Making things better for nurses in the Philippines

woknblues · May 25, 2008

interesting concept.

It seems to me that the situation is dire. And hopeless as it is in it's current state. I would recommend attacking the problem from outside the country, rather than inside. One thing I have learned about The Philippines is that amazingly, their government is more corrupt than mine (American). So, I would use the voice that you can get from earning dollars (or Euros or whatever foreign currency you earn). I say this because sadly, politicians care more for money and about money, more than any other medium of communication. So in effect, my suggestion is not directed at "In Country" Filipinos, but rather the legions of OFW's and expatriates of the Philippines who should in my opinion, spearhead the efforts to evoke change. After all, they are the ones supporting the "booming" (haha) economy that GMA loves to champion as a result of her own doing and influence.

What and how? I haven't got that far yet. But just pumping whatever extra cash you have at the end of each month back home will never change the country. For your families back home, who can blame you for doing it? Nobody. I would.

Also, American politicians are approachable by way of telephone and email. If you are a "Fil-Am", or as we call you in America, an "American", I suggest you start organizing yourselves with the many health care organizations that are in America, and look at ways to improve the state of health care in the United States (a disaster from the average John Smith or Juan Dela Cruz in America's point of view, if you can believe that) by increasing the numbers of Foreign trained Nurses. Easier said than done, but remember, politicians in my country will PICK UP THE PHONE. Not all, but some. I have called and spoke with my congressman about issues (unrelated to nursing) twice in my life. Both times after the call, I was helpfully referred and endorsed to a program or committee to look into / attend, etc. And once, his secretary even called up a month after and followed up with me!! Get Filipino/Filipina nurses earmarked the next time they open the green cards up. Again, easier said than done, but if that is not your goal, you will never acheive it.

Inside the country? Find the institutions that have the ability and courage to stand up to corruption. Elect politicians at all levels based upon what they have done, not just their promises/popularity. EDSA every week until you get what the heck you want. It is only through your tireless efforts that change will occur. Throughout Philippine history there have been martyrs. The time has never really been more critical for more. I am not talking literally here, but metaphorically, of course. Hold your people to the highest standard, and accept no less. Persecute irresponsibility and mediocrity. Don't settle for second best, or "at least you tried".

That's all I have for now.:typing

badtrip_27RN · May 28, 2008

We have a lot of critics right here. hehehe. Regardless of whatsoever laws to be implemented with regard to the nursing profession here in the PI...it still falls back to us. PI is known to be one of the worst corrupt government officials and with this alone reason...we (filipinos), can't do anything to make things better because government and people need to works as a team.

Politics should get serious with the unemployed nurses and soon to be nurses on where the world they will place them. With the sharp increasing numbers of filipino nurses, our problem should be the second priority next to food shortage.:chuckle

Not to deviate from the topic and get serious with politicians...it is really a great advantage for the nurses to have trainings before leaving the new nurses on the field all by themselves. Nursing exams, books and theories are not enough...exposure or experiences are really necessary to be called a professional nurse. Human lives are at stake here, not a mere animal. And for the nurse in-charge, be patient and try to understand the trainees...everyone starts at zero. You can no longer learn if your brain is already fed up of knowledge. Its like an empty barrel, try filling it a little each day...you'll find sooner your trainees to be really one of your colleagues.

N0rthst4r · Jun 15, 2008

i wish i knew how the pna worked. hehe. i think they're the organization that could best address or jumpstart this concern. it will have to start from the individual members, then the top officers, then lobby all the way to the higher powers-- the gov i think. i, for one, have no clue what the pna is doing, or if they are doing something. this outcry has been there for years, they by now should know what issues to address.
include me in the list of those who blame the government. that's why most of us see no hope and would jump at the first opportunity to go abroad..

it would be my pleasure to air my views regarding the first higlighted statement. ive been an rn for the past 8 years but until now, i didnt receive anything from pna. ive been a pna-cebu chapter member since then but until now, i was not able to receive a single magazine or even a cheap newsletter that can tell me whats going with the pna!!

worst was that, ever since i became a member of this respective association, i still got a despicable id card made of "cartolina" with my 1x1 id picture pasted at its left upper portion and was handed to my wife without being laminated for protection. i am not talking about the pna national but it seems that theyre still the same.

this (pna) association should be the one to gather all our concerns, sum it up and bring it to the concerned government agency. we are paying them yearly dues, but what about the rest of those money we paid? is that how expensive the issued id that they cannot spare something that will benifit its members? i dont even read a single article wherein you can read "pna helping a deported phil. rn" or "pna helps family of a deceased phil. rn who got into an accident or whatsoever that that thier member will be proud of. well, i hate the fact thinking about it but whether you like it or not, a lot of hospitals in the philippines requires us to be a member of the most beloved pna. may they have a worthy feast of all those money being collected from its members like me...

on the 2nd highlighted statement, as most of us viewed that it is the government's fault, no it's not but i rather accept the fact that majority of those who has to be blamed are no other than.... ourselves because in the first place we are the one who put them into that position!

keep on posting guys...

