Nursing in the Philippines | Stop Nurse Exploitation!

Stop Nurse Exploitation

through FALSE Volunteerism Practices and Non-Accredited Training Programs

Our country’s Nurses constitute the LARGEST number of health professionals in all settings. Nurses work with patients 24 hours a day from the time of admission to the day of discharge from the hospital.

Over 400,000 of our country’s Registered Nurses are EXPLOITED by many healthcare institutions through FALSE Volunteerism Practices and Non-Accredited Training Programs (BON-CPE Council Accreditation), where they are made to work with the full responsibilities of an employed staff Nurse, without any form of compensation, benefits, and employer protection. Most are even required to pay while rendering Nursing Care services.

Because these Nurses have obtained the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and have passed the Nurses Licensure Examination, they are fully qualified to practice safe Nursing Care to patients, families, and communities, as per RA 9173, the Nursing Act of 2002. However, these young Professionals are charged exorbitant fees for these “so-called” trainings, and are left to submit to this blatant form of exploitation.  Furthermore, they are deceived with empty promises of employment and the misinformed belief of improving their resumes though “Volunteer” or “Training” Certificates.

These practices prevent new Nurses from being hired, because all available Nurse Plantilla positions are filled up by these unpaid “Volunteers” or “Trainees”. These healthcare institutions have no need to hire anymore, as they can get Nursing services for FREE through the EXPLOITATION of our Nurses.

Lastly, as per the International Council of Nurses’ (ICN) November 2010 Asia Nursing Workforce Forum, Training and Volunteer certificates are NOT recognized abroad as work experience.

These exploitative practices have existed for more than 15 years. It was temporarily halted in 2008, through the efforts of the PNA. In January 2011, the issue broke out again in the media, but the exploitation stopped only for ONE WEEK. The effect is always short-lived, as government support in this issue is not continuous.

Today, there are many Private and Government hospitals still engaging in this EXPLOITATION. They now go by different names, masquerading as “Specialty Programs” such as Nurse Residency, Basic Skills Training, Clinical Advancement, and Post-Graduate Trainings.

The whole Philippine population is deeply concerned in this situation, as these hundreds of thousands of Exploited Nurses are our brothers and sisters, spouses, parents, and our children.

The Filipino Nurses are clamouring for jobs they are already trained to do. Give them what is due starting with a decent salary.

Uphold the respect for the dignity of Nurses and the right of the Filipino People to quality healthcare! 

Nurses take care of the health of our countrymen, but who takes care of our dear Nurses?

We, the Filipino People, implore our Government, and our “People’s President”, Benigno S. Aquino III, to put a STOP to the exploitative practices against our Nurses’ Constitutional and God-Given Human Rights. - angnars.com

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION NOW!

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Nursing Updates: July 2011 NLE Oath-taking, Nursing as an Oversubscribed Course, Hilot, etc.

ANNOUNCEMENT:



REGION 1 - DAGUPAN CITY OATHTAKING CEREMONY


Venue: Dagupan People's Astrodome
Date: October 5, 2011
Time: 8am to 12 noon
Attire: Gala Uniform (white shoes and stockings)
Note: Registration on Sept. 9 & 10 at PMS office.
Fee: P1,050.00 plus P400.00 PNA membership fee
*only 2 guests are allowed

[NEWS, OPINION]


TUCP, CHED urges graduating High School students not to take-up 5 "oversubscribed" courses: one of which is NURSING

