Exploitation of Hospitals

wishiwereanurse, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2008

how would the aim of "to enhance the gap of skills nurses have from the new BSN (the AHSE) program" be achieved if the volunteer's function is very limited?

psychelle · Mar 8, 2008

i really don't understand why do we need to pay "donations" to hospitals if we are supposed to be trainees/volunteers right?! as if working without pay is not bad enough, but u have to pay them donations to get your certificate. wat is happening to our country? are they taking advantage of us nurses who are in need to have at least minimum of 2 years experience to qualify to work abroad?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Mar 8, 2008

It is clearly a way for hospitals to take advantage of new nurses and make money. I also think that not only are they disrespecting the current curriculum established for the BSN preparation in the Philippines but they are also undermining the power granted to the PRC to establish that a nurse is qualified to function fully in his/her role by virtue of being a Registered Nurse. Things need to be done but everyone seems so disjointed about it. The schools are not doing a good job with training, PRC has lost credibility, and the hospitals are imposing their own rules with no regard for the requirements already set forth by the government.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 8, 2008

And these so-called volunteer/training programs are just that; they do not give you credit or experience that you can include with your work experience. Anytime that you are paying to do something, then it is considered training, and not work experience.

Something also needs to be said about the number of graduates that your country is putting out in the first place. Why train or attempt to train, when there are no jobs for the nurse there in the first place? And with a wait to get to another country for a job, makes no sense at all to me.

Things need to focus on the poor responsibility that the PRC is even taking with the training that is being done in the first place, and then go from there.

Just makes it a bad picture for all that are involved in it. Put blame on the government there are well, and not just these hospitals, the responsibility needs to start someplace.

potatomasher · Mar 9, 2008

I think the solution to this is getting into the root of the problem...that is,

1. Creating a more rigid screening for incoming nursing students and nursing undergraduates (like they take a qualifying exam at the end of the semester--if they pass, they proceed to the next level, if not then they are advised to leave the nursing program).

2. One-take board exam policy.

It will lessen the large influx of nursing graduates every year and set higher standards on nursing education.

lawrence01 · Mar 9, 2008

I think the solution to this is getting into the root of the problem...that is,
1. Creating a more rigid screening for incoming nursing students and nursing undergraduates (like they take a qualifying exam at the end of the semester--if they pass, they proceed to the next level, if not then they are advised to leave the nursing program).
2. One-take board exam policy.
It will lessen the large influx of nursing graduates every year and set higher standards on nursing education.

Before there was an NMAT or National Medical Admissions Test for those who want to enter Med school after graduating from their pre-med courses because they want to curb out possible students. I think something on this line maybe done to curb out possible nursing students.

This option has always been available because it has been done by others before.

spongebob6286, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2008

there was this hospital in manila,who still accepts applicants though they are not currently hiring / conducting a training.according to one of the staff nurse there,they already have enough trainees from previous batch who can fill those who will resign.& worst of all is that they collect certain amount for the qualifying examination.

my point is that they shouldn't accept applicants & collect money from them when in the 1st place no job or even training will be offered.

lenjoy03, RN · Mar 9, 2008

Let see....

1) hospitals are not all charity, its also business... Its just so happen that part of that business are nurses.

2)

1. Creating a more rigid screening for incoming nursing students and nursing undergraduates (like they take a qualifying exam at the end of the semester--if they pass, they proceed to the next level, if not then they are advised to leave the nursing program).

Trust me! I hope that will happen. Hospitals are not the only one taking advantage, its also the schools. Like in one school I know, BSN is the priority course because of large amount of money if gives. If you have money, you can pass the screening. We can't dictate some school about this, even if we do, it would be useless because as long as the student have money, it's fine.

We know that there are many solutions to these problems, its just that, the schools and hospitals can't be controlled and wont let be controlled.

2. One-take board exam policy. ,

I prefer the 3 take policy. Every body deserves another chance. You can't just forget the 4 years you've studied nursing. ALl those sleepless nights are now worthless because you failed once and there is no second chance. There are alot of factors why someone fails. If ever given a chance again, he/she might make it. If at 3rd time, that person still fails, its time for a reflection.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Mar 9, 2008

I think the solution to this is getting into the root of the problem...that is,
1. Creating a more rigid screening for incoming nursing students and nursing undergraduates (like they take a qualifying exam at the end of the semester--if they pass, they proceed to the next level, if not then they are advised to leave the nursing program).
2. One-take board exam policy.
It will lessen the large influx of nursing graduates every year and set higher standards on nursing education.

1. Some schools were already doing that during the late 80's and early 90's. In my school for instance, students who failed a subject (or course) during the first and second year of BSN are automatically dismissed from the program. During the 2nd and 3rd years, a student can only fail a course or subject once or they are out. Another school I knew had a series of battery tests that students took as they advance from one year level to the next. Students who fail the battery tests are out. Personally, I think a national examination similar to the NMAT as Lawrence pointed out will work better because all schools will be mandated to follow this rule.

2. One-take board exam policy is too harsh in my opinion. Many factors can affect passing or failing the board exams. There are students who graduate with honors and end up failing any licensure examination. It can be a mix of nerves, not feeling well during the actual test, anything can happen.

3. How about just shutting down schools that are poorly performing and only allowing graduates of fully-accredited schools to take the NLE. When I say accredited, I mean a panel of experts who will thoroughly review each school's faculty, facilities, clinical placements, and admission process - no exceptions or excuses, if the school does not make the cut, they don't operate!

suzanne4, RN · Mar 10, 2008

For many of us that have been around for sometime, or even years; we are all very familiar how the training used to be done in Manila and everyone was quite proud of it. But something has drastically changed and not for the better. You cannot blame just the hospitals for what they are doing now, there are many more graduates than the country could ever employ and yet that are still turning them out like they are coming out of an animal lab and they get a kick-back for the number that they can produce.

They need to go back to how they did things, and put quality back in instead of quanity that has replaced it.

dizzydean · Mar 10, 2008

Do you think other hospitals out there are taxing so much of our nurses with the volunteer scheme? I don't know if you've encountered these but one hospital in my city has this post graduate practicum for nurses. It only lasts for 2 months plus one's ability to function as a nurse is very limited. I've read in the objectives of this so called programs that the aim of it is to enhance the gap of skills nurses have from the new BSN (the AHSE) program.
The worst part is that trainees are made to pay a certain heavy amount. Not to mention the miscellaneous fees that come with this training.
Any thoughts about this?

I agree on all counts. It's ridiculous that a volunteer nurse has to pay a certain amount of fee for her/him to give voluntary service. The government should definitely take measures to regulate the production of nurses. It's actually these new nurses who suffer when they find out that employment is hard to get by after graduation. They then resort to work as volunteer nurses which has of little benefit since most countries or agencies don't accept this as "hospital experience". And then they also come to the realization that they are in for the long haul because of the retrogression. And don't get me started with the government :bugeyes: . Health care, education, integrity & service to the people, they have forgotten all about this for quite some time now. :grn: