Making things better for nurses in the Philippines

i think that honesty and respect/ethics should be emphasized in the field of nursing here in the PI. honesty in accepting what should one has to improve on and accepting his/her mistakes and be able to learn from other nurses, especially from the senior nurses and doctors, i feel that everybody in the medical team should be willing to help one another to improve in a certain area that would promote "true" quality of health care. also ethics, particularly nursing ethics should be consistently put into practice in the hospital, i believe that it is also very vital in pursuance of quality health care for the clients.

given a chance to make a change for my fellow filipino nurses, i would like to first have a comprehensive "training" in all the general hospitals in the PI, actual training that is. gaining the license to work as a nurse isnt enough to make sure that a newly board passer nurse is able enough to put into action his/her acquired knowledge in nursing..we all know that putting into action what we mastered and memorized in books, is something that still gives nurses butterflies in their stomach. right?? especially if doing it the first time.

i'd say 2 wks would be enough for the actual training.

the nurse should pass the training. if not, then she has to retrain again until she qualifies to work as an actual nurse on that particular hospital.

actually its already happening on the hospitals here in the PI. they have trainings, but i feel that the hospital mgt should give great importance to the trainings and the trainees and dont just treat it as a "formalization" that a nurse applicant must go thru before working on the floor..what happens is, whether the nurse applicant isnt good enough yet or qualified, the hospital still let these applicants to work and serve clients..even critical clients.

well. what chu think?

Your simple and eloquent call for action on the part of nurses here in the Philippines is appreciated. I hope the responses inspire these wonderful nurses to "get it done!"

I hope that Filipino Nurses realize that they are tens of thousands of professional voices that can be a major force of change from the terrible status quo, and if they get together to effect some REAL change, then things will happen for the betterment of nurses AND patients alike.

Your call for suggestions is an elegant first step!

Hoss

actually its already happening on the hospitals here in the PI. they have trainings, but i feel that the hospital mgt should give great importance to the trainings and the trainees and dont just treat it as a "formalization" that a nurse applicant must go thru before working on the floor..what happens is, whether the nurse applicant isnt good enough yet or qualified, the hospital still let these applicants to work and serve clients..even critical clients.

I think the reason for that would be the shortage of nurses. Some hospitals are desperate to hire nursing that even if they're not qualified, they are being hired! Like in the Saudi embassy. even if the nurses or should I say future nurses have no license yet, they sign a contract to work as nurses! I can't blame them!

First reason: Poverty! Let's be honest! It's really hard to explain this part because it branches to everything...

Second: Students studying nursing for what? Every 6 months, there are new nurses not less than 10,000. Let's just say, 20,000 a year! Have you ever wonder where they are? If all of them work in difference hospitals here in the Philippines, would there still be a shortage of nurses? We can't deny the fact that most of our nursing student now are being forced to study nursing! It's because of reason number 1!

Third: No supporters? Sometimes, it seems that there is no certain association that helps nurses when it comes to Nursing matters! WE can only hear from them if there are dancers, waitresses who wears nursing uniform and a big issue that affects all nurses here in the Philippines that makes us look bad in other countries!

There are still lots of factors to address to! All I can say is that, I hope the soon to be nurses, future nursing student should really think what they want in life... Because if money is always in your mind why you took up nursing, it's as if there's no life in the service your giving.... And as for the nurses, don't be desperate to live the country! I know the low salary is the primary reason for that, but please, try to serve your contry first before serving other country! And as for the people in position, be vigilant on what is really happening to nursing profession and I do hope if that we can hear from them even without an issue... Make an effort to improve the nursing profession!

I think the reason for that would be the shortage of nurses. Some hospitals are desperate to hire nursing that even if they're not qualified, they are being hired! Like in the Saudi embassy. even if the nurses or should I say future nurses have no license yet, they sign a contract to work as nurses! I can't blame them!

First reason: Poverty! Let's be honest! It's really hard to explain this part because it branches to everything...

Second: Students studying nursing for what? Every 6 months, there are new nurses not less than 10,000. Let's just say, 20,000 a year! Have you ever wonder where they are? If all of them work in difference hospitals here in the Philippines, would there still be a shortage of nurses? We can't deny the fact that most of our nursing student now are being forced to study nursing! It's because of reason number 1!

Third: No supporters? Sometimes, it seems that there is no certain association that helps nurses when it comes to Nursing matters! WE can only hear from them if there are dancers, waitresses who wears nursing uniform and a big issue that affects all nurses here in the Philippines that makes us look bad in other countries!

There are still lots of factors to address to! All I can say is that, I hope the soon to be nurses, future nursing student should really think what they want in life... Because if money is always in your mind why you took up nursing, it's as if there's no life in the service your giving.... And as for the nurses, don't be desperate to live the country! I know the low salary is the primary reason for that, but please, try to serve your contry first before serving other country! And as for the people in position, be vigilant on what is really happening to nursing profession and I do hope if that we can hear from them even without an issue... Make an effort to improve the nursing profession!

ms lenjoy..wat were talking about is how the NURSES WHO ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN A HOSPITAL CAN MAKE A CHANGE IN HER/HIS FIELD. i feel that the issues about poverty, money and personal choice of profession is something that should be talked about when were dealing with why filipinos chooses nursing as a course. because yes, reason for that is for them to get a chance to have a better life.

my idea of pushing an intensive training is something i think that would not just improve the nurses competitiveness but most important it will bring quality healthcare for the clients which i think is the heart of the medical profession. as nurses, we are aiming to improve our skills not for our own selves but for the patients that we are taking care of.