I feel disheartened by this article featuring the statements coming from Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
The problem that the Nursing Profession faces today is not new to me. I am actually experiencing it right now. But the bad thing about these statements is that it hinders high school graduates to choose freely what course they really want to take in college.
Indeed, it is correct to say that Nursing (or any of the five courses stated in the article) are somewhat or "extremely oversubscribed," but the thing is, these organizations can't tell these students to "avoid" or "stay-out" (of) the aforementioned courses.
In the case of Nursing, these statements could be of much effect especially to the Nursing Education. I think they failed to consider that having decreasing amount of nursing student (or even total absence) could lead to even more unemployment in the said profession as this could result to laying-off of many Nursing Educators.
As matter of fact, this situation is currently happening right now and these press releases could even aggravate this condition. I hope that organizations like TUCP and CHED should consider the effects like what I've stated above before "urging" the graduating High School students to avoid these professions.
And the thing is, I believe that there's still future that awaits these students in the Nursing Profession. Many developed countries are having an increasing aging/ elderly portion in their population and this either directly or indirectly means that they'll evetually need to call for other health care providers (like Nurses) coming from outside their country to provide care to these people.
It is not new to us that the Philippines is one of the top producers of  Nurses worldwide.

"Hilot" as a future career

The idea of taking up the "Hilot" / Massage Therapy course is good. It's new to me that being a "Hilot" is in demand and even high-paying right now but I also honestly think that it's a good vocational course to consider too: for as long as the student really want to take it up.

TUCP's say about the Mass-Oath-taking

Though TUCP said something bad about Nursing (telling that it is oversubscribed and even urges graduating High School not to take it in college), it is good that it is in favor about the idea of pursuing the Mass Oath-taking of the July 2011 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE/ NLEx) passers.
I hope that the Philippine Nursing Association (PNA) and ADPCN's call to continue the aforementioned ceremonies will finally be heared and approved by the PRC-Board of Nursing as soon as possible.



RELATED ARTICLES:


No frills oath-taking for nurses

The board of nursing of the Professional Regulation Commission will start administering the nurses’ oath on September 25 but will do away with the lavish oath-taking en mass in keeping with the government’s austerity measures.


Labor department spokesman Nikon Fameronag said that all those who passed the nursing board examination can take their oath at the PRC office in Manila.


Nursing schools which prefer to conduct the mass oath-taking can do so even without officials of the nursing board or PRC. The school dean may administer the oath, he said.


PRC chairman Teresita R. Manzala earlier said the mass oath-taking was scrapped to save on government funds, but the Philippine Nurses’ Association opposed the move, saying that no government money was being spent for the ceremonies. The nurses used to fork out money to spend for the oath-taking venue, souvenir program and related expenses. Each nurse was required to pay P600 for the venue, equipment and other expenses, the nurses’ group said Vito Barcelo

Source: ManilaStandardToday.com, retrieved at 16:52 UTC+8


Stay out of 5 college courses
Written by : ERNESTO F. HERRERA, Tuesday, September 06, 2011

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has urged young Filipinos to stay out of heavily oversubscribed college courses if they want to increase their chances of obtaining gainful employment after graduation.


The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has already identified at least five extremely oversubscribed programs: teacher education, nursing, business administration, information-technology, and hotel and restaurant management.


Compared to potential labor market demand, there are now far too many fresh graduates of these five courses, and large numbers of new students still going into these programs.


We’re afraid the huge oversupply of graduates of these programs has made it exceptionally difficult for them to sell their skills to employers.


Fresh high school graduates as well as college students who could still shift courses should instead consider going into science and technology as well as agriculture and fisheries—programs that have been singled out by the CHED as undersubscribed.


Students can also check the career guide section posted at the Bureau of Local Employment website at www.ble.gov.ph, which contains a series of occupational briefs or summary information about hard-to-fill and highly in-demand occupations, to aid students in planning their university courses and workers who would like to shift careers.


Even the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has advised students and workers to consider taking health-related courses other than nursing, as this paper reported last Monday.


“With the continued glut of registered, yet, unemployed nurses, alongside with the recent developments highlighted by nurse-volunteerism in hospitals and institutions, I encourage students and workers to look at other healthcare professions if they want to get employed quickly,” said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.


Baldoz issued the statement as the new batch of successful examinees of the July 2011 Nursing Licensure examination further increased the surplus of nurses in the country.


