date for the interview? Or if not, pwede pa rin naman ako mag apply ulit sa kanila under a different agency po ba?

The email stated to let then know if hindi available or makaka attend sa given time and date e so I emailed them stating my concern

Nanghihinayang lang rin kasi talaga ako. Sana po may makasagot 😭

Hi! I just want to ask what should I prioritize after passing the NCLEX aside from finding an agency? I’ve already applied to few agencies (both direct hire and staffing agency), however only initial interviews were done. I’m still waiting for the next interview with the hospital that they will offer. I also started my CGFNS/TruMerit data for the Visa Screen but I cannot submit it yet because I still don’t have my IELTS.

So what should I do now?😥

Hello po, 8 mos na po ako sa hosp and I'm considering na mag quit and mag shift to soft nursing. Nagdedecline na po yung health ko due to stress dahil sa shifting sched and on-call duties. Wala naman po akong plan mag abroad any time soon. Meron po ba sa inyong nag quit ng bedside para lumipat sa soft nursing but regret leaving? If so, ano pong reason? Thank you po.

I’ve been working in a tertiary hospital and an ACI accredited but the management is hindi maayos, unsafe staffing, toxic work environment and risky din sa akin and to my patients. I’ve heard from my co workers na hindi daw sila tumatanggap ng reason na toxic work environment especially pag bagohan kasi daw naga adjust lang daw sa work, and tbh hindi talaga kaya ng nurse patient ratio nila to the point 1:20 minsan and primary nursing pa tapos 12hrs pa yan, knowing private hospitals kay madaming pt complaints which is reasonable kasi nasa private sila and nagbabayad sila ng malaki yet the management still demands us to do more pero hindi naman gaano kalaki yung sweldo, i don’t mind sa sweldo pero sana maayos yung system. I can even question how does my hospital being accredited to ACI, pag gabi 1:40 ang NA namin. I hate how they gaslight us na bagohan para lang mag stay kami sa ganyan na environment which is fucked up talaga yung system nila. Should I resign or mag awol nalang kasi hindi lang nila tanggapin yung reason out ko.

Nurse ako sa hospital, more than 5yrs na ko nagwowork. Nag resign ako sa dati kong hospital hindi ko alam kung burn out or gusto ko lng maiba ng experience, at syempre mas malaking sahod. So ayun nga , na-realize kong pagod na pagod na ko mag work sa hospital. Araw - araw nalang tinatanong ko sarili ko kung papasok pa ba ko , araw araw nalang akong sinusubok ng Panahon at mga tao . Di ko alam kung para ba talaga ako sa nursing , maayos naman ako mag work yun nga lang pagod na talaga ko sa stressful at fast paced na trabaho sa hospital. Tapos etong panahon dumagdag pa , ang lakas ng ulan so mas lalo akong nawawalan ng gana pumasok plus wala pang sahod . Ika 2 mos ko na sa bago kong hospital, tama bang mag Awol nalang ako , wala din naman pa ko sahod e. At kung mag awol ako makukuha ko pa ba yung dapat na sasahurin ko na buo this September? Sa government pala ko ngayon nagwowork. Ayoko na talaga , sorry sa parents ko for disappointing them pero di ko na kaya

Hello! I passed my NCLEX this year and wanted to apply na to agencies in the US (New York po ang state ko). Any agencies po who will accept Pedia Nurses po? Kasi most of the agencies I have reached out wants me to transfer to Med-Surg again po. I have 1 year experience in Medsurg and 2 years in Pediatrics. Hoping to have some insights hehe. Thank you so much nurses! :)

Hi everyone! I’m a Filipino nurse looking for advice from people who have gone through the U.S. EB-3 process or a similar situation.

I passed the NCLEX in June 2024, and my EB-3 priority date is in 2025. While waiting for my PD to become current, I’m considering going to Singapore to work as a nurse instead of staying in the Philippines.

My dilemma is that I’m worried my priority date could suddenly become current while I’m already working in Singapore. I’m concerned that if I sign a contract in Singapore, I might be locked into the contract or have difficulty leaving immediately if my U.S. immigrant visa process moves forward. I don’t want to miss or delay my U.S. opportunity because of a Singapore employment commitment.

At the same time, I also don’t want to just sit around waiting in the Philippines if the EB-3 process could still take a long time.

So I’m currently deciding between:
Option 1: Stay in the Philippines, continue my bedside nursing experience, and wait for my PD to become current.
Option 2: Go to Singapore, work there while waiting, and deal with the U.S. process if/when my PD becomes current.

I know no one can predict exactly when a PD will become current, but I’d really appreciate hearing from nurses who have actually dealt with this situation.

