News Release: Doctors to Nurses (please read)

lawrence01 · Mar 3, 2006

Thanks Suzanne. Yes, this article just came out today on major newspapers in the Phils.

Personally, I think no law can be passed to stop anyone from doing what he wants because it will be unconstitutional. It won't prosper, period.

It's just human nature to seek greener pasture for himelf and their families.

P7,000 - P12,000 / month (roughly, $135-235) isn't just enough to go by, even for personal consumption. Even for Phil. standards, which is relatively low-cost of living compared to industrialized countries. What more for a family??

The Gov't should look at themselves at the mirror and say to themselves what are my shortcomings, instead of thinking about how to stop nurses and doctors for going out. The budget for health is WAY below what WHO recommends of what I think is at least 5% of the country's GNP.

The military is getting a higher budget than health, housing and education and there are many generals who are corrupt. It's an open secret that SOME of these "corrupt" generals divert their ill-gotten wealth (from people's taxes) to overseas accounts such as in the US. With the salary of high-ranking military personels you would really think hard how come this generals have multiple houses and properties in the US and their families are very well-off. Where did they get their money?? This is same with some politicians. The playing field isn't equal already , yet they want to stop honest people who wants to earn a decent living for themselves because they can't get it here in the Phils.

ALl of the above are just my opinions. :idea:

lawrence01 · Mar 3, 2006

I also want to add that there was also a news article not so long ago that Galvez-Tan is going around the US and discouraging hospitals and would-be employers in hiring nurses and MD-RNs from the Phils., citing that it would lead to a collapse of the healthcare industry. There is really nothing to collapse in the first place if you ask me.

This is crab mentality to-the-max. Most of this people paid for their own education and should do what they deem right for themselves.

If the Gov't paid for the education and training of these nurses and MDs then they have a right to stop or delay them but if not.. then they have no right.

lawrence01 · Mar 3, 2006

Here's a recent article commenting on the article from Reuters. Pls read too.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200603030716.htm

suzanne4, RN · Mar 3, 2006

I don't agree with it, but just wanted those of you that are physicians to know that this is out there. And it is being talked about.

lawrence01 · Mar 4, 2006

Almost 100 views and no one is commenting. This is not just regarding physician-nurses but ALL Filipino nurses wanting to go abroad.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 4, 2006

I do not see it affecting nurses, but it could affect physicians. Physicians becoming nurses is a relatively new phenomenon all over, and it is hitting the Philippines quite hard. Nurses have been coming to the US for years, in the past the Philippines was actually training more nurses than they needed so that they would go abroad and the extra money would be sent home. But now, more are going into it as second coursers even and are wishing to leave.

And yes, something can be done about it. They can have the US Embassy put a limit as to how many can get immigrant visas each month. This can be done unofficially, and without having anything to do with a retrogression, etc. If it becomes harmful to the healthcare of a country, then yes, exiting can be restricted. And has been in the past by quite a few countries at different times. Adn I have seen it, especially with physicians that were going to go to the US for a residency. Their home country knew that once they left, they would probably never return to work. If you notice with the J-1 visas, they need to leave the US for a period of two years after training. This was to hopefully have them return to their home country and set up practice and not want to return after the two years.

nrswnabee · Mar 6, 2006

i got to know about doctors becoming nurses some 5-6 years ago. i'm among those who raised my brow at the idea because it seemed ridiculous and reflected many pinoys' poor sense of national pride (or the lack of it). i realized later that national pride isn't as important as the immediate family to be fed, clothed and sheltered. unless our dear gov't can upgrade salaries of health care professionals, i'm not surprised if we will see this phenomenon to persist. it's really disturbing in itself and what makes it even worse is that the solution is next to impossible.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 7, 2006

It has been going on for years just has become more common place. But if the government decides that too many doctors are leaving the country, they can put a hold onto that.

Nurses were always trained in excess to be able to have many go off and send money home, but I do not think that they ever considered that so many doctors and dentists would be making the switch.

dilimon · Mar 11, 2006

.. it kinda sucks to know that after you've studied for 10 years and slaved thru countless hours, all you get in return is a vegetable basket from a grateful patient or a laugh from someone came back from the brink of death .. plus some loose change that wont even cover the rent...

overworked and underpaid.. whatever shall we do... :lol2:

Those who are opposing doctors becoming nurses are the ones too old to take up nursing

lawrence01 · Mar 11, 2006

.. it kinda sucks to know that after you've studied for 10 years and slaved thru countless hours, all you get in return is a vegetable basket from a grateful patient or a laugh from someone came back from the brink of death .. plus some loose change that wont even cover the rent...
overworked and underpaid.. whatever shall we do...
Those who are opposing doctors becoming nurses are the ones too old to take up nursing

You made me laugh. :lol2: But all you've said are the cold hard facts.

Acually, there are also few old MDs taking up nursing. I would just like to add the the majority of doctors who oppose of MDs shifting to Rns are those who were well-off from the start or have good practices w/c they inherited from their families as well; so they don't know the rationale behind what's driving the majority of new MDs from shifting to nursing.

dilimon · Mar 11, 2006

.. I remember numerous tv ads commending overseas workers, branding them as "heroes".. sure did raise the dollar returns ..

.. a few years later.. when second coursers took the ads' challenge.. criticism and scorn arose from the very type of people who payed and dispayed those ads.. odd isn't it

... maybe economy improvement meant highly compensated employment for some (a.k.a., call center agents, medical transcriptionists..) :smokin: .. well that should have been introduced way back then when we were still being asked, " what'd u wanna be when u grow up?":saint: .. and before the advent of reality

... allow me to second your comment lawrence:wink2: :wink2: .. would've been cool if my parents had their own hospital :lol2: .. then again, it'll probly close due to lack of nurses and doctors :lol2: