PINOY NURSE IN CANADA We are living in a fast evolving world-full of twist and dyna is !

I a a "ili#ino Registered Nurse and I $an say t%at t%e nursing #rofession is no e&e #tion! 'i(e any "ili#ino nurses) I %ave a tale to tell! Yes) I a one of t%ose swayed t%at Nursing $an *ring e to a greener #asture! I a one of t%ose en$%anted t%at fa ilies are living s#lendid life *e$ause of t%is #rofession! +%is ay *e true a de$ade ago) *ut now) it is a sour$e of frustration! +o t%ousands of fellow "ili#ino Nurses) it is a s%attered drea ! ,ow "ar Your Nurse 'i$ense Carry You- ,en$e) y story!!! "our years ago) I graduated .a$%elor of S$ien$e in nursing wit% t%e %o#e t%at wit% t%e $raft I %ave) it would lead e and y fa ily to a greener #asture! In y years in s$%ool) #er%a#s t%e ost signifi$ant t%ing I learned is t%at) as an as#iring nurse to-*e) you need to %ave #assion and $onvi$tion of w%at you wanted to *e$o e! +%e atters a*out assess ent) nursing intervention) surgi$al #ro$edure) #at%o#%ysiology) edi$al-surgi$al su*/e$t and so on are erely additional to fulfil su$% drea ! I re e *er y $lass ate told e w%en I as(ed %er) 0W%y did you ta(e Nursing-1 S%e answered) 0.e$ause I want to serve %u anity and I don2t wis% to go a*road) I want to serve y #eo#le1! You ay t%in( I a e&aggerating *ut it is not a lie! It is very ideal and I $annot raise any re*uttal t%at ti e! Wit% today2s) t%is idylli$ res#onse will never /ustify! Wit% t%e life we %ave in t%e P%ili##ines es#e$ially %aving a fa ily to feed) idealis is not a##li$a*le! I too( y Nursing *oard two ont%s after graduation and su$$essfully #assed! I wanted to #ursue NC'E3 e&a as it was advi$e to e *y one of y $lini$al instru$tor! I %ad ade in4uiries on t%e #ro$essing t%at ti e! Yet to y dis ay) ta(ing NC'E3 e&a isn2t t%e *est $%oi$e! I %ad et senior nurses in y %o etown t%at already #assed NC'E3 and a$4uired t%eir US-RN li$ense! .ut t%e retrogression of e$ono y overseas %ad ade t%eir a##li$ation #ending! .eing a newly RN t%at ti e) I a full of ent%usias ! I went to several se inars su$% as Intravenous +raining 5I6+7! S#ent so e #esos and gained li$ense yet I %aven2t really used t%is s(ills u$%! It is si #ly a li$ense and soon to e&#ire! I even #aid PNA ID twi$e yet I don2t (now %ow t%is will %el#! I $%ose to #ursue y study ta(ing 8aster in Pu*li$ ,ealt% w%ile engaging t%e a$t of voluntaris ) free nursing servi$e! ,os#ital $lai s as 6olunteer Nurses w%i$% eans no salary *ut des$ri*ing 0voluntaris 1 in so e %os#ital in y %o etown doesn2t give /usti$e to its definition! Paying t%e %os#ital ont%ly de#ending on %ow long a 0new nurse1 stays in e&$%ange of NURSIN9 E3PERIENCE! 9overn ent nursing #rogra arises to /ustify t%e s%ortage of e #loy ent su$% as NARS) and RN ,eals! It ig%t %ave %el#ed *ut for %ow long- Si& ont%s) ay*e one year and does t%e $o #ensation gives /usti$e- So e nurses ay say YES *e$ause at least t%ey re$eive a so $alled 0SA'ARY:CO8PENSA+ION1 rat%er t%an *eing a volunteer! 'ast Year 5;<==7) it ig%t *e great news t%at a $ertain law entioned 6O'UN+EERIS8 "or a "EE is eradi$ated! 0,ealt% Se$retary Enri4ue Ona told %os#itals run *y t%e De#art ent of ,ealt% 5DO,7 to sto# volunteer #rogra s t%at ta(e in registered nurses in

e&$%ange

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08any %os#itals %ave i #le ented >nurse volunteeris 2 in t%e guise of >training #rogra s2 in order to /ustify t%e $olle$tion of >training fees)2 w%ere*y su$% *asi$ s(ills training #ut no added value to t%e #rofessional $areer of t%e nurses)1 said *y ONA! 8y 4uest of finis%ing y 8aster2s Degree didn2t ta(e long! I %ave to $ease y study and ta(e anot%er o#tion! I %ave younger si*lings w%o are in $ollege t%at ti e and finan$ially I (now y #arents are %aving %ard ti e $o#ing wit% our e&#enses! +a(ing 8asters is so e&#ensive! I t%oug%t of #ursuing again w%en I find a /o*! Slowly) I started