June 2012 Visa Bulletin

RETROGRESSION UPDATE

It's been a while since we last wrote about monthly visa bulletins issued by the American State department here at Pinoy RN. So let's see what's new in the visa front.

The visa bulletin for June 2012 has been out for more than a week now and Hammond Law Group made a very good table showing the movement of employment-based immigrant visa 3rd preference.

Click to enlarge. Table courtesy of Hammond Law Group Website

The table above shows that in June last year, Filipino nurses waiting since  September 15, 2005 (or earlier) were seeing progress in their immigrant petition to work in the United States. Fast forward to today, and we see that the priority dates moved nine (9) months.  

While still retrogressed, the monthly visa bulletins show a slow but consistent progress in the processing of nurse petitions.

Sport Summer’s Hottest Trends In Your Scrubs

SPONSORED ARTICLE

Just because you can’t be on vacation the entire summer doesn’t mean that you can’t stay fashion forward at work in your medical scrubs! For those of you in the medical field, we’re bringing you some of this summer’s hottest fashion trends and showing you how you can rock these dominant trends while on the job in your scrubs at your hospital or doctor’s office. 

Graphic Florals: The floral trend that appeared this spring is still going strong, and these cheery prints on your scrubs are perfect mood-boosters for your co-workers and patients alike: 

• UA Scrubs “Forget Me Not White” Round Neck Scrub Top ~ this top is ultra feminine with flower-shaped buttons and lace embroidery trim on the bottom hem. It makes you feel like you are outside in a field of flowers instead of stuck at work!
• Koi Scrubs “Mon Amour” Print Scrub Top ~ this pink and blue floral top is so stylish it blurs the line between regular clothes and scrubs. The pleated neckline and smocked pockets give it girly touches and the background images of postcards and cameras are subtle reminders that your summer vacation is (hopefully) right around the corner! 

Flashy Brights: Attention-grabbing neon colors are in stores everywhere this summer’s, the brighter the better! Plus, these bold, “happy” colors give your skin a nice glow so you can easily fake a tan: 

• Crocs Scrubs Crossover “Crystal” Top in Kiwi ~This lime green scrub top is as functional as it is fashionable, it has Crocs signature “Croc pockets” for storage and is designed to be ultra flexible to move with you. 
• Butter-Soft Scrubs by UA Scallop Neck Top in Picante~ Tangerine was named the Pantone color of the year for 2012 and this bright orange shade is a great way to showcase this trend in your medical uniforms without being overpowering. 

Patriotic Prints: What’s summer without a backyard BBQ and fireworks? Between Memorial Day and 4th of July, summer is the time to show your national pride and you can continue that spirit in your scrubs:  

• Koi Scrubs “Celebration” Bridgette Top ~ with stars and stripes just like the flag, this scrub top is a classic, complete with a novelty front tie and star shaped beads! 
• UA Scrubs “Blast of Stars” Mock Wrap Scrub Top ~ this top brings the fireworks right out of the sky and onto your scrubs and red piping along the mock wrap adds an extra “punch” of color. 

For more information, visit http://www.UniformAdvantage.com, your one-stop shop for all of your nursing scrubs and medical uniforms needs. Uniform Advantage is a leading retailer of scrubs and medical uniforms. Founded in 1985, the company operates out of Plantation, Florida and ships from their distribution center near Atlanta, Georgia. It has grown to include 27 scrubs stores located in key cities across the US and Canada, a catalog division and an entity dedicated to the online market.

Nurse Licensure Examination Application Goes Online

The Professional Regulation Commission has announced that applications for the June 2012 Nursing Board Exam may now be filed online (http://www.prc.gov.ph/online/application/).

The online application, however, only involves the first step in the application process.

After completing the online application, applicants must then proceed to the nearest PRC Office for the processing of their applications, payment of fees, and the issuance of their Notice of Admission for entry to the examination centers.

The two-day licensure examination is scheduled on June 30 – July 1, 2012 and will be held in several cities nationwide.

International Nurses Day 2012

On May 6 to May 12, nurses from all over the world will be celebrating International Nurses Week. This yearly event is held to commemorate the countless contributions millions of registered nurses have made to society.

International Nurses Day 2012 is scheduled on May 12,  the last day of the week-long celebration.  It marks the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.  On this momentous occasion, National Nursing Associations (NNA) from all over the globe will join forces in memorializing her achievements and lifetime work in modern nursing.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has announced that the International Nurses Day theme for 2012 is: Closing the Gap:  From Evidence to Action.  This year's theme emphasizes the utilization of evidence-based approach in nursing practice and the empowerment of nurses in putting nursing knowledge into everyday use.

The International Council of Nurses is an organization of National Nursing Associations. Founded in 1899, it represents more than 13 million nurses worldwide.

Mix and Match to Grow Your Scrubs Wardrobe

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Between family, friends, and work it may be difficult to get a moment for yourself, much less have time to update your work wardrobe with this season’s trendy colors and hottest styles. Fear not, we’re going to cover a few ways you can spruce up your wardrobe (while staying budget friendly!) by mixing and matching old and new uniform pieces. 

Channel your inner creativity and learn how to turn scrubs into a fashion forward ensemble! 

Step 1: Pick 1 “basic color” that you feel most comfortable in (whether it’s black, brown, gray, white or navy) or whichever one that you have to wear based on your team’s uniform regulations  

Step 2: Find out which colors are best based on your coloring (skin tone, eye color, hair color) these are divided into either warm or cool—here are examples of each: Warm: Oranges, Reds, Yellows Cool: Blues, Greens, Purples 

Step 3*: Put more emphasis on switching up your scrub tops, when you vary tops people are much more likely to notice something new and fresh vs. scrub bottoms 

Step 4: Most importantly: make sure that the colors you pick are ones that you will feel confident wearing, not just because they’re “right”! Feeling good about your appearance will be the best accessory for your scrubs and put the spring in your step. 

