Take Nursing for the right reason, says former UP Dean

With employment opportunities for over 300,00 unemployed or underemployed Filipino nurses continue to dwindle significantly,  Dr. Josefina Tuazon, a former dean of UP College of Nursing and now a member Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Technical Committee on Nursing Education, has advised incoming college freshmen to take Nursing for the right reason and if possible, choose other college courses that perfectly fit both their skills and interests.

“If they want to take up nursing because they think they have the aptitude and inclination to become a nurse, irrespective of going abroad, irrespective of earning dollars, then go. We need nurses like that. In other words – take nursing for the right reason,” she said during an interview. “If you are using nursing as a stepping stone to go abroad, then don’t take up nursing because this is not the right time. Employments are not going to be readily available and more importantly, in this profession, we don’t need people doing that.”

The sudden boom in demands for skilled nursing professionals abroad some 8 to 10 years ago has led to the mushrooming of substandard nursing schools in the Philippines, and with this phenomenon also comes  the continuous degradation of nursing education which only puts the Nursing course at the center of public spotlight. American dream for Filipino nurses has also taken a back seat as U.S.A. is still suffering from retrogression which also affects even its local nursing graduates. For this reason, Tuazon firmly agrees that this is not the best time for students to consider Nursing as the stepping-stone to work abroad because they might just end up  frustrated just like the other 300, 00 or more Filipino nurses who are still groping in the dark.

“What made nursing different – the reason the reputation was good – prior to this trend? Before, only those who had the inclination took up nursing. But now, there are students who were even forced to take up nursing to help in the family. That is not exactly the right characteristic, the right attitude, the right mindset for nurses to give (the) nursing (profession) a good name abroad or anywhere else,” she maintained.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, on the other hand, urges Filipino nurses to look outside the box and search other medical-related jobs outside teh hospital setting.

“With the fast-growing and innovative trends and advancements in the healthcare industry, I encourage you to go out-of-the-box, beyond the traditional clinical jobs, and explore other emerging medical and health-related careers that are needed by our labor market today,” she said.

Healthcare information outsourcing sector of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, for example, is now one of the “fast-growing sectors” that offer over 100,000 medical-related jobs to nursing graduates. According to Baldoz, Nursing graduates can also consider working as clinical research associates who monitor and administer health and safety protocols and related study training to assigned work sites.

“If they are into clinical review and decision making, they may consider a career as a Clinical Appeals Specialist who abstracts clinically relevant facts documented in the patient’s medical record, reviews clinical cases and responds to written medical appeals of patients and clients,” Baldoz added.

Sources: Yahoo News

Top 5 Tips To Become A Happier Nurse

Are you feeling sad, bored and gloomy? Do you think that you’re having the worst day of your life? If you answered a resounding “YES” for both, then read these 5 easy-to-follow tips below to make yours a better and brighter day:

1. Exercise your worries away

Who says nurses are excused for daily work-outs? You may always be busy doing your daily tasks but that shouldn’t excuse you from stretching those  lazy muscles. If you think you’re not that fat to do the daily exercise, then just  do it to make you a happier nurse. According to scientific research, regular physical activity improves mood and the way we feel about ourselves. Exercise reduces depression and anxiety and helps us manage stress better. It releases endorphins into the body that promote a feeling of happiness and contentment.

2. Decide to be happy

You don’t owe anybody or anything your own happiness so the moment you wake up each morning, it would be better if you just choose to seize the day and put a smile on your face. In addition to that, happiness is a contagious emotion so if you want your patients to feel the same way about their selves, choose to be happy inside and out. We all have our good and bad days so if you are feeling low, don’t you ever forget the first reason why you became a nurse: to take care of your patient no matter what. Decide to be happy and it will not be long before you can notice that your grumpy tendencies is slowly fading away.

3.  Look at the glass half-full

Are you overworked but underpaid? Be thankful instead that you still have a job. Are you frustrated with your ill-tempered patient? Just be grateful that you have the opportunity to grow and learn the value of patience. Though we can’t turn things around us into what we really desire them to be, life still has many wonderful things to offer and all we need to do is to take them as they come and make the most out of it. You can complain all your life and still end up being miserable so why not just choose to look at the brighter side of life and discover things hidden from your naked eyes? After all, it’s not the burden that makes life miserable, it is how you carry it.

4. Count your blessings

It sounds a bit cliche but you should always remember that it’s how you value things around you, not how many things you possess, that makes you really happy. As a nurse, you have a lot of things to be thankful about: your expensive nursing education, your very supportive loved ones, your appreciative doctors and patients, and that rare opportunity to make a difference in the lives of each people you meet on a daily basis. As a tip, keep a gratitude journal or remind yourself of one small thing you were proud of or made you feel good. You will be surprised on how little things can brighten up your day.