" there is only one thing that the devil needs to triumph, and that is when people stop doing something for the benifit of other people".

spongebob6286, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2008

some of the hospitals here would require pna card as one of the requirements.. :no: we paid php300 for membership.. i wonder where will the money go! if only they could make the seminars free for nurses! :saint: what i only got is an id made of oslo paper colored green. :down: our names werent also printed! you'll be the one to put the details! :chuckle i havent also received any journals in snail mail or e mail.. i havent heard of any programs or problems being addressed by their organization! :imbar what is going on with them? why are they still existing??!! :clown:

:banghead: :eek:

:imbar

:sniff:

:argue:

suzanne4, RN · Jun 20, 2008

Now use this vented up anger in coming up with constructive solutions to make changes. Changes do not need to be major, actually can ge things done with very small changes, but as long as they are headed in the right direction.

Perhaps publishing or putting together a list of each and every program that offers the RN program there and then the NLE passing history of the school. That will surely open some eyes and perhaps you can get the local papers to publish this as well. It will make people take notice and this is what you want to see.

I will be more than happy to post it here altogether so that it is available as a start for all of you.

----------------------------------

But you need to do the work for it. Just think of starting small, and for the politicians that are not helpful or are receiving kick-backs, they do not need to be reelected.

Just remember to start small and with the number of graduates over there, you can really accomplish things. Do not wait for someone to do something for you.

Hoss · Jun 21, 2008

you hold the power to change the pna...vote, vote, vote...choose an aggressive slate of "can do" officers and attend your pna convention...get active, not just angry!!....

it would be my pleasure to air my views regarding the first higlighted statement. ive been an rn for the past 8 years but until now, i didnt receive anything from pna. ive been a pna-cebu chapter member since then but until now, i was not able to receive a single magazine or even a cheap newsletter that can tell me whats going with the pna!!
worst was that, ever since i became a member of this respective association, i still got a despicable id card made of "cartolina" with my 1x1 id picture pasted at its left upper portion and was handed to my wife without being laminated for protection. i am not talking about the pna national but it seems that theyre still the same.
this (pna) association should be the one to gather all our concerns, sum it up and bring it to the concerned government agency. we are paying them yearly dues, but what about the rest of those money we paid? is that how expensive the issued id that they cannot spare something that will benifit its members? i dont even read a single article wherein you can read "pna helping a deported phil. rn" or "pna helps family of a deceased phil. rn who got into an accident or whatsoever that that thier member will be proud of. well, i hate the fact thinking about it but whether you like it or not, a lot of hospitals in the philippines requires us to be a member of the most beloved pna. may they have a worthy feast of all those money being collected from its members like me...
on the 2nd highlighted statement, as most of us viewed that it is the government's fault, no it's not but i rather accept the fact that majority of those who has to be blamed are no other than.... ourselves because in the first place we are the one who put them into that position!
keep on posting guys...
" there is only one thing that the devil needs to triumph, and that is when people stop doing something for the benifit of other people".

suzanne4, RN · Jun 24, 2008

One cannot expect changes to come from other countries concerning issues with your government, it needs to come directly from the people in your country.

If you do not like what a politician is doing, then they do not need to be reelected. Just like the US or anyplace else.

And if they are that corrupt, then the focus needs to be on removing them from office, and not letting them continue with what they are doing.

Who ever is corrupt needs to be removed. And is starts with very small changes to get things done. Going to meetings and standing up for what is yours is a start. Get active in organizations there as the more voices, the more that one listens.

But do not expect relief to come from other countries, that is just not going to happen at all. It is like putting a head in the sand and hoping that things will get better, you all you will find is that you will be buried alive.

messageinabox · Jun 28, 2008

The nursing situation here in the Philippines has really became worse to worst. Yes it's true that hundreds of thousands REGISTERED nurses are either unemployed or underemployed. That the current nursing personnel in the hospitals (esp government facilities) are working on a very unsafe ratio of 1 nurse:1 ward.

Let's face it. Life is not always fair and this present situation is not making anybody happy. We may put the blame on very bad governance, lack of political will or over abundance of registered nurses.

The political agenda unfortunately doesn't include putting limits or caps to nursing enrollees because they (students) are all part of the plan to make more money for the schools generating more taxes for the government. More taxes means more social 'services' to the less fortunate. [Though, we all know that only a handful of people are able to benefit from these 'social services']

Unlike the more progressive democratic countries of the world, the Philippines cannot simply change its leaders. We tried that by marching to the streets clamoring for change of leadership only to learn that we took off on the proverbial frying pan to the fire. We tried doing it legally by voting in but even that was stripped from us through election fraud. So you see, it is no wonder why some of us are losing hope of a brighter future here.

If you see or hear a Filipino nurse wanting to go abroad, please don't think we are after the jobs of the citizens of that country. If we seem to be eager of serving other people than our own it is only because we are deprived of the honor of doing this.

Sorry for ranting here about this but I just can't help it. I felt that we are the most misunderstood nurses in the whole world. Some of our reasons for taking up nursing (esp second coursers) might be unacceptable to some, but we are all bound now by a common oath.