TUCP has been pushing for the opening of new foreign labor markets and the creation of local employment programs for the growing number of jobless Filipino nurses. It has also been pressing for the shutdown of substandard schools that it said have been defrauding nursing students and their parents.


Baldoz pointed out that there are other job opportunities in the health and wellness industry besides nursing.


“The Health and Wellness industry has been identified by DOLE’s Project Jobsfit as one of the 12 key employment generators that will provide more employment opportunities,” Baldoz said, adding that the industry has the potential for absorbing the most number of Filipino workers in the next 10 years.


The Labor chief said that other careers under the industry, such as optometry, physical therapy, pharmacy, medical technology, clinical and internal medicine, surgery, radiology, wellness massage and spa/massage therapy are occupations that are expected to propel more employment opportunities both local and overseas up to 2020.


“These kind of careers are in-demand not only in hospitals, but also in laboratories, clinics, health maintenance organizations, public health agencies, pharmaceutical firms, research institutions, scientific equipment companies, physicians’ offices, and schools offering clinical laboratory science programs. Indeed, their licenses can bring them to greater heights and greener pastures,” Baldoz said.

Allow oath-taking of new nurses, labor group urges PRC, DOLE

I urge the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to reconsider their decision to scrap the traditional oath-taking for the 37,513 nursing graduates who passed the July licensure examination.


The TUCP supports the appeal of the Philippine Nurses Association Inc. (PNA) for the ceremony to proceed as scheduled on Sept. 25.


Nurses consider the ritual a celebration of their profession. In a way, the observance also honors parents and families who have invested in a big way in the nursing education of their children.


The PRC earlier cancelled the ceremony at the prodding of the DOLE, which cited the need to conserve public funds.


However, the PNA has countered that the government has never spent any money for the formal service to begin with.


The nurses themselves have been paying P600 each to cover the cost of the venue, equipment and other expenses, with the extra collections going to the Board of Nursing, the PNA said.

Source: ManilaTimes.net, retrieved 16:53 UTC+8



Students urged: Avoid 5 oversubscribed courses 
By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star), September 05, 2011 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines -  The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday urged students to avoid five oversubscribed college courses to increase their chances of getting employment.


TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has identified education, nursing, business administration, information technology, and hotel and restaurant management as “extremely oversubscribed” programs.


“We’re afraid the huge oversupply of graduates of these programs has made it exceptionally difficult for them to sell their skills to employers,” Herrera said.


“There are now too many fresh graduates of these five courses, and large numbers of new students still going into these programs,” he added.


Herrera said high school graduates and college students who could still shift courses should instead consider going into science and technology as well as agriculture and fisheries - programs which have been singled out by the CHED as undersubscribed.


Meanwhile, Herrera asked the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to reconsider their decision to scrap the traditional oath-taking for the 37,513 nursing graduates who passed the July licensure examination.


He said the labor group supports the appeal of the Philippine Nurses Association Inc. for the ceremony to proceed as scheduled on Sept. 25.


“Nurses consider the ritual a celebration of their profession. In a way, the observance also honors parents and families who have invested in a big way in the nursing education of their children,” Herrera said.


The PRC earlier cancelled the oath-taking for nurses to save on government funds.

‘Hilot’ future for young Pinoys

Believe it or not, “hilot” is not a thing of the past but the future for young Filipinos.


The labor department yesterday advised students to become massage therapists, locally known as “hilot,” to easily land a job.


Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said DOLE has identified the health and wellness industry as one of the 12 key employment generators that will provide more employment opportunities in the coming years.


Baldoz said wellness massage and spa therapy were identified among the in-demand skills in the next decade.


“Massage therapists who have completed formal training programs and have passed the licensure exam are likely to have very good job opportunities,” she said.


Aside from “hilot,” other in-demand skills are optometry, physical therapy, pharmacy, medical technology, clinical and internal medicine, surgery, and radiology.