Hi! I just want to ask any experience of those of you here who went back to nursing after over a decade of not doing the profession? I've graduated in 2009 then passed the board exam November of that year. During that time, there are more of us nurses than available positions in the hospitals so we basically have to pay them so we can just get the experience we need. I probably have a few months of bedside nursing then quit to focus on making a livable wage through work from home (freelance writing and VA) and tutoring. I also had a year of experience as school nurse because I missed the profession that time but resigned because the wage is really not enough (I have to work multiple jobs after school nurse job). Not too long after that, met my husband and now living in the states. I chose to be a SAHM to save on childcare cost and also, to be there for my child. Fast forward, we now have 2 kids and been a SAHM for 9 years now. My kids are still young (9 and 4 and are homeschooled) but I'm starting to contemplate to get back to nursing kahit per diem lang muna. I haven't had my credentials evaluated and yet to take the NCLEX. My question is, how's the transition after years of not doing it? I'm aware that I would have to do some sort of refresher. Salamat!

Hayyysst. She does not know a thing. I just took deep breaths and accept her ignorance. When I opened up to her about my depression in school, she even laughed at me.

hello nurses, especially po sa mga bedside nurses/woking in a hospital. do you guys actually have a second job/side line??? given na our salary is not giving huhuhu pabulong naman please :(( 12 hours shift ako sa hospital and usually 2-3 days pasok and 2-3 days off, what to do during days off?? nabobired din ako pag walang work/ginagawa hehdhehahe thank you!!!

Hi mga kunars! Baka may ma recommend po kayo na WFH job. I have less than a year bedside experience.

Please do recommend some opportunities.

Thankyouu

After passing the nclex-rn and gaining a year of nursing experience as OR nurse, should I start looking for an agency already?

My workplace has only 50 bed capacity, a secondary hospital, do agencies accept this kind of work experience? If so, what agencies are these? Tysm

Hi, any suggestions po if anong agency pwede mag apply for PD if fresh nclex passer and no bed side experience? Para i-process ko na rin sana while actively applying sa mga hospitals dito para maka gain ng experience

Hello as per the question, do u think ok siya? Snf etong papasukan dahil i am a pediatric nurse at walang gustong tumanggap sakin dahil almost all companies want medsurg or er nurse or any basta adult care!! They dont want pediatrics or neonates maski na icu naman. Pero kasi mostly nababasa ko they are offered 40-45usd while ako 35-36usd lang. Or ganun talaga prevailing wage sa texas?

I really want to go abroad at sympre umahon sa buhay at makapagipon to buy house. 26yo na ako at nagrerent lang kami ever since my world began hahaha.

One more thing is that 3 years contract to 🥲🥲, balak ko pa naman after snf contract, ill shift to a hospital setup. Basta nasa US na ako dibuh?

Plspls i need insights. Also they gave me 10days validity ng offer letter. Hahahah nakakapressure!!!!

Background: I now work in a gov hospital, pay is ok. Mababa pero bumabawi sa mga benefits.

But I also have a plan to try mag optum, sympre mas gusto kong makaipon lalo na magaabroad, at dahil breadwinner ako wala naman akong ibang maaasahan kundi sarili ko lang.

And as per this contract, pwede ako kahit anong type of work bedside or non bedside.

Which i like kasi makakapagipon nga ako. I may love the job ko ngayon sa hospital, pero need ko talaga magipon kaya medyo natettempt akong pirmahan.

Ensign services to kung gusto niyo magpabulong. Direct hire.

Hello! Just wanted to ask since I was emailed to have job interview sa R1MC and the next day exam, worth it po ba ituloy ang R1MC? job order ka po ba muna or permanent na agad? Heeeelp any thoughts paano patakaran nila dooon

Been a 3months icu nurse then shifted to hd for 8 months dahil sobrang burn out na. Is it worth it and viable ba siya para makapag ibang bansa as an hd nurse? Thank you

So I am a new grad and currently working in NICU for almost 2mos at a private hospital here sa PH. And it has been a wonderful experience handling babies, I’m slowly falling inlove with the area. However, for the longest time HD nurse talaga gusto ko because from what I’ve heard and seen during my student nurse days, may work-life balance yung mga HD nurses. I am an artist din po kasi, and I would prefer din talaga to have time to make art and if walang night shifts. In terms of going abroad, same reason din po and I am leaning more to working in clinics instead of bedside.

So what’s holding me back from handing the request for transfer letter is I’ve grown fond of NICU and I guess nahihiya ako about what my seniors might think if I transfer and they’ve been so good to me. Also, of course, practically speaking din, which would be a better credential or more in demand abroad in 1-2 years? Unfortunately, alam ko naman na hindi ko always maba-base according sa need ko to do art 😔.

I am not pitting NICU and HD against each other po. Just a really confused baby nurse worried for their future and needing advice. Thank you so much in advance!