elyken

Yeah, RNHeals was opened, then closed in a heartbeat!

The current batch will end their contract in February, so application would be in that same month. However, I heard that some provinces here in the North have already had their slots filled for the next batch. According to a my bud, applications were submitted directly to the DOLE regional office. Apparently the start of application varies per region, so it is best to inquire directly to your DOLE regional office regarding the RNHeals program.

^ I have yet to verify that. I stand corrected if I am wrong.

@MissRN26 Maybe he/she was a conditional passer on his/her first take. A conditional passer is someone who obtains a general average of 75% or higher, but gets a grade lower than 60% on any subject. In order to be considered an RN, a conditional passer is given two options: either retake only the subject that he/she failed, or take the entire board exam all over again. If he retakes the entire board exam, the scores he/she obtained from the previous exam will be considered null and void. Ergo, that someone you know might have been a conditional passer on his/her first take, and a full-fledged passer on second take.

how i wish...but i don't think you can retake the exam after you pass.

@adrianerinaRN I have an aunt there working as a nurse and she's not one of their graduates. I'm sure there are many of them :) Just do good on your training and prove to them that you are a cut above the rest. Your evaluation on the training would be very helpful when you apply there as a staff nurse.

@adrianerinaRN It's more of an oral exam rather than an interview. :) The questions will be based on the core competencies of nursing, so you better brush up on those topics. Finishing the program is not a sure ticket to being employed at MMC. If you want to be a staff nurse there, you have to apply as one. Be aware though that they prioritize their graduates so it will be a tough competition for applicants like you. Good luck.

It's good that paid training programs are to be discontinued. However, if there are no followup plans to address the lack of nursing jobs locally--which is the main issue in the first place--then this move from DOH won't make any big difference at all.

It would be more helpful if there's a citation.

@calamarifries They're not very much particular about the work experience. I know a lot of people who have prior postgraduate experience that were qualified for this program. Maybe your friend was chosen instead of you for some reason other than this. Some people from DOLE claim that the shortlist of applicants was based on whoever gets to apply first. So we should expect that those who applied last Jan 17 were the ones considered for a slot. But I don't believe this. I know someone who applied on the last day and was qualified for the program. She's a daughter of a prominent politician. I also know someone from DOLE who has nieces and nephews who are RNs (one of them my best friend), and were all able to secure a slot. Coincidence? I hope so.

I've been working as a nurse trainee for 8 months now, and I would be very disappointment if employers don't consider this as a work experience. As a trainee, we get to experience almost all the tasks that a regular staff nurse gets to do. We administer medications, take vital signs, accomplish charts, do nursing rounds and endorsements, render bedside care, organize ward classes, and much, MUCH more. We are actually far more hands-on compared to the staff nurses, or even the nursing aides for that matter! If only they knew how hard-core machines we are...