“Woohoo! RN na ako! Ano na?” — an unofficial, supposed step-by-step instructions and a “follow-at-your-own-risk” guide for new RNs who don’t know what to do after passing the NLE (December 2010 Nursing Board Exam Successful Examinees edition).

To reiterate, this is UNOFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL. The PRC, PNA, BON, CHED, DepEd, DOLE, DOH, DFA, CIA, FBI or any other government agency has nothing to do with this. Everything that you will read below is purely based on past experiences of fellow RNs. Including me.

Tandaan: Huwag sundin kung ayaw mo. Huwag basahin kung ayaw mo. In fact, close mo na ang browser. Seryoso. Huwag mo ng basahin. Still there? Ok sige, walang sisihan, wala akong kasalanan. Rakenrol. Ito na:

Step 1. Intay ng result after 42 working days. “Yaay pasado ako!!!”

Step 2. Hindi ka makapaniwala. Tignan ang pangalan sa diyaryo, or sa internet ng paulit-ulit.

Step 3. Celebration. “Yaay talagang pasado ako!!!” Tugs, tugs, tugs. So magpapa-katay na ng baboy, baka, manok, kalabaw or aso. Gagawan ka na ng banner, malaking tarpaulin o di kaya makeshift na signboard sa tapat ng bahay niyo na nakalagay, “Congratulations (insert your name here)!!! You make us proud. We love you!!!”

Step 4. Mamili kung saan gustong umattend ng mass oath-taking ceremony

• Para sa mga GUSTO umattend ng mass oath-taking ceremony sa SMX Mall of Asia: mag log-in sa http://www.nurseoathtaking.net para makakuha ng PRIORITY NUMBER/SLIP para sa oath-taking ticket na bibilhin sa PNA.

Sabi ng PRC at PNA, kung wala kang PRIORITY SLIP, walang OATH-TAKING tickets (Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph/articles.asp?sid=4&aid=4017). Parang NO ID, NO ENTRY lang ‘yan kaya huwag ng makulit at kumuha na lang ng PRIORITY SLIP, okay?

• Para sa mga HINDI a-attend ng oath-taking ceremony sa SMX Mall of Asia (provincial): intay na lang kayo sa announcement ng PRC kung kailan at saan ang oath-taking ceremony niyo.

• Para sa mga AYAW umattend ng mass oath-taking ceremony NA MAY BAYAD: pwede mag oath-taking sa PRC sa mismong araw ng initial registration (see Step 7 below). WALANG  BAYAD! Kasama na sa initial registration fee ang pag-take ng oath sa PRC.

• Para sa mga gustong umattend ng mass oath-taking ceremony sa SMX Mall of Asia pero hindi naman sa Maynila nag-exam at para sa mga nag-exam sa Maynila pero ayaw naman sa SMX Mall of Asia umattend ng mass oath-taking ceremony: WALANG KASO kahit saan ka pa umattend.

• Para sa mga pinag-iisipan pa kung importante ba na mag-take ng OATH ang isang Propesyunal Nars: basahin ang REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9173 “Philippine Nursing Act of 2002″ Sec. 16: http://www.philippinenursingdirectory.com/ra-9173-philippine-nursing-act-of-2002/

Step 5. Bumili ng ticket para sa oath-taking ceremony

- Para sa mga gusto umattend ng oath-taking ceremony sa SMX Mall of Asia: pumunta sa Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) sa araw na nakasaad sa PRIORITY SLIP para bumili ng tickets (i-click ang link para sa DIRECTIONS at MAPA papuntang PNA: http://www.philippinenursingdirectory.com/2011/02/07/oath-taking-schedule-for-december-2010-nursing-board-exam-successful-examinees-metro-manila/).

Dalhin ang mga sumusunod sa araw na bibili na ng ticket sa PNA:

• Printout ng PRIORITY NUMBER na nakuha sa http://www.nurseoathtaking.net
• kahit na anong valid ID (school, passport, visa, village, SSS, Driver’s, alumni, BIR, company, government — basta ID)
• NOA Form (Notice of Admission Form). Ito yung papel na may kulay na pina-papirmahan mo sa proctor nung board exam (i-click ang link para makakita ng NOA Form kung sakaling nakalimutan mo na kung ano ang itsura nito: http://www.philippinenursingdirectory.com/professional-regulation-commission-prc/notice-of-admission-noa-form/).
• Kung walang NOA Form, pwede ang mga diyaryo na may board exam result (ipakita ang sequence number) o di kaya ang –
• Print-out ng rating mo sa OVR (Online Verification Rating) ng PRC (i-click ang link para tignan ang rating online sa PRC website: http://www.prc.gov.ph/_ratingverification_menu.asp).