“These occupations are expected to propel more employment opportunities in the industry, both local and overseas, up to 2020,” Baldoz said.


She said the nursing graduates, who successfully passed the licensure examination last July, will increase the number of unemployed people in the country.


“With the continuous glut of registered, yet unemployed nurses, alongside the recent developments highlighted by nurse-volunteerism in hospitals and institutions, I encourage students and workers to look at other healthcare professions if they want to get employed quickly,” Baldoz said.


The labor chief said workers in the health and wellness professions have entry level salaries ranging from P8,000 to P12,000 per month but may go up to P20,000 or higher after years of experience.


Abroad, the average salary is about $6,351 per month or higher.


“These kind of careers are in-demand not only in hospitals but also in laboratories, clinics, health maintenance organizations, public health agencies, pharmaceutical firms, research institutions, scientific equipment companies, physicians’ offices, and schools offering clinical laboratory science programs. Indeed, their licenses can bring them to greater heights and greener pastures,” Baldoz added.


DOLE urged students to check the summary information of all health-related courses in the career guide section posted at the Bureau of Local Employment website at http://www.ble.gov.ph.


The career guide contains information on hard-to-fill and highly in-demand occupations to help students planning their college courses and workers who would like to shift careers.


Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) called on private companies to revive and strengthen their apprenticeship programs and hire qualified trainees as part of their workforce.       


TESDA director general Joel Villanueva said there is a need to push the apprenticeship program “because it has always been proven that the best place to acquire skills is in the workplace.”


He said these training schemes not only enhance partnership between the industry and technical vocational education training providers but also ensure a steady supply of best job-fit and ready workforce.

Source: PhilStar.com, retrieved 16:55 UTC+8

Helpful Links:

NLE July 2011 Update # 8 "Attire and Regional Oath-taking"

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATE # 7 "Yes to Mass Oath-taking"

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATE #6

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATES 1-5

VERIFY YOUR NAME AND NLE RATING

COMPLETE LIST OF PASSERS FOR JULY 2011 NLE

PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS IN THE JULY 2011 NLE


* You may also want to read about the TOP 10 NURSING MUST-READS!

What can you say about these articles? Leave a Comment below!

NLE July 2011 Update # 8 "Attire and Regional Oath-taking"

I have read and received some updates this day regarding the famous issue on scrapping the Mass Oath-taking for the July 2011 NLE Passers. BoN Member, Hon. Marco Antonio Sto. Tomas stated the Attire for the Oath-taking in his Official Facebook Fan Page, Jaymee Gamil of Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote about the New Regional Oath-taking rites and an Editorial from Pilipino Star Ngayon says that the Mass Oath-taking is indeed as waste of our government's (our) money:

OATH-TAKING AT REGIONAL OFFICE of THE PRC IN BAGUIO CITY FOR REGION 1 AND CAR

The Regional Office holds oath-taking for professionals who have not attended Mass Oath-taking, every THURSDAY at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Oath-taking is required for initial registration.


No oath-taking fees. Please come in semi-formal attire. Health and allied professionals must come in gala attire. Confirm attendance with Regulations Division (Window 11) or call (074) 304-3028

Source: BoN Sto. Tomas Official Facebook Fan Page, retrieved 17:22 UTC+8

PRC releases guide on new oath-taking rites
by Jaymee T. Gamil, Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:30 pm | Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—The Professional Regulation Commission has come out with guidelines on its newly austere oath-taking rites for nurses.


In a statement released on Wednesday, the PRC said group oath-taking ceremonies may be hosted by the respective schools of the board passers, in coordination with the respective chapters of their accredited professional organizations, for as long as they get clearance from the Board of Nursing and the PRC.


Regional PRC offices may also hold the rites, also in coordination with regional chapter of the APOs, with consultation with the BON and the PRC main office.


New nurses may also have their oath-taking individually before the BON, PRC officials and “any other official authorized to administer oath pursuant to section 16 of the Philippine Nursing Law.”


