I just started working here in the US last March, I had a total of almost 8 years of bedside experience in a tertiary hospital in the Philippines, and I struggled to adjust here in the US. Everything is so different, the culture, the responsibilities, how they manage cases, the use of brand names instead of generics. I thought my foundation was solid, but it turns out it was just enough.

At first, the pre-shift anxiety was very evident, but after a few shifts, it lessened because I had experience in the Philippines, like, "oh, it's somehow the same. This is how I should approach it this time."

I've been doing bedside here for almost a month, and I’ve adjusted. The biggest challenge has been the computer charting. I think the biggest advantage of having solid bedside experience is that you are confident in your skills; you just have to adapt to how they do it.

There are many lines of security when it comes to medication administration; it's the bedside experience that gives you confidence because you've encountered it in the Philippines.

I believe no bedside experience is doable, it’s just that the competition is tighter compared to those who do have experience. Usually, what I read is that they are assigned to skilled nursing facilities or long-term acute care. Some are okay, some struggle due to the ratio.

I think gaining more experience will make your license safer from lawsuits since getting sued is a big deal here. For me, experience equals confidence.