Kung ayaw mo pumunta sa PNA para bumili ng ticket, pwede ka magpadala ng representative na may valid ID. Bigyan mo siya ng authorization letter at ipadala sa kanya ang mga requirements sa taas.

Basahin dito kung MAGKANO ang OATH-TAKING TICKETS, schedule ng SCHOOLS at kung ilan ang pwedeng guests: PRC-BON Schedule of Schools for the March 14 and 15, 2011 Oath-taking Ceremony (SMX)

Pwede kahit sino ang guest mo. Pwede si Nanay, Tatay, Kuya, Ate, Tito, Tita, Lolo, Lola, Bestfriend, Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Ka-On, Ka-MU, Ka-Fling, Booty Call, It’s Complicated, Fiance, Kapitbahay, In-Laws or kahit si Yaya kung wala ka talagang makuha na kukuha ng picture mo.

- Para sa mga hindi a-attend ng oath-taking ceremony sa SMX Mall of Asia (provincial): intay na lang kayo sa announcement ng PRC kung saan kayo bibili ng ticket para sa oath-taking ceremony sa area niyo.

Step 6. Attend na ng oath-taking ceremony. Hanap ng friends, ayos ng make-up, paputiin lalo ang white duty shoes, picture picture, oath-oath. Nightingale Pledge. Clap clap. Picture picture ulit. Kainan na. More pictures. Uwi sa bahay. Upload sa FB ang sankatutak na pictures. Tandaan, walang ipapasa na oath form sa araw na ito. As in wala. Ticket lang ang dadalhin mo. Tsaka ang iyong napiling guest. (i-click ang link para malaman kung ano ang dapat mong suotin sa araw ng mass oath-taking ceremony: http://www.philippinenursingdirectory.com/2011/02/07/oath-taking-schedule-for-december-2010-nursing-board-exam-successful-examinees-metro-manila/).

Step 7. Initial Registration na sa PRC. Intayin ang initial registration schedule na i-a-announce. Alphabetically-arranged ang pag-dagsa sa PRC or kung saan mang venue (see schedule below). Pumunta lamang sa araw kung kailan ka dapat mag-register. Kung Z ang first letter ng surname mo, huwag kang pumunta at mag-register sa araw na naka-schedule para sa mga letter A ang first letter ng surname. Magdala ng tubig, candy, bimpo, tissue, iPod, PSP, pamaypay, maghanap ng kausap, lapis, ballpen, etc. Maghanda sa dami ng madlang nurses na pupunta. Asahan mo na masikip at matagal ang intayan sa PRC. Mahaba ang pila at sobrang init.

Pwede ka na din mag-request ng sa araw ng initial registration ng:

• Certificate of Board Rating (i-click ang link para malaman kung magkano at paano: http://www.philippinenursingdirectory.com/professional-regulation-commission-prc/certificate-of-board-rating-registered-nurse/)  at ng
• Certificate of Board Passing (i-click ang link para malaman kung magkano at paano: http://www.philippinenursingdirectory.com/professional-regulation-commission-prc/certificate-of-board-passing-registered-nurse/)

Kung ayaw mo sumabay sa crowd, pwedeng mag-register kapag tapos na lahat mag-register. Ako ganun ang ginawa ko. 10 minutes lang, tapos na ako sa registration ko.

PWEDENG mag-register sa PRC AFTER the schedule na binigay nila. Ang schedule na iyon ay para lamang ma-control ang crowd. Crowd control, capice? WALANG PENALTY kung LATE REGISTRANT KA. Usually, sa PRC na ang punta mo kung late ka na magre-register.

Basahin dito ang INSTRUCTIONS, REQUIREMENTS at MAGKANO ang BABAYARAN sa araw ng INITIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.philippinenursingdirectory.com/2011/02/20/prc-initial-registration-instructions-for-december-2010-nursing-board-exam-passers/

PRC Initial Registration Schedule of December 2010 Nursing Board Exam Successful Examinees (Metro Manila and Pampanga)

PRC Initial Registration Schedule of December 2010 Nursing Board Exam Successful Examinees (Cebu)

PRC Initial Registration Schedule of December 2010 Nursing Board Exam Successful Examinees (Dagupan)

Kung ang INITIAL REGISTRATION day mo ay mauuna sa MASS OATH-TAKING CEREMONY, WALANG PROBLEMA. Sundin mo na lang ang schedule na binigay ng PNA (Oath-taking) at ng PRC (Initial Registration).