feeling de#rived! I felt so disa##ointed wit% t%e #rofession I $%oose! I t%oug%t t%at after graduation and #assing y *oard e&a will *e y road to a$4uire nursing ?o*! I (now loo(ing for a /o* isn2t easy *ut as $o #ared to ot%er #rofession) I find it diffi$ult! 8ost of y nursing *at$%es are wor(ing out of t%eir line! So e *e$a e an Englis% +utor) saleslady) and even de$line t%eir vo$ation as nursing aide or $aregiver /ust to go a*road! +%is *e$a e a *ig EYE OPENER to e) #atien$e is always a virtue! It was a year #assed sin$e y graduation) study w%ile wor(ing in U@ is in *oo during t%at ti e t%at even y senior nurses and $lini$al instru$tor are o#ts to a##ly! I %ave (nown so e of y old $lass ate w%o too( t%e o##ortunity and a%ead of ti e en/oying t%eir U@ life! "ro t%en) I $%oose to ta(e t%is #at%! It is a *ig nursing transition t%at even in y #lan isn2t listed! ,aving a su##ortive fat%er and *elieving in e) I and y *est friend too( t%e $%an$e! 6isa granted *ut unfortunately y friend w%o we s%ared $o on nursing drea was denied! I travelled alone to England! At al ost ;= of age) I anaged to rea$% 'ondon) England alone! +%is #la$e is far different fro *a$( %o e! It is a wonderful #la$e and every single s#ot is *eautiful! It is also diversified ! ,aving relatives in t%e $ity is a *ig %el# yet you need to struggle wit% t%e odern life! Not less t%an a ont% I a #roud to say I found a /o* as Senior %ealt% Care assistant 5A!@!A nursing assistant) nursing aide) Care 9iver7 in one %uge nursing and residential %o e! During our ti e) our /o* %ours weren2t stri$t! We $an ta(e s%ifts as u$% as t%e ideal %ours given to us due to staff s%ortage! We go for two day study and t%e rest of t%e wee( is #urely wor(ed! I %ave en/oyed t%e /o* t%oug% it is toug%! It is in t%e line of y #rofession and so e%ow t%e nursing s(ills I %ave learned are refined! 9aining (nowledge t%roug% international setting) %ere I learned w%at is %oist 5 a$%ine for oving #atient7) gadgets for s#inal #atients and odern edi$al te$%nology t%at I %aven2t seen in y %o e $ountry! I feel a aAed and t%an(ful t%at even I $an2t #ra$ti$e RN title! Yet) t%is does not give an e&$use! I envy so e of y nursing *at$%es w%o are en/oying t%eir RN title in so e ot%er $ountry! So eti es old friends *a$( %o e would $all e s(y#e and as( if I a a nurse in t%e U@ or so e even say) 0,a%) ,ealt% Care assistant (a lng /an- Yung ate (o %ig% s$%ool lng tina#os t%en B ont%s $aregiver $ourse e% ,ealt% $are assistant din &a-1! I re$all one ti e on duty) I was $aring for a %uge #atient w%o %ad a S#inal in/ury

and was #aralyAed! S%e soiled %er *ed and needed %el#) and I was t%e only one in t%e roo to %el# %er! In t%at si #le instan$e was w%en t%e reality %itCno) ore li(e sla##ed e a$ross t%e fa$e! 0O891 I said to yself) 0t%is is w%at I a going to *e doing for t%e rest of y lifeD1

Reality stri(es e! On t%e ot%er %and) it is so et%ing t%at I didn2t #i$ture yself doing) so et%ing t%at is nearly *e a so $alled as #unis% ent to e! W%i$% so eti es even %ow u$% #assion you $rave for t%at t%ing) few regrets always $o e along! 8ost of y $olleagues are nurses *a$( %o e! We %ave t%e sa e goalE to *e$o e a U@ nurse! We too( IE'+S *eing one of t%e a/or re4uire ents of *e$o ing a nurse t%ere! Yet) t%ings are not easy! In ot%er words) I need to find s#onsor) $o #re%ensive %ours e&#erien$e) finan$ially atter and $o #lete all t%e ot%er re4uire ents! I ust say ost of y fellow $olleagues w%o %ave P%ili##ines li$ensed %ave one in $o on! So aggressive t%at we didn2t ta(e enoug% $lini$al RN e&#erien$e *efore going a*road! Passing IE'+S is not t%e road *ut t%e e&#erien$e! .ut not all $an survive t%e toug% nursing life we %ave in t%e P%ili##ines wit% no salary! Wit%out t%is) t%e ot%er o#tion is to ta(e t%e $ourse again in U@! De#end on t%e nursing assess entF it ig%t ta(e anot%er two years for international edu$ated nurses! 