5. Learn to let go

It’s given that difficult patients, doctors, or coworkers are normal challenges in a nurse’s life. There are those who might brought you pain in the past but how you will react to all these kind of adversities is all up to you. Nursing is a rewarding and challenging career at the same time but don’t fret because you will learn how to embrace these challenges in the long run. For now, it wont harm if you just take one baby step at a time and accept that no matter how hard you try, Nursing will never be the “perfect” playground for those who are weak at heart.

CHED’s Call to Phase Out Nursing Schools: A Little Too Late

We can’t blame Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for tagging Nursing as one of the “oversubscribed courses” if we have to believe its recent report about the number of registered nurses in the Philippines already reaching a whopping 400,000 this year. And while the rate of nursing enrollment is slowly plummeting the past few years, isn’t CHED’s call to close down several low-performing schools a little too late? Why did they have to wait for the nursing population to reach this all-time high before employing such drastic act? Without any doubt, CHED is once again proving itself to be  just another supposed-to-be-proactive-government-agency gone awry.

According to reports, a total of 200 nursing schools were existent before the year 2006, the period when a sudden surge in nursing enrollment was gradually becoming more and more evident. Today, that number doubled to 400 nursing schools, including, of course, those low-performing schools mainly corrupted by money-collecting principles. For this reason, the number of nursing schools has become directly proportional to the number of nursing graduates produced every year. As a matter of fact, a total of 2,000,000 students enrolled in the Nursing course from the year 2000 up to 2010. The quantity of Filipino nursing students, however, has been inversely proportional to the quality of nursing education provided by our nursing schools. This phenomenon became more eminent when the December 2010 Nursing Licensure Exam got the lowest passing rate ever recorded in the history of the said exam. But how on earth did it all happened when CHED has been existent to regulate the nursing schools being established in the country? Are they all jackass that they had not foreseen that this overpopulation would happen in the near future? Pardon my french but the recent  CHED regulation is a little too late to give a sensible remedy for the present unemployment and underemployment suffered by our nurses.

According to Dean Carmelita Divina Gracia of UERMMC (University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center) College of Nursing, which is one of CHED’s center of excellence in Nursing, the continued decline of nursing education can be attributed to the fact that there are more nursing schools available than actual hospitals capable of accommodating  nursing students. “We consider Nusing to be at the bed side. We don’t acquire the competencies in the classroom setting. It has to be done in the community and hospital setting”, she said in an interview with GMA News. She also added that “Dapat bawasan ang non-performing schools ngayon.” It’s a frustrating truth that our country is able to generate more nursing schools than quality hospitals.

BON member Marco Antonio Sto. Tomas also added: “Minsan nga hindi na makapagpahinga yung mga pasyente sa dami ng mga nursing students. Dapat tanggalin na ang mga dapat matanggal but give chance to other schools that deserve to stay.”

CHED, which will start a two month-long detailed review of all nursing schools starting this month, said that those nursing schools with  <30% passing rate and without minimum qualifications like a college dean and skills lab will be a candidate for a phase-out. They also added that “voluntary phase-out” will be accepted upon school’s discretion.

The bloated nursing supply has been a product of both false advertisements and weak government regulations in the past. And since the number of registered nurses will just stay there no matter how we involve ourselves in various finger-pointing and blame-mongering activities, what is left for us to do now  is to support government projects intended to provide nurses the necessary skills for a better career opportunities in the near future. Closing down non-performing nursing schools is a must but the government should be equally concerned in providing more employment opportunities for our angels in distress.

When RN Turns Into NRN (Napilitang Maging RN)…

As a Filipino nurse living in a less than ideal situation, I have learned two things: First, the title RN is not for everyone, both literally and figuratively. Second, for those who luckily passed all the tests to belong to the roster of professionals under the “RN” category, two subcategories, unfortunately, have emerged: the RNs (i.e., Real Nurses with the genuine “heart” to serve) and those NRNs (i.e., ”Napilitan lang maging RN kaya naging RN”). Now, the one million peso question is this: Which one are you?