To embellish on Step 3 here are some easy ways to get the most out of your existing tops and a guide for what to look for when buying new tops to get the most bang for your buck: 

Cardigan style warm-up jackets and lab coats like the Koi scrubs Olivia jacket or Koi scrubs Geneva lab coat are a great way to “dress up” scrubs on the job—they’re also a great way to store your cell phone, keys, etc. 

• Jackets are great for complimenting a printed top with a corresponding solid pant 
• Ones that feature elastic cuffs help keep you warm in chilly air conditioned buildings and keep sleeves out of your way on the job! 

Wrap tops often have contrasting trim, which will provide you with more options for corresponding bottom colors 

Not only are floral, polka dot, and other printed tops fun and cheery for your co-workers and patients, but they allow you a more broad scope of pant options because you can wear pants of any of the featured colors and still match! 

Summary: When your budget is tight look no further than your own closet for ways to mix and match scrubs to create new work outfits! Here are tips for mixing and matching to get the most out of what you already have for work uniforms. 

Resource: Uniform Advantage is a leading retailer of scrubs and medical uniforms. Founded in 1985, the company operates out of Plantation, Florida and ships from their distribution center near Atlanta, Georgia. It has grown to include 27 scrubs stores located in key cities across the US and Canada, a catalog division and an entity dedicated to the online market. For more information, visit http://www.UniformAdvantage.com, your one-stop shop for all of your nursing uniform needs.

PRC ID Printing Delayed

The Professional Regulation Commission has announced that it will be facing delays in the printing and issuance of professional identification cards (PRC IDs).

Printing and issuance of PRC IDs have been suspended since February 16, 2012 pending the rebidding of the the contract for its production.

Best Scrubs for Each Body Type

Sponsored Post 

When flipping through the pages of your favorite fashion magazine you’ll frequently see articles on choosing the best bathing suit, dress, or business attire for your body type. So why not do the same for scrubs, especially since those in the medical field wear them much more frequently than swimwear! We’ve identified the best cuts and styles of scrubs based on four common body types to help you look and feel your best while on the job: 

Hourglass or Curvy: full bust that is equal or very close in measurement to your hips, narrow waist. 

• Do: Choose clothes that work with your natural curves, this way your outfit will encourage the correct proportions 
• Do: Look for high-waisted, straight leg pants so the eye is drawn to a thin middle 
• Don’t: Don shapeless or boxy styles, like baby-doll tunics or oversized cardigans 
• Try: Cherokee scrubs mock wrap tunic, wrap tops create a diagonal movement across the body which is more forgiving and the v-neck flatters curves without overdoing it 

Rectangle or Straight: strong, broad shoulders, proportional hips and the lack of a highly defined waist. 

• Do: Wear a fitted jacket to “break up” the shape and create a more defined waist 
• Do: Select styles that cinch at the middle but flare out at the bottom to boost curves, like boot-cut pants which give the impression of all-around shapeliness 
• Don’t: Pick anything too flowy or unstructured like Empire-waist tops 
• Try: Ruffles, fluttery sleeves, and ruching help to add volume to bust and shoulders, which subsequently adds definition to the waist 

Triangle or Pear: hip measurement is larger than bust measurement and a small to average sized waist, shoulders and torso are narrower than the hips. 

• Do: Look for dark wide-leg pants, they will slenderizes thighs while creating a longer and slimmer silhouette 
• Do: Opt for boatneck tops under a hip-length jacket, drawing attention to the open neckline broadens the shoulders to offset fuller hips and evens out lower body proportions 
• Don’t: Reach for skinny pants, they won’t create a flattering shape, along with items that are too oversized Try: Printed tops draw the eye upward, paired with a solid, dark pant to elongate, try the Cherokee scrubs ½ elastic ½ drawstring waist pant for a smooth shape 

Inverted Triangle: large bust, wide shoulders, small hips (more top-heavy vs. bottom-heavy). 

• Do: Stay away from large prints or horizontal stripes on top 
• Do: Lean toward darker colors to make you appear thinner 
• Don’t: Go for high necklines, puffy or gathered sleeves, and prominent collars or frills, these will exaggerate width 
• Try: V-neck, side stretch panel tops, the contouring and vertical seaming will help create a favorable line, paired with boot cut or cargo pocket pants to “balance” overall shape 

Summary: Want to know which scrub styles are best based on your body type? Create your most flattering shape with these tips so you can feel good about yourself while you are on the job helping others. 

Resource: For more information, visit http://www.UniformAdvantage.com, your one-stop shop for all of your nursing uniform needs.

December 2011 Nursing Board Exam Results

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 22,760 out of 67,095 passed the Nurse Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nursing in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Nueva Ecija, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga last December 2011. 

The members of the Board of Nursing are Carmencita M. Abaquin, Chairman; Leonila A. Faire, Betty F. Merritt, Perla G. Po, Marco Antonio C. Sto.Tomas, Yolanda C. Arugay and Amelia B. Rosales, Members.

DECEMBER 2011 NURSE LICENSURE EXAMINATION RESULTS

• Full text of the Official Result of the December 2011 Nurse Licensure Examination
• School Ratings in the December 2011 Nurse Licensure Examination
• December 2011 Nursing Board Exam Topnotchers
• Complete list of successful examinees in the December 2011 Nursing Board Exam

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