Step 8. Itago at huwag iwala ang claim stub. Ang claim stub na ibibigay sa’yo pagkatapos ng initial registration ay para ma-claim mo ang Professional License Card at Certificate of Registration/Board Certificate.

Step 9. Kunin ang Professional License Card at Certificate of Registration/Board Certificate sa PRC. Bumalik sa PRC sa araw na nakasaad sa claim stub. Minsan inaabot ng 2 months, 3 months, 6 months ang intayan. Yung iba nga, nakaalis na ng bansa, wala pa din. May kakilala ako na umalis at nakabalik na ng Pilipinas, wala pa din.

Step 10. Yun na yun. That’s it pansit. Hanap ka na ng trabaho kapag nakuha mo na ang lisensya mo. Good luck!!!

Admin Note: The instructions may seem OBVIOUS, REDUNDANT and OVERLY-EXPLAINED but only because of the nature of QUESTIONS that was thrown at me by previous nursing board exam successful examinees. This compilation is based on those questions and was made for the purpose of making it easier for me to answer queries in this website. Many thanks to janggo, squeegee, fei and RNdrei.

I have been asked by a commenter named Gladys about a situation that her sister is in. Gladys’ sister is one of those who took the July 2010 nursing board exam. Below is the thread of her comments and my replies to her in one of the posts in the site. In summary, her sister’s name DID NOT APPEAR in the PRC’s official list of successful examinees of the July 2010 Nursing Board Exam but her sister insists that she passed and that her name, together with 8,000 more, were just not included on that official list of the PRC. She is currently waiting for her claim stub to be sent to her and she has already received her Certificate of Board Passing.

Another commenter named bianca yvonne asked about a similar situation because she said that her friend is claiming the same thing. Her comments and my replies are also included below.

I made this post because I want to bring attention to this issue. There is a possibility that this is not the only time this has happened.

The following is rather lengthy but explains everything well:

Gladys 2010/09/12 at 1:46 am
Ask ko lang po. ung ate ko po, wala siyang name sa prc website na nakapasa. pero tinext siya ng review center na pumasa daw siya. general ave. nya 80. pinagtatakahan ko lng, bakit ang mahal nung master list n babayaran nya, P12,000. tapos po nakareceive siya ng call from prc employee at pinadalhan siya ng form which is according sa nabasa ko, dapat pumunta mismo sa prc to affix signature sa registry book nila. isa pa, ung binayad nya sa form P3,000. eh total lahat nung nabasa ko ay P1,600. 350-inductee, 200 PNA mem. (optional) at ung P600 at P450. so P1,600 lahat. sa tingin niyo, nabiktima ba ng scam ate ko?

Gladys 2010/09/12 at 2:05 am
meron din siyang receipt at claim stub na i-kiclaim mismo sa prc license nya. pls. pakisagot po. salamat po.

Rona RN 2010/09/12 at 3:50 am | In reply to Gladys.
@Gladys – 6 things:
1. If your sister’s name did not appear in the PRC’s official list of successful examinees of the board exam, she did not pass the NLE.
2. There is no such thing called a “master list”. More importantly, a “master list” costing 12,000 pesos.
3. A PRC employee won’t call an examinee just to let him/her know that he/she passed the board exam.
4. PRC doesn’t send forms instructing examinees to go to the PRC to affix their signature in a document.
5. Your calculation of the total amount to pay at the PRC is wrong. The PRC Initial Registration Fee is PhP 600 and the Triennial Registration Fee is PhP 450. You are only going to pay PhP 1,050 and not PhP 1,600.
6. Kung nagbigay ng pera ang ate mo, nabiktima siya ng isang scam. Wala naman siya kasi dapat bayaran para lang malaman ang resulta, lalong-lalo na hindi naman kasi siya pumasa.

My questions to you:
1. What review center are you referring to?
2. Did your sister pay PhP 12,000 for that “master list”?
3. Pumunta ba sa PRC ang ate mo para ipasa ang form na pinadala sa kanya at nagbayad ng PhP 3,000?
4. Can you scan that form that was sent to her? If you can, send it to me. I will put up a BEWARE/WARNING post regarding this.

May nabasa ako dati pa na kapareha sa nangyari sa kapatid mo. Ang gagawin ng scammer, magkukunwari na taga-PRC daw siya. Tapos, sasabihin niya na pwede niya gawin na lumabas sa resulta na pumasa ka sa board exam. Magbabayad ka ng 100,000. Tapos kung gusto mo sa Top Ten naman, 200,000. Read this na lang for more details: Nursing licenses for sale?