0Ou$%D Re#eating t%e $ourse is too u$%1! .ut still) if it is t%e only way) I did %o#e t%at I will a(e it so eday! Yet) living in a very e&#ensive $ity w%ile sending oney *a$( %o e) it is so e%ow i #ossi*le to save enoug% oney for t%at! Yes) to ention I %ad e&#erien$e earning at least ore t%an %undred t%ousand #esos in one ont% *ut it was never a *ig a ount in #ounds es#e$ially living in U@! Salary $%anges de#ending on %ow %ard you wor( in t%at $ountry! "ewer s%ifts ean less $o #ensation! 'ife is $o #etition out t%ere and REA'I+Y stri(es e again! .eing a*le to re$ogniAe t%e situation you are in is a realiAation! Slowly) t%e t%ings %a##ening to e are li(e *rutal s a$(ed on y fa$e) it too( e a lot of ti e *efore I was a*le to e *ra$e it! A$$e#tan$e doesn2t %a##en in an instant! It2s a #ro$ess you would %ave to go t%roug% and you see it is not easy! 8y nursing drea starts to *e s%attered! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After a year sin$e I arrived in t%e $ity of 'ondon! All I $an say to #%ysi$ally des$ri*e t%is #la$e is a##re$iation! I a #roud to say t%at I %ave visited ost of t%ere fa ous tourist s#ot! I sent #i$tures and U@ stuff to y fa ily! 8y sister w%o is a fres% RN t%at ti e wanted to follow y footste# and a##ly t%e way I did *ut I told %er a *ig 0NO1! I told %er to get enoug% $lini$al e&#erien$e and #ass nursing IE'+S re4uire ents! I wouldn2t allow %er to suffer t%e #ri$e of not %aving enoug% e&#erien$e! "urt%er ore) I was a*le to survive wit% t%e toug% /o* in t%e nursing %o e !Yet) i igration in U@ t%at ti e is turning u#! Student li(e us in in a *urning #late) I %ave de$ided to s#lit y %ours in t%at nursing %o e des#ite so e

offered s%ifts! And so e%ow t%e anage ent is aware so slowly t%ey are $utting %ours for us! So) I loo(ed for anot%er /o*! I was given t%e $%an$e to wor( #art ti e in a #restigious Ort%o#aedi$ ,os#ital) of $ourse as ,ealt% Care Assistant! It was a great #la$e to wor( and t%is new /o* environ ent %ad given e t%e feeling t%at y nursing drea is on *urning fire again! +%e dying #assion of y nursing drea is re%a*ilitated! I always *elieve t%at on$e you esta*lis%ed a strong $onvi$tion for so et%ingF you $an *e good at anyt%ing! I realiAed I a still young and I %ave $%an$e to do t%e t%ings I love in order to *e su$$essful! ,u an *eings are $reated to *e $onstantly growing) $onstantly $%anging) ulti-tas(ing individuals) and t%at is w%y 9od gave us t%e a*ility to learnCto *e a*le to do anyt%ingD +%oug% I a still wor(ing *ot% in t%e nursing %o e and %os#ital) I also e&#erien$e doing #art-ti e lig%t %ouse(ee#ing to a ?ewis% fa ily! It is an e&tra in$o e for e and t%e #ay is really good! +%e %os#ital /o* %ad ade y nursing #assion to grow and re-esta*lis% y nursing desire! Yes) I don2t %ave a U@ li$ensed yet t%e /o* a(e e feel I a ! 8y U@- RN $olleagues treat e /ust li(e a fully #ledged nurse *ut of $ourse wit% t%e li it es#e$ially in t%e edi$ation! 8oreover) I was a*le to see different $ases of ort%o#aedi$ #atients t%at I %aven2t seen *efore! I %ave wor(ed wit% t%e and a*le to assist y RN $olleague in so e vulnera*le $ases in t%e ward es#e$ially if t%ey are s%ort staff! .efore) I used to read t%e and only t%eoreti$al *ut sig%ting and %ands-on refines e ore! I re$eived en$ourage ent fro y $olleagues of #ursuing y nursing drea in t%e U@ and not to *e $ontented of w%ere I a ! +%ey say I will *e a great nurse! .ut t%ey don2t (now indeed I2 tryingF I %ave *een trying ever sin$e! W%ile wor(ing) I %ave et international edu$ated nurses fro different ra$e and t%ey %ave long road of story to tell! "ili#inos) Afri$ans) Ro anian) Indian nurses and so on in t%e U@ rea$% t%eir nursing drea wit% loads of ro$(s in t%eir *a$(! +%ey say not%ing is i #ossi*le if you really want too! If you were to as( "ili#inos e in ter s of $o #eten$y) #ersonal o#inion wit% no *ias) Nurses are t%e *est!