Yesterday, a harmless but depressing post from a fellow participant in an online Filipino Nursing forum suddenly caught my attention. Here is a snapshot of her sentiments:

To cut the long  story short, that nursing student above wanted to be a veterinarian but was forced to take up Nursing; a typical story from a typical Nursing student trapped within an intricate web of societal and family influences. Several years ago, international demands for Filipino nurses sky rocketed and the term “brain drain” phenomenon had enveloped the whole nursing industry. But that was 8-10 years ago. Now, the dice of life is not working for our nurses’ favor. Supply has exceeded demands tremendously, leaving the hopes of nursing graduates hanging in the balance. And this bitter truth now haunts those nurses who were either forced to take the course or influenced by friends and relatives to make the choice. And as the dreams of Filipino nurses to get to the ’land of milk and honey’ becoming more bleak than ever, some nurses (including the student nurse above) are starting to realize that love for Nursing, at its purest form, should not be half-baked. Not all people can be a nurse, just like not all math-lovers can be engineers. But who deserves the blame for the plight of this “NRNs” nowadays?

Is it the student with a  young mind gullible enough to be influenced and pressured on what path he/she should take in life? Is it the family or the parents who put emphasis more on financial rewards rather than fulfillment in choosing a career for their sons and daughters? Or is it the government and their false advertisements which has resulted in the mushrooming of fly-by-night schools with a sole intention of getting money from the hapless nurse-wannabes? For me, there is no absolute answer as circumstances differ from one person to another.

We can’t blame an NRN for ending up as such because, though she fought for her “real dream” with all her might, she had no choice as financial support for her education was out of her hands at that time; it would be better for her to concede than ending up without a single bachelor’s degree. We can’t also blame the family of that NRN because they were just victims as well, blindly believing that Nursing is the key to be free from poverty and establish a successful career abroad; they just wanted the ‘right path’ for their son or daughter, nothing more and nothing less. Neither can we blame the government nor the nursing school, for the “power of choice” is always for us to use. In the end, knowing what you really want, and fighting for it, is all that matters. If you really have a dream that keeps your heart beating and your blood flowing, then you should have the ultimate courage to defy all odds to follow and achieve it.

I want to reiterate again that Nursing is all about handling and taking care of human lives. And when I say human lives, I mean REAL human life and not just another fake dummy that you can fool around. Nursing  is a serious profession and one can’t afford to commit even a single mistake. In Nursing, perfection is the name of the game and because NRNs are not doing their jobs wholeheartedly (as they were just forced to love the profession and have no choice but to “use their licences”), chances are they will commit mistakes and hate every single day that they work as a nurse. I’m not generalizing here because I know a lot of NRNs who turned out to be competent nurses and have learned to love the profession. But if you know that your heart is not on Nursing, I’m challenging you to step out and chase your dreams. If you are a student nurse just months before your graduation, be patient, wait for that moment and take the licensure exam so it will be a win-win situation for you and your family who supported your Nursing education from the beginning. Then, as you gain independence, you are now free to follow what your heart really wants. It won’t harm if you end up being a nurse-writer, a nurse-photographer, a nurse-teacher, or a nurse-lawyer, as long as you are able to heed your calling and achieve a certain fulfillment no amount of money can buy. Remember, you only have one life to live and if you don’t muster all the courage to pursue what you want, then you will end up reaping despair instead of integrity when you reach your graying years. To be an NRN is one thing  but to  stay as an NRN doing less than ideal nursing job for the rest of your life is another. I’m telling you, it’s better to live by choice, not by chance.

And if you’re one of the lucky ones who belong to the RN (Real Nurse) category and consider Nursing as your first love, you deserve a standing ovation because you have chosen a noble profession that entails dedication, hard work, and a God-given “heart” to serve and care for others. You are an angel in disguise and you deserve every kind of recognition. Take pride on your profession despite every discrimination and road block you will meet along the way, because in the end, you will always be an “RN”, a nurse by profession and a nurse by heart.

Whether you are an “RN” or an “NRN”, what’s important is that a person is not defined by his or her mistakes in life; “who you will be” is more important that “who you were” in the past. Nursing is not a dead end but a stepping stone to a lot of bigger opportunities. All it takes is an open mind and open heart that will accept every possibilities.

RN or NRN, the choice is still yours.

Now, which one are you?

Top 5 Survival Tips for the Fledgling Nurse

Let’s start by not sugarcoating the fact that in the Philippines nowadays, Nursing is not the easiest ticket to financial success. Gone are the days when nurses flock nursing schools to get a diploma, work in local hospitals to gain few years of experience, and then get an overseas employment as easy as 1,2,3. Many things have changed over the years in the local nursing industry and unfortunately, international demands and restrictions for Filipino nurses have drastically changed as well. For this reason, it is not uncommon to hear these days stories voicing out the plight of our very own registered nurses. But what should we do when even lobbying for laws and policies in favor of our nurses is not enough to lift them up from their present situation? Do we always have to blame the government and our parents for this phenomenon that has gripped the nursing profession? If you are a real nurse, you should know how to apply first aid on your present predicament and follow these tip-top tips (N.U.R.S.E.) on how to survive Nursing during these trying times:

• Never give up.

