This is a term used by economic and political analysts in describing a minor change or an outright U-turn in the direction of stated government policies.
Well, in the light of recent global economic conditions and shifting demographics affecting the employment prospects of health professionals, especially nurses, there should indeed be some “course correction” in academic preferences.
Since global demand for nurses and related health service providers have gone down, most graduates and registered nurses are either taking on odd jobs or remain unemployed in a situation which the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority calls a “skills-jobs mismatch”.
The tragedy is that in most cases, the parents of these nursing graduates sold the family heirloom, pawned their houses, virtually moved heaven and earth just to see a son or daughter graduate as a nurse supposedly for better-paying jobs overseas
Quite sadly, the pastures are now parched.
In fact, more nurses will be unemployed next year, according to the Professional Regulation Commission.
Marco Sto. Tomas, of the PRC’s Board of Nursing, said the current number of 230,000 jobless and underemployed nurses nationwide is rising.
“Although enrolment in nursing courses is going down, there are still many in the pipeline, considering that 68,000 graduates just took the licensure examination this month,” Sto Tomas was quoted by a major broadsheet as saying.
Many registered nurses are now willing to work for free or even pay hospitals so they could work and gain the necessary experience to qualify them for employment abroad, he added.
Thus, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has ordered the PRC, an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment, to coordinate with other concerned government agencies and look into the condition of unemployed Filipino nurses.
The DoLE is also looking into coming out with new rules to regulate the “hiring” of nurse volunteers in hospitals and other medical facilities nationwide, Baldoz added.
No regulation exists to stop or penalize government and private hospitals from using the services of licensed nurses for free, she said.
Sto. Tomas said the PRC is now pushing for the implementation of the so-called Hastening Options for Productivity and Employment for nurses, he added.
“The program aims to promote entrepreneurship putting up their own business for Filipinos nurses who are now having difficulty finding employment,” he said.
The PRC and other concerned government agencies are exerting efforts to improve the lives of nurses, including the unemployed, he added.
Nursing is a noble profession, and our world-class nurses deserve a better deal.
Published : Tuesday May 22, 2012 | Category : Editorial | Views : 28
We are a voracious rice-eating people. The national staple had been passed on to us by our ancestors long before Spain colonized the country. Rice is the main source of our daily carbohydrate intake. In fact, just to supplement local production, we are importing rice – some 300,000 metric tons... Read more
Published : Monday May 21, 2012 | Category : Editorial | Views : 49
By : People's Journal
The power-point presentation made by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales before the Senate last Monday must have surely been a riveting spectacle to television viewers watching the proceedings of the ongoing impeachment trial. To ordinary folks, the litany of 82 foreign currency accounts and some 423 banking transactions allegedly involving $12 million... Read more
Published : Sunday May 20, 2012 | Category : Editorial | Views : 68
The Aquino administration’s economic mantra is an inclusive economic growth where no one is supposed to be left behind. It has a nice ring to it, but it is not an original idea. In fact, it is an avowed development policy first espoused by President Ramos’ vision of an economic... Read more
Published : Saturday May 19, 2012 | Category : Editorial | Views : 197
To insure promptness. That’s one definition of “tip”. If you are in the food and beverage service business, tipping is a customary gesture of appreciation or gratitude. It is offered, never demanded. It ceases to be a tip when private individuals or parties transacting with the government make the same... Read more
Published : Friday May 18, 2012 | Category : Editorial | Views : 92
By : People's Journal
The country has been rolled out of the intensive car unit, wheeled into the recovery room, and given a clean bill of health. But is it fiscally fit? The top executive of one of the country’s biggest banks – the Bank of the Philippine Islands – thinks so, saying that... Read more
