>> TAGALOG SPEAKERS ARE HIGHEST SCORERS IN IELTS

If your first language is Tagalog, it is very likely that you'll have the highest score among the IELTS takers all over the world.

That's what the statistics show for the Test Takers Performance of IELTS in the year 2007. The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an exam required by English speaking countries (like the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia),  to measure  English  proficiency of the  examinee in 4 areas: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

A large number of examinees are Filipino RN's who take the exams as a requirement for work - entry to the English speaking countries.

Statistics  show that  examinees  with  Tagalog as first  language  fared  better, with  an  overall  band  score of 6.57,  compared  to those  whose  first  language is  Spanish (6.54), Malay (6.44), Tamil (6.21),  Hindi (6.21).  For the  complete  figures,  please click here.

The Tagalog speakers were highest in Listening, Writing, and Speaking.

>> IN 2008, FILIPINO NURSES STILL BIGGEST GROUP OF NCLEX – RN TAKERS

Among internationally educated nurses, or nurses who finished their course outside the U.S. the Filipino nurses still are the biggest number of NCLEX exam-takers.

Figures from the NCSBN (National Council of State Board of Nursing), show that for the year 2008, there were 20,748 Filipino nurses who took the exams, or 40.4% of the total internationally-educated nurses. The Philippines was followed by India, South Korea, Cuba and Canada.

In 2007 the Filipino nurses took the top spot, comprising 39.7% of the total

Below are the 2008 statistics:

2008 NCLEX EXAMS

TOP FIVE COUNTRIES, NUMBER OF TAKERS

 EDUCATED OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.

>> NURSING IS STILL HOTTEST CAREER IN THE U.S.

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has stated that healthcare is still the largest and fastest growing industry in the U.S. today, with nurses comprising the largest field employing  2.4 million people,  and still growing rapidly.

BLS figures show that within a span of half a  decade,  healthcare costs rose from US$1.9 trillion in 2004 to an estimated US$4.0 trillion in 2008. The BLS attributes the growth to the U.S.‘s  aging population and advancing technology. Both result in longer life expectancy,  a larger more complex health system, and invariably,  more nurses.

>> HIGHEST NUMBER OF RN PASSERS EVER: 39, 455

The Board of Nursing announced that the Philippines has  39, 455 new Registered Nurses; they passed the  Nursing Licensure Exams held in December 2008 in 11 different cities in the country.  The number is the highest ever, exceeding the  result of June 2007 when 31, 275 passed the exams. The Exams are held twice a year, the first in June and the second in December. 

The December 2008 exams had 88, 649  takers, or  a 45% passing rate. 

The number of passers for the last two years , 2007and 2008 , exceed the number of passers in the last 10 years, or from 1997 to 2006. For the summary of the Board Exam results in the last 12 years, please click here.

>>PHILIPPINE NURSE LICENSES NOW RECOGNIZED BY ASEAN COUNTRIES

The nursing licenses from the Philippines are now recognized by all ASEAN countries, and will thus enable Filipino nurses to practice their professions in Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei,  Singapore, Thailand,  Cambodia, Indonesia , Laos and Vietnam.

This  development   came  after   the  signing   of  the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on  Nursing   Services . Under the MRA, licensed  Filipino  Nurses  will be  recognized  by  the host country  and  will be allowed to practice their  profession , without having to take the the national licensure exams of the other ASEAN members. A minimum work experience of 3 years is required for all the nurses.

The Philippines will be the biggest beneficiary of the MRA, having the most number of licensed nurses in the ASEAN. 

>> PHILIPPINE HOSPITAL DIRECTORY OUT ALREADY

Abba has started to distribute its “Hospital in the Philippines”, a listing of all hospitals and medical institutions in the country.  The listing features the name of the Hospital, the bed capacity (primary, secondary, etc.), location and addresses and other information about the country’s healthcare industry.  The listing is meant for Abba’s clients and friends who need vital information about hospital in the Philippines. 8888

Representatives  from   foreign   hospitals  may  ask   for   a   copy  at abba98@pldtdsl.net

>> NURSES FOR ABBA CLIENT CAN LEAVE FOR U.S.A. ON H1B VISA

Cambridge Healthcare, one of Abba’s U.S. based clients, continues to interview nurse-applicants for a non-cap hospital in the U.S. This means that successful applicants will be processed on an H1B, or work visa.

As a non- cap facility, the hospital does not need to wait for April 01 in filing the H1B petition. That  considerably shortens the processing period to within 5 months or less, from the approval of the nurse’s application with Abba.

With an H1B visa, the nurse can land in the U.S. earlier,  get employment with the H1B for 3 years, and extend the visa for another 3 years. Within this period, the nurse is expected to be able to convert her work  visa to permanent residency status.

To qualify for the work visa, the applicants must have passed the NCLEX and IELTS. Interviews are ongoing in Abba, and client's selection are finalized with an overseas  phone interview by the client. 

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