 Having a resilient attitude is a must to survive this season of job-hunting. If you failed to get an RNHeals slot, a plantilla position, or even just a chance to work as a volunteer nurse, so be it. Give yourself enough time to recover and get ready for another series of job search. Submit your curriculum vitae to as many hospitals as possible and avoid trimming down your alternatives to a limited number of  ”preferred hospitals”. Remember, this is not the best time to be “choosy” or force yourself to specialize on a nursing field when you doesn’t even have a general ward experience yet. Don’t quit especially when you face a lot of setbacks. Who knows? Yours might be another nursing success story in the making. So cheer up! Besides, you’re not the only one struggling to get a job. If you really want to be a nurse and have the heart to survive it, then go for the gold. And do you know how to get your dream job? JUST DON’T GIVE UP.

• Use your contacts.

You’re done having that “student-nurse” and “board examinee” status so don’t bring your friends with you when  you apply for a nursing job as much as possible. Believe it or not, your independence in the profession starts as early as the job-hunting period. Build a lot of contacts by opening your lines of communication to a lot of nurses you meet each day. They can be a stranger you meet while you’re applying for your nursing license inside the PRC, a co-trainee during your IVT or BLS training, or just a simple nurse you happen to bump in while exploring the Facebook world. Don’t forget to exchange numbers and build friendships with them. They might be holding the key for a rare nursing opportunity so update each other every once in a while.

• Resume-building.

How can you have an edge and be above the other 300,000+ unemployed or underemployed nurses in the country? Simple: Polish your resume. But remember, you can’t build a solid foundation from nothing; a good nursing resume can be developed not by staying at home the whole day doing nothing but updating your nursing skills and knowledge through relevant trainings and seminars. No one is excuse for this requirement because Nursing is a profession that evolves continuously and develops modern advancements  you can only learn by signing-up to these “continuing professional education” programs. Some are budget-friendly and some are too expensive for those RNs with a tight budget. But remember, nursing is an intricate profession and you have to establish a very good investment for you to flourish in this life-long career.

• See other possible options and be open to them.

Let’s admit it. We have an overflowing number of nurses and the budget cuts made by the government for the health sector only intensifies our hospitals’ inability to accommodate all registered nurses in the country. But that is not something we have to fret about because nurses, as they say, are resourceful in and outside the hospital setting. If hospitals are temporarily closing its doors to nurses, one can try to utilize their geriatric and pediatric skills in home care institutions, participate in various medical/dental missions, or apply their nursing knowledge while working as review assistants or national reviewers in numerous nursing review centers. In addition to that, nurses can be entreprenurse and establish their own businesses or work as call center agents in BPO companies offering medical or health care accounts especially made to cater licensed nurses. Your career as a nurse can still be rewarding if you know how to think outside the box and not just limit yourself by just being a “hospital nurse”. You can also attend various job fairs or career fest to discover a world of unlimited opportunities like the annual PNOCE or Philippine Nursing Opportunities, Conference, Expo, and Job Fair (http://www.philnursingexpo.com/) held every last quarter of the year in different parts of the country. The government, with the cooperation of DOH and DOLE, also offers all nurses an alternative to gain relevant nursing experience through RNHeals, which will open again its doors for the third batch of applications early next year. Also, don’t forget to use the world wide web to find job opportunities here and abroad. You can use the following websites to find nursing-related  jobs and create a personalized online resume:

http://www.workabroad.ph/

http://www.jobopenings.ph/

http://www.jobstreet.com.ph/

This is not the best time to be closed-minded and pessimistic. It’s easy to find a job, all you need is an ounce of perseverance and the willingness to help yourself.

• Encourage one another.

Don’t be too consumed and affected by discouraging articles and news telling you that Nursing is not a rewarding profession anymore. It might not give you the power to buy a Porsche car during the early years of your career but remember, Nursing is not all about financial rewards in the first place. It might be helpful to update yourself with facts surrounding the nursing profession but not every thing you hear or see is worth your time. Filipino nurses should not just share news or stories about how bitter they are as a nurse but also encourage one another through inspirational stories and bravely sharing the reality that this too shall pass. People who hates and discriminates nurses are more than enough to bring our nurses’ spirits down, so why add more to the insult? Nurses are the only people who can understand the struggles and fulfillment of other nurses. We have our own little world thrived by nurses and fueled by our own subculture that only nurses can understand. Love one another. Help one another. Inspire one another. That is what we call the “nursing spirit”.