Gladys 2010/09/12 at 4:45 am
tska po sinabi sa ate ko na bukod sa 37,679 at ung 5 examinees na pending, may 8,000 pa daw na nakapasa na hindi lang nailagay ang name sa prc website. ang sabi ko po sa kanya, para sigurado, i-verify nya mismo sa prc office kung talagang nakapasa siya. ang problema po kasi, nagrerely siya sa sulat daw mismo ng prc sa kanya. at ipapadala ung name daw niya sa school na pinag-examan niya para daw maniwala kami na pumasa nga daw.

Gladys 2010/09/12 at 4:53 am
hindi po niya sinabi kung anung name ng review center. nasa pangasinan po ate ko at ako po andito sa america. pilit po niya sinasabi na nakapasa siya. aatend nga daw po siya ng oath taking sa SMX convention sa sept 20-21. hindi po siya nagbayad kasi po malaking halaga ung hinihingi sa kanya. sabi ko nga po pumunta mismo sa prc at i-verify niya name niya para malaman niya na nabiktima siya ng scam at kinukuha ko po ung name ng prc employee na tumawag sakanya at ayaw po niyang sabihin sa akin. plan ko po tawagan ang prc office sa lunes ang problema po ayaw po ibigay ng ate ko examinee number niya baka in case na itanong sa akin eh.

Gladys 2010/09/12 at 5:22 am
ung nabasa ko po na affix ur signature sa registry book ay sa prc website po. bale po ung forms lang po ang pinadala sa kanya at un daw po ung oath taking form. may receipt at claim stub din na binigay sakanya.

Rona RN 2010/09/12 at 5:29 am | In reply to Gladys.
@Gladys –
1. I will reiterate that the only list that is official is the one released by the PRC in their website and to the newspapers with a wide circulation in the Philippines.
2. If her name is not on that list, she did not pass. End of story. Dito pa lang, tapos na dapat ang issue.
3. Hindi siya dapat mag-rely sa sulat na pinadala sa kanya dahil walang pinapadala na sulat ang PRC sa mga successful examinees na nagsasabi na kailangan nila pumunta sa PRC para magrehistro.
4. Ang review center ba na tinutukoy niya ay ang review center na kung saan siya nag-review? Kung hindi, walang kahit na anong review center ang magpupumilit na pumasa siya kung wala naman ang pangalan niya sa listahan ng PRC.
5. Kung pinipilit ng kapatid mo na pumasa siya, at ayaw niya ibigay ang pangalan ng sinasabi niya na PRC employee at ayaw din niya ibigay ang examinee number niya — iisa lang ang nakikita ko diyan. Ayaw niya malaman mo kung ano ang talagang nangyayari. Kasi di ba, kung totoo naman na pumasa siya, wala naman dapat itago para ma-verify sa PRC na pumasa siya.
6. I hate to say this but it your sister might be involved in something like falsifying public documents.

Gladys 2010/09/12 at 5:38 am
ung review center po mismo kung san siya nagreview. un daw po ang nagtext sakanya. ung pinadala po sakanya ay oath taking form lang po. wala po instructions na punta siya prc to file. possible din po na ung bayad niya ay nakalakip sa oath taking form at pinadala niya sa LBC sa PRC address na nakalagay sa sulat niya.

Rona RN 2010/09/12 at 5:45 am | In reply to Gladys.
@Gladys -
1. Hindi nagpapadala ng oath form ang PRC.
2. Hindi siya pwede maging rehsitrado kung hindi siya mismo ang pumunta sa PRC. PRC always states that “Initial registrants should come personally to the PRC office to affix his/her signature in the registry book.”
3. Kung pinadalhan na siya ng claim stub pero hindi naman siya nakapunta ng PRC, talagang niloloko na ang kapatid mo.

Nagbigay na ng bayad ang kapatid mo?

Gladys 2010/09/12 at 5:51 am
P3,000 po ung nakuha sakanya. i asked my mom kung P3,000 nga lang ba o may binayaran pa siya. hindi daw alam eh.

Rona RN 2010/09/12 at 6:03 am | In reply to Gladys.
@Gladys – these are PRC’s telephone numbers: 735-1535; 736-1488; 736-4880; 736-2251. Talk to your sister. Let her know that what she might be doing is illegal and it will be much worse for her than failing the board exam if she gets caught. Tell her na din na di siya dapat gumawa ng kung anu-ano sa sarili dahil lang sa hindi siya pumasa. Kung gusto mo, i-refer mo siya sa akin. Ako mismo tutulungan ko siya mag-review kung gusto niya mag board exam ulit. I will coach her. Basta huwag niyang ituloy kung ano man ‘yang mukhang hindi magandang nangyayari.

