Despite reports that the number of unemployed nursing graduates in the Philippines continues to increase, many (including those who already have medical degrees, or are already practicing medicine in the Philippines) are still enticed to take a degree in nursing, fueled by the hope that working abroad will be a lucrative means to help them provide a better future for their families.
Last month, 37,513 (among 78,135) students passed the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) board exams for nurses. Unfortunately, this fresh batch of new board passers have to contend with the already existing 200,000 nursing graduates who are currently unemployed.
But board topnotcher Jomel Garcia Lapides of the University of the Philippines brings a new perspective. While he agrees that “there are so many” unemployed nursing graduates, all it takes is a different mindset in order to view them as assets, instead of the other way around.
He suggests that the government pay more attention to making the nursing profession more appealing to graduates.
Surprisingly, Lapides is not interested in looking for greener pastures abroad. He wants to practice the nursing profession where it’s needed most — in rural areas and public hospitals.
He believes that the board exams were designed to bring out the créme de la créme and that charging board passers a training fee in order to work is unjust, since “they are qualified and are serving their duty.”
Because earning a degree in nursing costs money, most Pinoys think of it as an investment, and the returns will be worth it when they get to work abroad, especially in the United States.
However, things took a different turn and there is no longer a big demand for nurses to work in the US. Because of this, Pinoy Registered Nurses have decided to explore other options, like Canada and Saudi Arabia.
But times are changing globally. Hostility and political unrest in the Middle East have made the prospect of working overseas seem less feasible.
While this kind of scenario may seem distressing to those with big aspirations, perhaps it’s time for us to imbibe Lapides’ way of thinking. A brilliant mind need not go to waste. The secret is not in finding opportunities, but in making them.
It may be easier said than done, but one needs to be realistic — the world is riddled with economic recession and political unrest, and each nation has its own burden to carry. We can only count on ourselves to be smart and resourceful, in order to solve our own problems.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend Aug 27-30, 2011 Sec A pg.12)