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UCU GS Research Journal
LIVED EXPERIENCE OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO NURSES IN THE KINGDOM OF
SAUDI ARABIA: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH
KATHLEEN JOY VELASCO

The study determined the lived experiences of Filipino overseas Filipino workers in
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It dealt on the profile of the respondents in terms of their age,
sex, civil status, religious affiliation, number of siblings, number of children, highest educational
attainment, date of graduation and years of clinical experience in the Philippines prior to working
overseas. It also focused on the experiences of overseas Filipino nurses on their stay in the
Kingdom of Saudia Arabia along physical, emotional and social. It also tackled on the coping
mechanisms employed by the overseas Filipino nurses. The respondents of the study were 6
overseas Filipino nurses that worked first time in Saudi Arabia. This study was conducted from
November 2014 to November 2015. Case study method was used in the study wherein purposive
samplingwas utilized. Face-to-face interview was done to the respondents.
Based on the gathered data, the following are the findings: Majority of the overseas
Filipino nurses were in the age bracket of 24-27 years old, female, single, with religious affiliation
equally distributed among the respondents, have two siblings,bachelor’s degree, most graduated
in 2011 and worked 2-3 years after going overseas.
The following conclusions are hereby offered: Majority of the respondents are in the
age bracket of 24-27 years old, females, single, Roman Catholic, Christian and Iglesiani Cristo,
who have two siblings, graduated as Bachelor of Science in Nursing, that graduated at the
year 2011 with 2-3 years of clinical experience in Philippines prior working overseas. Physical
aspect, developing eating disorder- such as eating too much or too little due to different types
of stressors and experiencing physical exhaustion which is a result of work related adjustment
or job strain are the commonly encountered situation by Overseas Filipino nurses. Meanwhile,
in emotional aspect, feeling of homesickness because of being away from home and emotional
exhaustion due to the exceeded capacity for emotional stress are the two usual situations felt
by the nurses. Lastly, within social aspect, great number of the respondents’ social adjustment
and language barrier are the common dilemma that they encounter. The respondents showed
different coping strategies in addressing their different experiences in their stay in Jeddah,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The following recommendations are presented: The respondents must pursue their
post graduate course to level up their qualifications and be competitive with other foreign
nurses. They must undergo seminars and trainings that tackle specific topics that explain the
culture, norms and values of the specific country destination. To promote easier coping for the
overseas Filipino workers in their stay in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, they must learn stress
reduction techniques, effective and assertive communication, and conflict management .
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