What we can do to make things better is to first analyze of how much are we willing to give. Let us not forget "bayanihan" (helping each other). Making things better doesn't necessarily mean pushing for something that is written in terms of laws or changing regulations in the nursing profession. Lets start small.

Let each and everyone of us be a better example to others. We may not have nursing jobs but we can still practice nursing. In our family, let us be their guardian of health. We can offer ourselves to the community in doing BP monitoring of our elderly. Sooner or later community leaders will take notice of our efforts. "Big things start from small beginnings".

IMHO, making things better starts from feeling good about oneself and one's profession. In this very trying times for nurses in the Philippines, we can make it better by being an inspiration to others, helping and supporting each other. Let us share what we have freely; the knowledge, the skills and the wisdom of being a true nurse.

:twocents:

N0rthst4r · Jun 29, 2008

When I was still in college, i can cannot remember a fellow student that was able to pass Qualifying Exams for College of nursing with an average grade below 85 or whatever is its equivalent to other schools. Second coursers even got hard times before they were allowed to join us and they all came from medical courses and no other jdepartment can join our team unless you got the connections of course. In the 90's, the University where i study nursing, has a certain qouta that in excess of that number, the CHED is going to call their attention, i heard that from one of our mentors who shove those parents away when the qouta was reached. And it was during those times that survival matters before marching that stage for your diploma. just imagine this, a university of 15,000 students with only 250 nursing studes during our first year and end up to be 165 by the time we graduated from our respective college. During those times, as i can remember it, our passing score for every exams that we took, was 80% for quizzes and 75% during major exams. Divide it into four to get 80%. you will put your future in the thin line when you fall below 80 but not lower than 75 by taking the removal exam.. below 75? pack your things and leave the college.

BUt the trend has change a lot, by 1995, a year after i finished nursing, i paid my alma mater a visit and the numbers surprised me. Why? because the system had changed. they comercialized education like any common commodities you can find in the market. the result? influx of unemployed registered nurses numbering to thousands. on top of that, employers took advantage of the situation and let volunteer RN work in their facility with the unexperienced RN pay every hour he/she spend on it.

What happens to the nursing community in the PI boils down to politics and corrupt governance.there's a lot of government run healt facilities out there that is under staff but the management freeze the hiring due to lack of funds but yet Ghost employees remain an unsolved problem. One Nurse on a shift for minimum of 60 patients with one aide, whew! But that what makes me a good nurse by the time i got myself used to it.

For me, the one thing that will make things better for PI nurses is to show force by regrouping ourselves and talk these things that concerns our profession in front PNA set of officers. We can still use the PNA to start doing its job and support the cause that the PI RN's is suffering right now. I am willing to support the move even if am abroad.

Guest289655 · Jul 6, 2008

No doubt nurses are underpaid and so are the other professions. Our government isn't capable of providing us of what we all need. So let's start with ourselves, try to change our attitude, and vote wisely. If you're capable then provide jobs for the many, we're a capitalist country. I really can't understand some of my batch mates who are well off, they have good family business, they're riding these luxurious cars and yet they're taking up nursing to serve as an escape route from our country. Saying that the government is corrupt and the country is hopeless, why not change the attitude? Start within yourself. As a nurse, believe that you can make a change. With your simple touch and care to your client, you can make him think that there are these people who cares.

sally22 · Jul 15, 2008

Suzanne4,

In the Philippines there are too many nurses. Last year alone 200,000 sat the board exam and 84,000+ passed to gain registration. There are just not enough hospitals and the government is running a third world country with little funding.

A very high percentage of us are unemployed and the opportunities are limited elsewhere in the world. We wish it would be better but when you live in a country where the polititians run the country for their own benefit what can we do.

Our country is rated as the Asian country with the highest level of corruption in government in the world. That is why we all want to live overseas.

Regards

suzanne4, RN · Jul 19, 2008

Suzanne4,
In the Philippines there are too many nurses. Last year alone 200,000 sat the board exam and 84,000+ passed to gain registration. There are just not enough hospitals and the government is running a third world country with little funding.
A very high percentage of us are unemployed and the opportunities are limited elsewhere in the world. We wish it would be better but when you live in a country where the polititians run the country for their own benefit what can we do.
Our country is rated as the Asian country with the highest level of corruption in government in the world. That is why we all want to live overseas.
Regards

I understand quite well what is going on in your country, much of what happens there is in the Filipino-American papers that are available in the US as well as what I read on-line daily as well as with the Filipino tv stations that we have here as well.

And that is why things need to change there, and this thread is about what you can do to make changes. The number of nursing students is just increasing dramatically per year over the past few years, and there are no jobs, but there are also no countries that are going to be able to offer jobs to all that want them. Requirements are going to be getting more strict, so there needs to be something that is done with what is happening in your country to begin with, it always should start at home.

Because your country is corrupt, there are many others that come quite close, but they do not produce the number of nurses that your country does. If enough of you band together, changes can be made and we are starting to see some things happen now. And this is the thread where the recommendations should be made as to what you can do. And changes do the best when they start very small, easier to get things done that way. Then nothing seems that drastic at all to anyone.