I'll assume over there are at least 100,000 active licensed nurses in the Philippines,(probably many more than that!) all of whom are looking for a challenge in the workplace, good patient/nurse ratios, decent pay, and a continuing education program that keeps the Philippines at the "Top of The Class" of world nursing as a profession. 100,000 voices can be a VERY LOUD CRY in the ears of any government, especially here in the Philippines.

I suggest that Nurses act as ONE VOICE beginning with a resolution to present to the next annual meeting of the Philippine Nursing Association.

In that petition to adopt a resolution, YOU as nurses should make your desires known to the PNA so they may GET THE MESSAGE that action needs to be taken with the congress to legislate improvements in the following areas:

1) Minimum salary levels should be enacted and adopted by all hospitals and clinics at a level that recognizes a degreed medical professional.

2) Nurse/patient ratios should be required that allow for the proper care and attention a patient deserves according to the medical status of the patient

3) Nursing schools must be required to deliver an education and clinical supervision in a program that insures at least 60% passing rate for the NLE. Any school that fails to achieve this rate should be placed on immediate probation and failure to achieve 60% a 2nd time results in closure of the Nursing program at that school

3) The PNA should mount an aggressive and EFFECTIVE media and congressional campaign to promote the above on behalf of all Philippine Nurses. A plan to accomplish this should be presented within 3 months of the annual PNA meeting for all PNA members to see. Thereafter, press releases must be done on a monthly basis to update all PNA members as to the effects of the campaigns.

I would suggest that a current PNA member, or group of members, start a petition online to form a resolution to present to the next PNA annual meeting. Determine WHAT YOU WANT TO IMPROVE and put these items in the form of a petition so other nurses may review, add to the items, and sign off.

In summary, I would encourage all of the new grads to join your local PNA chapter and work with fellow nurses to keep the pressure through the media on improving the terrible state of nursing and nursing education here in the Philippines. It is YOUR ORGANIZATION so become ONE VOICE......start with a RESOLUTION TO BETTER THE NURSING PROFESSION IN THE PHILIPPINES.

I'll assume over there are at least 100,000 active licensed nurses in the Philippines,(probably many more than that!) all of whom are looking for a challenge in the workplace, good patient/nurse ratios, decent pay, and a continuing education program that keeps the Philippines at the "Top of The Class" of world nursing as a profession. 100,000 voices can be a VERY LOUD CRY in the ears of any government, especially here in the Philippines.

Can you imagine the voting power, the nurses have if you form a political bloc!! Even if you get the promise from politicians. One can call a press conference and say" we will not vote for you again", if they renege on their promise. What would the headlines say? "President turns down 100,000 nurses" How would that look on that politician's image. The Philippine media can be very vicious especially to Politicians.

This is very interesting indeed, and I hope that it does come to fruition. I still hold some hope for our country... There is such a big mountain to climb, and it all stems from the way the governments political structure is set-up. Collectively we can make a loud ROAR, but it would take a steady stream - It is not a matter of changing one system. We need to breathe in new life, and encourage only the the culture that would breed positive outcomes.

:welcome:Hi, I have just read your post and it is certainly heartening to read the professional support that you have for your the Nursing profession. I have been to the Phillipines and have fond memories of your country and the people in it. There certainly is a shortage of nurses in most countries, certainly in Australia we have a shortage of Nurses. I can understand why so many of your collegues would choose to leave the phillipines because of poverty. I really do not know how you would address this, discussing the shortage with local officials, raising the shortage with the government. You may have already tried this, but good luck. For those nurses who are planning on working abroad, I think you should consider Australia.

I am a newly licensed nurse and that is my concern too. after taking the local board exam me, my friends and thousands of nursing graduates do not know what to do next and what awaits them after the result will come out.

We know that Philippines is one of the best sources of nurses in the world because of their professionalism and innate caring kind of nursing care. Filipino nurses are major source of dollar remittances of the country making it a major sources of contributor to the economy of the country. Much has been said about this, yet, so little has been done about support through career counseling, career pathing and career options and opportunities to nursing students, nursing graduates, newly licensed nurses and practicing nurses. It is in this perspective that while we are waiting for the result of the local board exam and retrogression to lift we conceptualized "The 1st Philippine Nursing Opportunities Conference & Expo 2007" - A World Of Opportunity Awaits the Filipino Nurse

The 1st Philippine Nursing Opportunities Conference & Expo 2007 will be held on September 28-30, 2007 at Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

It's not just nurses in particular who are suffering from very poor salaries. All healthcare professionals are feeling the crunch with the high cost of living and low salaries (Manila). But what do you get from a government that only allots 25 centavos per citizen per year on healthcare... Yes... 25 centavos... I remember seeing that on posters on the walls of a University of the Philippines canteen (that was in 1992..yikes, i'm old). The middle class and the rich pay their own medical bills because health insurance is useless and the poor have only the option of going home and pray they're going to get better.