Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has announced his intention to allow nursing graduates who did not pass the board exam to work in government hospitals with a temporary license. This proposal would apply to those who scored between 70% and 74% on the exam, as they are close to the passing mark. These individuals would be given four years to pass the licensure exam.
Secretary Herbosa clarified that the graduates would work under supervision and not be assigned to perform dangerous tasks. Licensed nurses would oversee their work and help them improve their competence in the profession through practical experience in hospitals. He believes this approach would be a “win-win solution” as it would fill vacant nursing positions and provide the graduates with better chances of passing the board exam through on-the-job training. There are currently around 4,500 vacant nursing positions in government hospitals.
Herbosa also mentioned that other countries already implement similar practices.
However, Maristela Abenojar of Filipino Nurses United (FNU) expressed concerns about this proposal. She stated that the board exam is crucial for assessing the skills and knowledge of nursing graduates, ensuring that they are ready to practice the profession. Abenojar emphasized the accountability that licensed nurses have, as their licenses can be revoked for negligence. She questioned who would be held responsible if an unlicensed nurse makes a mistake that affects a patient.
While FNU acknowledges the need to hire more nurses, Abenojar urged the government to investigate why many nursing graduates are reluctant to enter the profession despite passing the board exam.
Nurses working in government hospitals currently earn around P35,000 per month, while those in private hospitals typically receive the minimum wage of P570 per day or a little over P12,000 per month, with some earning even less. Due to this wage disparity, many nurses opt to work abroad for higher pay.
Abenojar emphasized that there are vacant nursing positions available, and filling them would not be difficult if the working conditions were improved.
Senator Koko Pimentel expressed similar concerns about granting a temporary license to those who failed the board exam, emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of the testing system. He called for an evaluation of the system to address the ongoing issues faced by nurses.
Pimentel further noted that the shortage of nurses in the country stems from a significant number of them seeking higher-paying jobs abroad. He urged the government to examine nurses’ salaries and provide additional incentives to encourage them to stay and practice in the Philippines.
Courtesy: News5Everywhere