"ast forward!!!! I s#ent al ost two years in 'ondon $%asing y nursing drea ! I wor( and earn yet t%e /o* satisfa$tion I still 4uest! .ut of $ourse t%e se$urity *eing a foreigner in t%at $ountry) y visa will *e e&#iring after a year! I %ad finis%ed y first $ourse and need to enrol a new one w%i$% too e&#ensive! 'earning and enrolling for a $ourse w%i$% I don2t (now if it will a(e y $areer *etter! I already re$eived y $ertifi$ate for ,ealt% and So$ial Care N6G H t%at ti e and to as() will it a(e any differen$e- +%is England $ertifi$ate t%at I %ave #ut too u$% effort and oney on y own for al ost one year is not%ing as $o #ared to y Nursing Degree in t%e P%ili##ines! I wanted to s%out w%y I would ta(e su$% $ourse w%en I a a nurse! Yea%) I a stu#id for t%at! Reality stri(e over againD One orning) a #%one $all fro Canada rea$%es e! It was y Sister offering anot%er swit$% t%at $ertainly affe$ted y e&isten$e! W%y not try Canada- Anyway)

it is t%e original #lan! +o rewind) I was still studying nursing w%en y sister and %us*and su* itted fa ily s#onsors%i#! .ut t%ings $%ange *e$ause I already graduated yet t%e a##li$ation still on t%e #ro$ess and we %aven2t %eard %ow t%e status was! I left no assuran$e! So I guess ay*e it is not for e *ut for y younger si*lings if t%e a##li$ation will *e su$$essful! As I end t%e $all) I felt a feeling t%at was *ot% strange and lovely at t%e sa e ti e! In /ust t%at si #le instan$e) y U@ nursing drea ig%t not #ursue *ut w%at a*out giving a try in Canada! I felt ore t%an t%an(ful t%at I %ave a sister living t%ere! It too( e so e ti e to t%in( a*out! Sta*ility wise) I don2t %ave it in England! 8y visa is studentF I %ave a very less $%an$e to gain #er anent residen$y or at least wor(ing visa! Wor(ing visa) ay*e yes *ut t%ere is no $ertainty! Al ost every #eo#le in t%e world want to live in 'ondon t%at i igrants t%ere are %aving %ard ti e fi&ing t%ere status ! .ut if I #ursue wor(ing visa in Canada) t%ere is a *ig $%an$e for e to a$4uire y #er anent residen$y t%ere after two-t%ree years! "ast forward) I a$$e#t t%e offer of y sister to *e a live-in $aregiver for %er daug%ter! It would *e unforgiva*le to say t%at it will /ust *e a 0using visa1 for e to *e legal in Canada w%ile waiting for t%e ti e I a##ly y Per anent residen$y! 8y sister sends '8O and I #ro$essed y #a#ers! +wo ont%s after) I re$eived visa and flew to t%e land of a#le) CANADA! ,ere is a new land) new drea ! 8y s%attered drea of *e$o ing a U@ nurse transfor to a s#routing vision) to *e$o e a Canadian Nurse! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! 8y first year living in Canada) ay*e it is /ust a little reward to $onsider t%at at least I %ave ingled wit% y aging #arents w%en t%ey $o e %ere for /ust a ont% visit! 8y frustrations t%at I %aven2t tour t%e in 'ondon so t%ey s%ould %ave seen t%e #la$e t%at I %ave live t%ere! Canada- I $an define it sa e as you des$ri*e t%e $ountry as *eing Snowy and CO'D! It is really toug% and %uge ad/ust ent for e! It ta(es e al ost a year to realiAe t%at you $an never fulfil a #erfe$t drea ! +%ere will always *e a twist and so eti es it *adly %urts! +%is ended e to *e ore realisti$ and to a$$e#t t%ings are not always s oot% even %ow u$% you try to #olis% and s#ar(le t%e way! +%e weat%er w%en i arrive is e&tre ely $old and freeAing) i needed to #assed out t%e winter *rea(! So it too( e at least t%ree ont%s *efore I %ad ade so