It seems to me that hospitals in the Philippines are taking advantage of the nursing surplus. Every 6 months or so, there are thousands of nurses getting their degrees. A few of them get into hospitals, and if they do they get stuck in what I called the nursing volunteer limbo. Worse if it's only nurse trainee program. I heard that some foreign employers don't take credit of the volunteer/trainee nurse experience for qualifications. They want a paid job.
So why can't hospital issue a certificate nurse volunteer staff? I see this kind of exploitation. The nurse volunteer works the same hours, the same liabilities and the same risks as that of the staff and yet they don't get any stipend let alone an allowance for their efforts and what's worse is that the hospital will only issue some sort of training certificate that in fact the nurse volunteer HAD functioned like the responsibility of the staff.
Is there any organization that could address this "minute" and unspeakable exploitation? Should PNA address this problem? If not, what organization?
Medic28: Instead of doing unpaid work, what would you suggest the unemployed nurses do to help them achieve their goal of working abroad as a hospital staff nurse? Most if not all hospitals elsewhere would only hire those who have at least a year of hospital experience. Let's say we do boycott the hospitals' training program, what else can be done to enhance our nursing skills so that we will have better chances of getting hired compared to those nurses who volunteered/trained in the hospital we are applying for? I really want to know other options. Masters degree perhaps? work as a school/industrial nurse? be a private duty nurse?
As much as I am against UNPAID NURSING WORK, I have subjected myself to almost 8 months of this crap in 2 different hospitals. Why? I need the experience. I need the skills. I need to improve my knowledge. I need "connections". And most importantly, a lot if not all of the local hospitals would ONLY hire those who volunteered/trained with them (well if you know someone from inside then that would also get you hired). Never mind that I have a high board rating or that I got good grades in school or that I have excellent nursings skills. The PNA can't do a damn thing and government officials are too busy putting money in their pockets to notice this so called exploitation. So what should an unemployed nurse do?
i totally agree! :yeah:since the government don't really care about us nurses and only thinks of their own benefits and pockets let us also think of ourselves get the experience that we need and leave this corrupted country.
btw, since you said you already have 8months experience as volunteer you can already apply to NZ and become an RN there. there's a thread here about it and its very informative. i myself is planing to apply. just a suggestion.
As much as I am against UNPAID NURSING WORK, I have subjected myself to almost 8 months of this crap in 2 different hospitals. Why? I need the experience. I need the skills. I need to improve my knowledge. I need "connections". And most importantly, a lot if not all of the local hospitals would ONLY hire those who volunteered/trained with them (well if you know someone from inside then that would also get you hired). Never mind that I have a high board rating or that I got good grades in school or that I have excellent nursings skills. The PNA can't do a damn thing and government officials are too busy putting money in their pockets to notice this so called exploitation. So what should an unemployed nurse do?
Fight the system that oppresses you by any means necessary.
I'll share my own experience: I enrolled in a training program which included two months of clinical exposure, lectures and IV therapy training. We were required to pay a certain amount as honorarium to the lecturers (most were MDs or experienced RNs) and for the IV training (which costs Php1500, I think). I got experience in different clinical areas (I fell in love with the ICU in the process), expanded my knowledge, got a certificate of training and am getting my IV therapy license too. I hear the trainees they accepted are also on the priority list for hiring. I think it was worth it despite the fact that I believe that the hospital should shoulder all costs for its trainees. Plus, I believe it was much better than being a volunteer at any other hospital with basically zero chance of being hired.
I went with the lesser evil, I suppose. No matter what I believe about how the system should work, I figured that I had to grit my teeth and deal with it. There is no avenue to professional advancement through sitting at home and trying to convince others to boycott the Philippine hospital system. I didn't go through four difficult years of reading med-surg textbooks cover to cover and back-breaking clinicals to not do my job.
Also, has anyone considered doing humanitarian work? I went on a medical mission just outside my city once last year (but that was before I got my license so I was only allowed to take vital signs and run errands). If we're going to volunteer, we might as well take it all the way and do it for a good cause.
Specializes in Pre-hospital Care, Remote medicine.
reaching that goal is really not that easy... especially if your goal is to become a hospital RN abroad. in fact, i don't have any definite suggestion on how you can achieve that. but as some of us here already mentioned before, broaden your horizons. the hospital is the the only place where nurses are intended to work.
options? for becoming a hospital RN? im sorry but i don't have any suggestions. but if you're willing to work outside the hospital setting, you have a bigger chance of landing a job here. actually, i am currently working as a occupational health nurse in one of the most reputable telecom company here in the Philippines. I don't have any exprience working/volunteering as a nurse when i applied but i got hired.. and i don't have any backers.
if there's a will, theres a way... and being in the hospital is not the only way. and not working in the hospital setting now doesn't mean that it'll be forever be like that...
yeah, i did not go through those difficult years just to "work" without pay.
humanitarian work? that's a good idea. that's what volunteerism should really be. I am a volunteer for a humanitarian organization for 5 years already, and still counting.
i don't remember anyone here suggeted to just sit at home.
