DOH to hire nursing assistants

[Mike J]

There is a nurse shortage because a qualified nurse will seek overseas employment because of low wages here.  So instead of increasing the wage they will hire nursing assistants who have failed the nursing exam.  

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/873902/doh-to-hire-nursing-assistants/story/

The Department of Health (DOH) will hire nursing assistants to help address the nurse shortage in government hospitals. 

In a report by Lei Alviz on "24 Oras Weekend'' on Saturday, there are currently over 4,000 vacancies for government nurses. 

"Mayroon nang ganoong proposal because they have been studying this problem on how to augment health human resource. It's Salary Grade 9, so that's about P20,000 yung salary per month. It's the one being offered as a solution, so I said that's going to go forward. It will be open to nurses who graduated four years of college but are still awaiting to pass the exams," said Health Secretary Ted Herbosa.

Meanwhile, the Filipino Nurses United (FNU) said nursing assistants would be a big help.

“Napakahirap din sa nurses kung wala silang nursing aides o nursing assistants,” said FNU secretary general Jocelyn Andamo.

However, the DOH clarified that the plan to employ nursing graduates who failed the board exam would not be shelved.

On June 19, Herbosa expressed his plan to take in unlicensed nursing graduates to work for the government, given that they pass the board exam after a certain period of time.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) previously said that the DOH secretary cannot issue temporary work permits to unlicensed nurses based on the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.

"Maybe it's a legal roadblock but I think we can hurdle it through either an amendment in the legislation for special purpose, the fact that exigency of the situation where we are implementing the Universal Health Care Act and of course we want to implement health for all. We need a lot of nurses to actually provide care," said Herbosa.

The DOH will also meet with the PRC and the Department of Labor and Employment to discuss the shortage of nurses due to migration, according to the report. 

 

[BrettGC]

I think that part of the problem is that PI still sees nurses as glorified orderlies rather than the highly trained medical professionals that they've evolved into over the last 40 years.  Until they recognise this and pay accordingly, the problem will remain.

[mountainside]

When we left the Phils for the US in 2019 I sold my top-of the-line 2017 Mazda 3 to our dentist.  Second-best vehicle for him.  His best is a Fortuner bought and paid for by his sister, a nurse working in the US.  She vacations once a year in the Philippines, where I met her, but will never again work as a nurse in the Phils.  For her, the Philippines is a retirement destination.   

[Guy F.]

We once met a Filipino MD who was studying to become a nurse so he could come to the US to work. He said he is not the only one.

[Old55]

My wife's little sister became a nurse. She was required to work as an unpaid intern for about two years but eventually got a US work visa. She now makes more than day (12 + hours) than those nurses would make in a month. My wife's close friend works as a traveling nurse she makes about $100 an hour!!! 

[JJReyes]

I would advocate a tier system for the education of nurses.  Those who drop out after two years due to financial or other reasons can qualify for a licensed caregiver certificate.  My budget for this eventual need is P20,000 ($400) a month plus food and lodging.  Cheap compared to the current price in California of $6,000 to $8,000 a month for an in-resident caregiver.  The price, according to relatives, for a Filipina TNT is $2,000 a month in cash, no social security, healthcare and other benefits.

Those who don't pass the nursing exam can become nursing assistants.  You then have nurses.  With a nursing degree plus two additional years, you become a nurse practitioner. although the better term is medical practitioner.  Their work is similar to a doctor except no invasive procedures.  They are licensed to do medical exams, advise on such issues as diabetes, dispense medications and refer you to specialist doctors.  This is already happening in the United States.  My wife and I haven't seen a medical doctor for routine care in over 4 years.  There is a huge shortage of doctors.

[mountainside]

5 hours ago, Guy F. said:

We once met a Filipino MD who was studying to become a nurse so he could come to the US to work. He said he is not the only one.

True.  My MSRN daughter once supervised a Pinoy MD who retrained to work as a nurse in the US.

[JJReyes]

9 hours ago, Guy F. said:

We once met a Filipino MD who was studying to become a nurse so he could come to the US to work. He said he is not the only one.

About ten years ago, there was a story in Philippine newspapers about a medical school graduate who was No. 1 in the licensing exam.  Lacking the right social connections, he realized the only one hiring doctors are government hospitals at very low wages.  He went back to school to become a nurse and eventually received employment at an American hospital.