These guidelines for the oath-taking rites of the July 2011 Nursing Licensure Exam passers may become a precedent for those of other professions. The PRC released the guidelines “pending issuance of a more definitive and detailed guideline that will apply not only to nurses but to all board passers in other professions covered by the licensure examinations administered by the appropriate Professional Regulatory Boards and the PRC.”


Oath-taking rites for nurses used to be held en masse. The mass oath-taking for the July 2011 nursing board passers, supposedly to be held next month, has been cancelled.

Source: Inquirer.net, retrieved 17:24 UTC+8

Editoryal - Magarbong oath-taking 
(Pilipino Star Ngayon) Updated August 30, 2011 12:00 AM

MABUTI naman at naisip ng Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) na alisin na ang magarbong mass oath-taking ng mga nakapasa sa nursing board examination ngayong taon na ito. Ayon sa Department of Labor and Employment, wala nang mass oath taking para sa mga bagong nurses. Ito ay bilang pagsunod sa kampanya ng gobyerno na magtipid. Ayon kay Labor secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, nag-isyu na ng withdrawal ang Board of Nursing (BON) para sa mga hinihinging congratulatory and inspirational messages mula sa top government officials na ilalathala sa souvenir program. Ayon pa kay Baldoz, malaking pera ang matitipid ng gobyerno sa hindi pagdaraos ng mass oath-taking.


Nararapat lang na huwag nang magkaroon ng magarbong mass oath-taking. Gawin na lamang ito nang simple para makatipid hindi lamang ang gobyerno kundi pati na rin ang mga magulang. Dahil naging tradisyon na ang mass oath-taking, puwersadong dumalo ang mga nakapasa kaya panibagong gastos na naman ang haharapin nila. Siyempre maraming babayaran gaya ng souvenir program, venue ng oath-taking at kung anu-ano pa. At hindi naman lahat ng mga magulang ng nakapasang nurses ay maykaya sa buhay.


Karamihan sa mga magulang ay iginapang lamang ang kanilang anak para makatapos ang kanilang anak. Marami sa kanila ang “kumapit sa patalim” para lamang maigapang ang kanilang anak. Nangutang at nagbenta ng ari-arian para makatapos ang anak sa kabila na walang katiyakan kung makakakuha agad ng trabaho ang anak. Mahirap makapasok sa ospital ang mga bagong nurses. Meron pa nga na kasama sa mga nag-top sa exam at nagtapos sa mga kilalang nursing school pero mahirap pa ring makapasok sa trabaho.


Dapat lang at sana ay noon pa nasimulan na itigil ang mass oath-taking ng nurses. Gastos lamang ito gayung maaari namang hindi gawin ng grupo lang o kaya ay indibidwal. Sinimulan na rin lang ng PRC, sana ay ipatupad na rin ng iba pang ahensiya. Pagtitipid ang kailangan sa panahong ito. Kalimutan ang pagbubulagsak na maaaring ikabagsak.

Source: Philstar.com, retrieved 17:24 UTC+8

Helpful Links:

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATE # 7 "Yes to Mass Oath-taking"

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATE #6

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATES 1-5

VERIFY YOUR NAME AND NLE RATING

COMPLETE LIST OF PASSERS FOR JULY 2011 NLE

PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS IN THE JULY 2011 NLE


* You may also want to read about the TOP 10 NURSING MUST-READS!

What can you say about these articles? Leave a Comment below!

NLE July 2011 Update # 7 "Yes to Mass Oath-Taking"

'We want Oath-taking.'

This seems to be the message of the Philippine Nursing Association (PNA) and Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN) as the following, back-to-back articles, by Jocelyn R. Uy of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Sheila Crisostomo of The Philippine Star, were published this morning regarding the position of these two Nursing Organizations re: Cancellation of Oath-taking for July 2011 NLE Passers:

Nursing deans question oath-taking cancellation 

By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) Updated August 30, 2011 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) and the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN) yesterday questioned the scrapping of the mass oath-taking for those who passed the licensure examination for nurses.