e in4uiries and ade so e #%one $alls to a Canadian nursing *ody! In t%is #la$e) t%ey %ave a %ig% standard of Edu$ation! "oreign degree %olders need to undergo assess ent in order to evaluate if you need to do so e u#grading or ta(e a refres%ing $ourse! I went to in4uire to t%e nearest $ollege in our town! Aggressively) I #aid a registration fee in t%at s$%ool in order for t%e to assess y #a#ers! Yet to y dis ay) t%ey advise e to $onta$t t%e #rovin$e nursing *ody! I %ave read all t%e re4uire ents online and well written $lini$al e&#erien$e is i #ortant t%at i do la$(! I %ave everyt%ing only t%e e&#erien$e so t%is give e less $onfiden$e $onta$ting t%e Nursing *ody for RN! .ut still w%y not try! No %ar in

trying t%ey say) so I ade a $all and tal( to one fro t%e nursing *ody! We were a*le to $onverse and as e&#e$ted $lini$al e&#erien$e wit% $ertain re4uired %ours are needed! Yet) t%at $all isn2t a waste of ti e! S%e infor s e so e a$$o odating o#tions! "irst) to do so e IGUAS and get *a$( to a Nursing College w%i$% de#ending on t%at result) International Edu$ated Nurses ig%t ta(e a two years ore to get Canadian Nursing Degree! A$$ording to IGAS I International Gualifi$ation Assess ent Servi$es) t%e J year .SN in t%e P%ili##ines is generally assessed as si ilar to ; or H years of #ost-se$ondary wit% a nursing fo$us! Se$ond is to dire$tly $onta$t eit%er of t%e two govern ent $ollege in t%e #rovin$e t%at assess International Edu$ated Nurses a##lying to *e$o e a li$ensed #ra$ti$al nurse! If you are internationally edu$ated nurse and wis% to regain your li$en$e in Canada to wor( as an 'PN) you $an a$%ieve t%is goal t%roug% a $o *ination of $%allenge e&a s) transfer $redit) and #art-ti e distan$e learning! 0,e$(D +%is is too u$%1) I said to yself! It a(es e feel so *ad! +a(ing t%e first o#tion is o(ay *ut finan$ially- It is not favoura*le on y #art as of t%e o ent! I a so drained and to s#end al ost J< t%ousand Canadian dollars 5 ay*e ore7 for two years IGUAS result isn2t #ra$ti$al for e! I a international student and y tuition will *e twi$e or t%ri$e u$% as $o #ared to a regular Canadian student! So I tried t%e se$ond o#tion! ,ere) I a u$% $onfident! +%e $ollege is five %ours drive away fro our #la$e! .ut I disregarded *e$ause I ai for it! 8y nursing fait% is %ig% t%at ti e! I didn2t t%in( of any $onse4uen$es) t%e oney and loads of >1W,A+ I"11! I didn2t t%in( of assuran$e and $ertainty! All I want is to give a try! I $o #ly wit% all t%e re4uire ents! It too( e five ont%s to $o #lete! +rans$ri#t of re$ord ust *e send fro y university in t%e P%ili##ines dire$tly to t%e Canada $ollege sa e as t%e IE'+S! 8y i uniAation re$ords w%i$% too( e so long to $o #lete as I %ave done several *lood wor(s and retrieve y i uniAation re$ords *a$( %o e! And so any ore stuff re4uire ents t%at al ost ade e give u# a##lying! +%ey wouldn2t start y a##li$ation and assess ent unless all t%e re4uire ents are $o #leted! As soon as t%e re4uire ents is t%oroug% $o #leted! I started y registration! It is self-$orru#ting! I agine) I %ave gone t%is far and now again finan$ially I a not ready! A re inder to yself) I a an international student w%i$% #ay ents will *e twi$e e&#ensive! Yea%) to start y a##li$ation I %ave y ini u savings fro y 'ondon /o* *ut it wouldn2t $over y e&#enses soon! 8oney goes to fast and it2s li(e a $andle *urningF w%en it2s gone) no ore! I a on a wor(ing #er it yet