@medic28: Ah, I guess my post was affected by my own career goals. Because personally, I've only really considered doing hospital or private duty nursing. I have a general idea of what occupational (and school) health nurses do and I find it routine and unchallenging (i.e. not much variety in the things you do, or the conditions you work with). I'd rather work somewhere where I get a sense of fulfillment. I guess that puts me on the list of prone-to-abuse nurses.
i remembered myself when i was there, at home, sitting infront of the computer, searching for requirements of different hospitals. i came to a point where i felt useless. i spent alot, or should i say, i spent alot of my parent's money, photocopying prc and school records, transportation fees, photo IDs, and exam fees. unfortunately i wasnt able to go through hospital trainings. by that time i should be earning for my family and not just another mouth to be fed. there's nothing i can do but hope that someone or something, i dont know who or how put this to an end.
Specializes in Pre-hospital Care, Remote medicine.
@medic28: Ah, I guess my post was affected by my own career goals. Because personally, I've only really considered doing hospital or private duty nursing. I have a general idea of what occupational (and school) health nurses do and I find it routine and unchallenging (i.e. not much variety in the things you do, or the conditions you work with). I'd rather work somewhere where I get a sense of fulfillment. I guess that puts me on the list of prone-to-abuse nurses.
yes you're right. but for some, they are left with the dilemma to decide whether to stick with their career plans and work to achieve it now or to temporarily postpone these plans for now to find other jobs like occupational health,school,clinic nursing etc and maybe even other jobs not related to nursing just to support their needs and help their families. for some, they have to think of how they can support their basic needs first before thinking of how they can have their sense of self-fulfillment.
yes you may be right, it may be routine and unchallenging but it isn't that bad. from my experience, it's also hard being a company nurse especially if you're assigned in on-site clinics. you are all by yourself, with all those hundreds of employees to cater. and you'll never know what cases you will encounter. I do encounter challenging case every once in a while. you will be like in an ER but with the absence of medical suprvision and with limited resources. good thing I am also an EMT, it helped me a lot. I admit i'm not that fullfilled worling as a compnay nurse in the clinis compared when I was still having my OJT as an EMT at he back of the ambulance doing actual scene response but it's still worth it.
my graveyard shift gives me time to apply and apply and apply and apply to local and overseas job in the morning. :chuckle and the good thing is, while waiting for my applications, im have a stable job to support my needs.
you can also enroll for MAN/MSN or other courses/trainings and you'll have plenty of time for study..add to that, you get to pay for your own tuition fees.
I really envy those of you who are younger than me and took up Nursing as their first course. Obviously I am second courser who took up nursing due to pressure from my relatives who are abroad. If only I could turn back the time...
Anyway, like LadyHazy I've really only considered working in a hospital. My primary goal is to work as staff nurse abroad and I can't fulfill that if I work in other areas. That's what most of the agencies I've been to are telling me. The only thing that's supporting my bum life right now is my online business. Without that, I'd be asking for support again from my parents which is a bit embarrassing considering I'm already 29 years old.
I've also considered enrolling myself in MAN/MSN online so I can at least also teach part-time.
I have this friend who also worked for a big telecom company like you medic28. But she resigned so she can work in a call center for nurses in Makati. She also never did any volunteers/trainings in hospitals.
Because personally, I've only really considered doing hospital or private duty nursing. I have a general idea of what occupational (and school) health nurses do and I find it routine and unchallenging (i.e. not much variety in the things you do, or the conditions you work with). I'd rather work somewhere where I get a sense of fulfillment. I guess that puts me on the list of prone-to-abuse nurses. 
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ilovetiggerdear, LPN, LVN
110 Posts
Medic28: Instead of doing unpaid work, what would you suggest the unemployed nurses do to help them achieve their goal of working abroad as a hospital staff nurse? Most if not all hospitals elsewhere would only hire those who have at least a year of hospital experience. Let's say we do boycott the hospitals' training program, what else can be done to enhance our nursing skills so that we will have better chances of getting hired compared to those nurses who volunteered/trained in the hospital we are applying for? I really want to know other options. Masters degree perhaps? work as a school/industrial nurse? be a private duty nurse?