PNA president Dr. Teresita Barcelo said the announcement by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) came “too late in the day,” disappointing not only the nurses but their parents as well.

“Many of these nurses are sons and daughters of migrant workers who come home just to witness them taking their oath. How can we deny that to them? That should have been announced long before,” she said in an interview.

The PRC has decided to shelve the traditional mass oath-taking for newly-licensed nurses as part of the government’s austerity measures. The oath-taking for those who passed the July licensure tests for nurses is expected to be held early next month.

Barcelo claimed that the government has not been spending for this event. The nurses themselves pay a fee of P350 and another P250 for each companion, she said.

“There is no budget from the government for this (oath-taking). None that I know of and if that is the policy, why single out nurses? That should apply to all other professionals. Why do they discriminate (against) us?” Barcelo added.

The PRC’s Board of Nursing (BON) used to collect the fees but due to some controversies, the PNA assumed the task with the supervision of the BON.

The PNA and ADPCN urged the PRC to allow them to push through with the oath-taking for nurses.

“Many parents want to witness this milestone in their children’s life, thus, the mass oath-taking was conceptualized,” Barcelo said.

There are more than 37,000 passers in the July licensure examination for nurses.

Source: PhilippineStar.com, retrieved at 22:35 UTC +8

Nurses hit scrapping of rites

By Jocelyn R. Uy, Philippine Daily Inquirer 1:29 am | Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

The decision of the Professional Regulation Commission’s (PRC) Board of Nursing to scrap the mass oath-taking rites for newly registered nurses starting this year is not sitting well with the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA).

PNA national president Teresita Barcelo on Monday said the move to cancel the mass oath-taking ceremony next month may be too late for the oath-takers’ parents, mostly working overseas, who have already taken their leave from work to attend the event.

“It would be OK if it was announced earlier because now many parents and relatives of the oath-takers are anticipating the oath-taking and some are even coming home from abroad for that event,” Barcelo said in a phone interview.

She said the PNA wrote the PRC last Thursday after being informed of its decision, appealing that it push through with the ceremony, at least this time.

The association has even offered to sponsor the event just to see it push through on Sept. 25-26.

The PNA asked the commission to implement its decision starting in December, when the next board exam for nurses will be given, so that everyone would be informed early.

She said that last month the association reserved a venue for the oath-taking, which 14,000 to 15,000 board passers are expected to attend. At least 37,500 of 78,135 examinees passed.

“We could still hold the mass oath-taking and we could simplify it,” she said, stressing the importance of giving recognition to the exam topnotchers and to the schools that are doing well.

The Department of Labor and Employment on Sunday announced that the PRC’s Board of Nursing had decided to do away with the mass oath-taking to spare the government from the expenses “relevant to the holding of the traditional mass oath-taking.”

The announcement said it would help the families of the board passers save money as well.

But Barcelo said the event had always been a “self-liquidating activity,” in which not a single centavo came from the government. “The government does not spend for the occasion,” she said.

Not mandatory, board passers who choose to attend the mass oath-taking ceremony pay P250 to P350 for their guests.

She added that conducting the oath-taking either individually or by group during registration for nursing licenses with the PRC would be “inefficient” and “time-consuming” considering the almost 40,000 who passed the exam.

“This sends the wrong signal… it looks like they are discouraging these board passers not to be nurses anymore,” she said.

Source: Inquirer.net, retrieved at 22:36 UTC+8

Helpful Links:

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATE #6

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATES 1-5

VERIFY YOUR NAME AND NLE RATING

COMPLETE LIST OF PASSERS FOR JULY 2011 NLE

PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS IN THE JULY 2011 NLE


* You may also want to read about the TOP 10 NURSING MUST-READS!