on #a#ers! I don2t e&#e$t salary *e$ause it is y sister and *rot%er-in-law w%o s#onsor e! At first I #lanned of transferring for a real /o* *ut I realiAed it will /ust affe$t y status w%enever I a##ly for Canada Per anent Residen$y! One $ontinuous s#onsor is t%e fastest way! I a /ust lu$(y t%at I %ave su##ortive sister to su##ort e *ut of $ourse not finan$ially! I understand t%ey %ave t%eir own fa ily finan$ial issues! I live wit% t%e and t%ey #ay y ta&es too! +%e only way I $an give *a$( is to $are for y lovely nie$e w%ile t%e #arents are at wor(! +wo ont%s after y registration) I re$eived t%e assess ent I %ave *een waiting! I t%in( it is fair enoug%) so e of y nursing su*/e$ts *a$( %o e are $arried w%i$% I

a %a##y a*out! +%e rest will *e a $%allenge e&a ! +%ey give e t%ree sets of e&a ! +%is ai t%at w%atever su*/e$t I failed fro t%e #assing s$ore eans t%at I need to ta(e it as a full $ourse su*/e$t t%roug% #art-ti e distan$e! +%e e&a ust *e fulfilled over =B wee(s *ut not *eyond! +%ey give y o#tions of w%i$% dates s%ould I ta(e every e&a and I %ave settled! As of t%e o ent) I a going to ta(e t%e first set t%e first wee( of "E. ;<=;! I %ave read so e *ut ost of y sour$es are online! I don2t %ave u$% finan$ial assistan$e to *uy needed *oo(s! 8y nursing *oo(s are well $o #lete *a$( %o e in t%e P%ili##ines! 8y fat%er *oug%t it for e during $ollege days! ,e gives e t%e lu&ury of studying! +o ention t%ey are still new *e$ause I %aven2t used t%e u$%! I a so laAy to *ring at $lass and *e$ause I %ave e&tra oney t%at ti e I /ust as( y $lass ate to #%oto$o#y $ertain #ages! So sad to re e *er and loo( at e now I a so de#rived wit% t%ose *oo(s) if only! 'iving wit% y sister and *rot%er-in-law) I %ave no #ro*le wit% foods) s%elter) and ot%er *asi$ needs! "or ost) I $an say it is a lu&ury! .eing finan$ially se$ured is) of $ourse a different! At t%e o ent I a *ounded *y law! I s%ould wait for y Per anent Residen$y or o#en #er it *efore I $an a##ly for ot%er full ti e /o*! I need to do so et%ing and *e ready of y future e&#enses) es#e$ially if I fail so e of y $%allenge e&a s! It is not a /o(e to s#end =<<< Canadian dollar for /ust one su*/e$t 5international fee7! I already s#ent al ost HK<< dollar fro trans$ri#t #ro$essing) e&#ress ailing fro P%ili##ines-Canada) registration for t%e 'PNC $%allenge e&a s and ot%er #ro$essing fees! Stret$%ing y ti e) I was a*le to do #art ti e in a %os#ital as #rivate $aregiver or any ot%er in-%ouse $are giving! It is te #orary) wor(ing w%en t%ere is a $all! It is not only eF it is t%e sa e $ase wit% any "ili#ino) #arti$ularly fellow nurses w%o are vigorously #ursuing for t%e so-$alled 0Canadian drea 1! It is very %u *ling) %ard to swallow *ut it is a fa$t of life a ust to e *ra$e! So eti es) I a a *it as%a ed w%en fellow "ili#ino sees e doing t%ese $%ores es#e$ially t%ose w%o %ave good wor(s! .ut w%at $ould I do) if I let y #ride overs%adow e) I will gain not%ing! +o e) it is a de$ent /o* and not%ing to *e as%a ed of or will in any way $ru #le y dignity! +%e #ay is very good yet of $ourse t%is is not t%e /o* I want for t%e rest of y life! "or e) it is only a eans towards a$%ieving y goal-to wor( as a nurse in t%is foreign $ountry I want to *e a nurseD I told yself) 0I %ave gone t%is far) @a%it 'PN una) w%en i settled wit% y #a#ers t%en s(a na lng yung RN! I will try y *est *ut if trying t%is won2t wor() ay*e nursing is not for e1!