Paint a picture for an expat

du hast · Dec 5, 2011

Hey Cuddleswithpuddles!

Schools here teach nursing based on US standards with a mix of our own techniques. Nursing graduates these days are having a difficult time looking for a job because of the oversupply of nurses. Most hospitals here are under the "backer" system. Meaning, you need to have connections in order to get hired because a lot are fighting for the position. It's quite disappointing when you hear your non performing classmate get hired while you, who are a cum laude, board top notcher, or whatever are stuck at home jobless or working a non nursing related field. But that's the harsh reality of being a nurse here. If you give up, nothing is gonna happen to you. Which is why most nurses opt to work odd jobs like call centers just to earn money for a living. If you're going to ask me what nursing is like, I would say that it's a noble and fulfilling job. That's coming from amale nurse's point of view. I for instance feel happy when I help people even with the simplest things. All I want in return is the appreciation from the people I've helped. Some nurses still want to pursue their careers as a nurse even with these trying times but there are some who were easily discouraged because of not passing the board exams and no job opportunities. The driving force for most nurses these days is a greener pasture abroad while some, and a select few, just passionately want to care for people. Currently, there aren't that many nursing homes in the Philippines because most Filipinos have a strong family bond and we just don't "throw" our elders in these nursing homes. We like to care for them. It's our way of thanking our parents/elders for the support they gave us while raising us. I would like to be treated the same way if I were to grow old and have children someday. Do you plan to be a nurse here?

dodoy, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2011

My response to your questions are simply just from my point of view and not in behalf of all the Filipino nurses. Here it goes.

1. Cliche as it may seem but then "rewarding/fulfilling" may be the best words (opinion) for me to describe my experience as a nurse here in the Philippines. With good days and bad days just like every other nurse around the world.

2. If I got your question right, the educational track for nurses here in the Philippines is thru BSN of 4 years (I don't know if the 5-year BSN has already been implemented). There are some schools for LPN but then there are no licensing and regulatory bodies for that so I believe they are not accredited abroad. Talk about a lousy regulatory body for education. I am not very familiar if there are other programs to upgrade to advance practice nursing but I know of one. If you are to specialize in Nephrology nursing, the accrediting body I believe is RENAP. Completion of the prescribed education, requirements and skills can upgrade you to a CRNC (Certified Renal Nurse Clinician) or even CRNS (Certified Renal Nurse Specialist)

3. If you have gone through the topics on the Philippine forum, and I think on other countries' forum too, you will see that the job market is still very tight and new grads are having a really hard time looking for nursing jobs. If there are any, they are too limited and most are looking for nurses with experience. The government has recently started a program called RNHeals (2nd batch has already started) which gave opportunities for nurses who have done volunteer work to have at least some salary while doing work on selected DOH hospitals for a year. The poster above gave some good points on where nurses are finding work. Most find jobs on non-related fields such as being call center agents, English tutorial class teachers for korean and japanese kids, medical representatives for phramaceutical companies, entrepreneurs, the list goes on. Only few are blessed to have found work related with nursing.

4. In my opinion, (actually, a very honest opinion), nursing was once considered a very respectable job here in the Philippines. Way back, I can still remember how they praise our neighbors for being a nurse, and how much he/she can help their family. All praises for that person in white. Over time, as the news about the greener pastures nursing has to offer gone viral, the steady growth of incompetent nursing schools and the mass production of nurses from these schools have stained and burdened the value of nursing in the Philippines. It has become an industry seen as a "treasure chest" by those people only thinking of earning by luring those who have believed the greener pasture nursing has to offer. It is truly saddening as I am a nurse myself. Adding to this is the exploitation done by some hospitals who asks for payment before you can do volunteer works. What else is left for a Philippine nurse?

On the brighter side, once you found that nursing job that you've looked for so hard, a simple patient's appreciation can erase out all the negative thoughts above. HA HA!

5. The belief for the financial benefits from nursing, I believe, is one of the major factors that influenced the new registered nurses here. Again, leading back to the misconception that there are no job shortages for nurses, and that the employers would be the one looking for you (that was way back). Many believed that this would be their ticket to success and somehow a ladder up to the financial strata. Another is that some parents chose nursing as the course for their children. Saddening but this happens. I bet many would agree. Somehow, the weather for nursing school enrolments to date has lightened, as it has become apparent that the job market for nurses is in bad shape.

6. I agree with du hast.