Five years ago, I have decided to take up a second course. BS Nursing. The requirement for nurses abroad espcially in the US was really huge.
While I keep my callcenter job, I managed to be a regular student for three years. I would travel to a nearby province (Bulacan) everyday in the morning and go straight to work in the afternoon.

I abused myself so to speak and I think its taking its toll on my health. I have been tryingto shake off this illness since September. I guess it’s the only thing that loves me. I am having remissions and excacerbations.

I passed the local board exam, the US stateboard exam, the IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) and I got my VisaScreen Certificate already.
The only problem now is I need to get a hospital experience to be deployed in the US.
Reality bites. Here in the Philippines, the proportion of registered nurses versus the hospital demand is not equal. In other words, there are too many nurses and hospitals cannot accomodate the high influx.

What really bites is that, you even have to pay for the “training program” (read: volunteer work) in order to get a slot not to mention that you have to fall in an unending line to be accomodated on the registration date. Lucky, if you fall in line the night before the registration.

The “training program” seems to be an income generating scheme for both public and private hospitals. Here are some facts about the hospitals and their training fees:

1. National Kidney and Transplant Institute – P7000 for the 4-month training program
2. Lung Center of the Philippines – P5000 for the 3-month training program
3. World Citi Colleges Hospital – P10000 for the 4-month training program
4. Makati Medical Center – P10000 for the 3-month training program
5. V. Luna Gen. Hospital – FREE 6-month training but nepotism is highly practiced. Unless you are referred by your relatives working there or a soldier, you would not stand a chance

I got into the “training program” of one private hospital. I have no better options. I was supposed to start in February but I deferred as the notice that I was accepted into the program was too short that I did not have time to arrange for my vacation leaves. I was planning to resign in May but due to my present health condition, I had to take a raincheck. The company is paying for my treatment incuding check ups, lab work ups and medications.

Right now, I am in no hurry.

I am buying myself some time as I need to stay “employed” for a while.

Still, I have this great American Dream in my mind.