There’s little doubt that one of the things most often talked about when education and helping families in the Philippines comes up is nursing and nursing school.
Let me go on record right now and state clearly that I have a great respect for nurses, and the nursing profession. I need to make that crystal clear, because what I intend to say next will likely have many of my readers thinking I have something against nurses, nursing schools and the profession of nursing … and this is just not so.
What I am against is the maddening habit here in the Philippines of “following the leader”, whether it makes sense or not. Although I’ve read and heard of lemmings for years, I’ve never actually seen one. However, it’s pretty common knowledge that they are an otherwise intelligent animal who, for inexplicable reasons get the urge to follow their fellow lemmings in deadly journeys … off the edge of a cliff or into the sea to drown, for example.
Here in the Philippines the number of young people whose goal is to enter nursing school is simply amazing to me. And the number of seemingly well-meaning family members … here in the Philippines and all around the world who seem to offer mindless encouragement in this direction is mind boggling.
A Filipino who manages to find one of the decent nursing schools here (and that isn’t always easy) and who passes the exams can get a working visa to the US and to a number of other countries that are otherwise difficult or impossible for a young, single Philippines citizen to enter on his or her own. If s/he gets a visa to the US and doesn’t get “hooked” by an unscrupulous employment agency (again, not always an easy task) he or she will likely get a pretty decent paying job.
Or … maybe not …
RP has 400,000 surplus nurses — PRC
By RAYMUND F. ANTONIO
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) yesterday said that the Philippines has a surplus of registered nurses and is capable of sending them overseas to meet the growing demand for Filipino nurses abroad.PRC Commissioner Ruth Padilla said the surplus of nurses in the Philippines is 400,000, enough to meet the manpower requirements in hospitals in Saudi Arabia, Canada, US, and European countries.
“The vacancies for our nurses in both private and public hospitals reach 60,000. But we are producing over 100,000 registered professional nurses every year,” Padilla said.
The PRC commissioner added that the excess supply of nurses resulted from the lack of employment opportunities in private and public hospitals in the country.
“We do not have additional positions in the government for them. Moreover, private hospitals cannot accommodate the surplus of nurses,” Padilla said…
… full article on the Philippine’s oversupply of nurses here
Nursing is not a “job”. No one who is not dedicated to healing and helping people should think about being a nurse. If you are in the position to advise or support family members, think this through before you suggest nursing or start sending the money for nursing school ‘in the blind’. Ask yourself or your relative the operative question …
Would you still study nursing if you could not emigrate to another country with the nursing degree? I think an honest introspection and answer would surprise a lot of people. Money is important in life, but I hate to see so many folks whom seem to be getting into something they really won’t be happy with … just because it (may) pay significant money.
One of the things about the Philippines that often amazes us Westerners is how happy even very poor people seem to be … and how little money influences many people in their lives. This is often portrayed by foreigners as a shortcoming. Perhaps it is. But then again, perhaps it is a great strength of the Filipino and there is something us “money oriented” Westerners could learn something from.
Hello Dave…regarding your comment about "how happy even poor people seem to be"……I counter that you don't miss what you have never had. I believe that my happiest times in my life occured as a poor kid playing baseball with the other poor kids in summer, and sledding on cardboard boxes in winter. I/we didn't have two nickels to rub together but boy, we were happy. I would love to return to those simplier times…but it is not to be. My visits to the Philippines spurs fond memories of past times and days of my youth.
regards
Harvey
Without the filipino nurses here in US, most of the hospitals and nursing homes will be operating to only about 60%. My wife is a retired nurse, got her nursing degree here in CA but two of her sisters who are also nurses( graduated in PI) immigrated to US 20 years ago for better pay and opportunities. It has been the best decision in their lives to immigrate here in US.
Hello Dave,
The the Philippines is probably one of the few countries which have an over supply of nurses. Most western countries have quite a shortage of qualified nurses. It takes a long time for a person to become a qualified nurse, I know it takes up to 5 years of training here in Australia.
For a Philippine trained nurse to get work here in Australia, that person needs to pass a english test for and have at least been working in a good hospital for a number of years. Then when accepted will require more training in Australia to bring that person up to Australian nursing standards.
I know it may seem strange for a Filipino to have to pass a written and oral test, but a lot of Filipinos from the provinces do not speak english that well. So western countries are only taking the best qualified and most experienced of what the Philippines has to offer.
I agree with you on nursing is just not about money. Nursing is about compassion, making a sick person feel good. A good nurse is like having a caring friend, having a nurse who is there just for the money is not something I would desire looking after me.
You would think that the Philippines would have a look at where there is a shortage of trained people in the world, adjust to those areas.
Would I be a nurse just to immigrate to another country no, there are plenty of other career paths which are in demand in other countries.
Most western countries are suffering from skill shortages in many areas.
All it takes is for the person to prove that he or she can do the job up to the standard required and it does not matter what nationality you are you will get the job.
Of all of the Filippinos I know here I only know one who is a nurse, the rest are in about any profession you care to name.
Steven
@Harvey: Throughly agree, Harvey. Thanks for dropping by and commenting. I wonder, at times, if it is just my advancing age … but when I walk down the street here in the Philippines I often feel like I'm in the litle town I r up in back in the USA 40 or 50 years ago … many things in the Philippines are 50 years behind the time, and that is not necessarily a negative statement at all.
@Steven: True words, Steven. If onme has the character and inner strength to be a nurse, then it is indeed one of the noblest professions. I salute nurses in every country.
But I hate seeing the "Wal*Mart" cheap Chinese production line approach that's being used here in the Philippines by far too many schools … got a spare closet in your house? Quick, set up a nursing school, extract as much money as you can from girls from the provinces, "teach the test" and hope that 40% will pass (a passing rate considered not too bad here) and then they can emmigrate and make a bundle.
My advice is .. talk to graduates of any school being considered who are actually working in the field. A reputable school will not only have lists of grads available, they will be proud to have their recommendation … a school with no track record is not worth a stydent's time, let alone the price of tuition.
@David B Katague: david, I have the utmost admiration and respect for those who are 'right" for nursing. But I do submit that going into nursing solely for the 'opportunities' is not necessarily a good thing to do. It takes a special person to ne a good nurse.
Yes, indeed! I agree it takes a special person to be nurse, No argument there. But if nursing career is the easiest way to improve your family economic conditions, then I can not really blame those that take nursing just for the opportunity. Sooner or later. they will realized they are not happy, They either quit or continue what they are doing even if they hate it. Cheers!
Very true…your concluding paragraph is an accurate observation–dating back to the Spanish occupation. The Spaniards called it "the indolence of the Filipinos"– but indeed, a great survival technique on desperate times.
@zylla3: Thanks for reading and for your valuable comments. I would have to have a small difference of opinion, though, as to what constitutes 'desperate times". I don't feel the Philippines is in "desperate times" today, at all .. except, perhaps, for this artifical "i can't" mentality which seems to be spread both personally (family teachings) and by government (Department of Education, perhaps) means.
I do see some encouraging reversals of the "If Only" handicap right on my own street. two guys in their 40's who have never held a job in their lives (both "pampered sons" taken care of by other family members) now making the rounds of the job market, submitting resumes, getting interviews and in general, believing in themselves. (One guy already has a job I heard just a day ortwo ago, hope my info is correct). Absolutely nothing has ever held these men back except the "I can't do it" mindset they grew up with. Perhaps the times are changing.