Gladys 2010/09/12 at 6:09 am
maraming salamat po mam rona. alam po nya un. kaya lang magulo ang icip nya ngayon. nabanggit din po nya sa akin na bakit pa daw siya pupunta ng prc to verify. hintayin na lang daw niya board ratings niya. pero napaicip po ako na possible pati baka board ratings niya ay makuha nung scammer at palitan niya ung ratings. dahil nga pag scam, paniniwalaan ka na pumasa ka kahit hindi. sabi ko po sakanya. accept at magmove on na lang siya. i-focus niya ung pag exam nya ng nclex kasi po may eligibility notice na siya kahit wala siyang local license.

Gladys 2010/09/12 at 6:15 am
@Gladys – You’re welcome. Alam mo, madali lang magpagawa ng pekeng dukomento sa Recto Ave at ang Recto Ave. ay ilang hakbang lang ang layo sa PRC. Hindi makukua ng scammer ang board rating niya sa PRC. Nagpagawa yun ng mga pekeng papers at iyon ang ipanapakita niya sa kapatid mo. Kung nabasa mo nga yung balita na pinost ko dito, ganun ang nangyayari sa kanya. Yung scammer na yun, sinasabi sa kapatid mo na sa isang halaga ng pera ay kaya niya gumawa ng mga papeles na lumalabas na pasado ang kaptid mo kahit hindi naman. Tama ka nga. Kung mag eligibility na siya to take the NCLEX exam, doon na lang siya mag-focus.

Gladys 2010/09/20 at 6:26 am
Hi Mam Rona. ung sister ko po pla, tumuloy pa rin sa manila. oath taking daw niya sa SMX today ata or bukas. Ang tanong ko po, required ba ung ticket? I’m wondering kung saan nakakuha ng ticket ung scammer pra ibigay sa ate ko. hindi ko pa natawagan ang PRC to verify name ng sister ko kasi I don’t know if someone will entertain me ba w/out her examinee number. tska, long distance call din so I make sure na hindi sayang ung call ko if in case. For sure nabasa nya ung comments natin dito pero she ignored it pa rin.

Rona RN 2010/09/20 at 10:46 am | In reply to Gladys.
@Gladys – attending a mass oath-taking ceremony is not a requirement e.g. the one in SMX. I do not know how this person dealing with your sister was able to produce a ticket for the SMX oath-taking ceremony. I really hope she would think twice before really going with this. It’s not right.

Gladys 2010/09/21 at 3:22 am
Ayaw talaga ako pakingggan Mam Rona. Kasi ung tumawag sakanya ay sinabi kay ate ko na kunin na lang nya ung license niya sa PRC daw mismo. May claim stub pa na binigay sakanya. Napaisip ako, hindi kaya ung tumawag sakanya ay baka nilagay na niya mismo dun sa claim window ng PRC? so parang magiging positive nga na possible na may empleyado ngang gumagawa ng anomaly? Wala ba kayong kakilala sa mismong PRC na pwde natin ipaverify ung name ng sister ko? pero hindi ko alam kung anong pangalan nung tumawag sakanya. Ayaw kasing sabihin ng ate ko eh.

Gladys 2010/09/21 at 7:59 am
Mam Rona, my sister texted me thru my roaming number. na sakanya na daw ung certificate of passing certified true copy daw na sakanya and then PRC will mail her certificate of passing as well on the school she graduated. and ipapadala na sakanya ung claim stub this week. I’m confused if totoo nga ba talaga na pumasa ung ate ko even w/out her name sa PRC website.

Gladys 2010/09/21 at 9:04 am
Mam Rona. Nakatawag na ako sa record section ng PRC. sabi, personal ang pag verify ng name. What I did, sinabi ko ung concern sa ate ko and that girl told me, nabiktima ang ate ko ng fixer. I will send someone (a relative) to verify her name sa window H (record section) She even asked kung anung name nung kacontact ng ate ko I told her na ayaw sabihin ng ate ko ung name.

Rona RN 2010/09/21 at 12:10 pm | In reply to Gladys.
@Gladys -

Napaisip ako, hindi kaya ung tumawag sakanya ay baka nilagay na niya mismo dun sa claim window ng PRC? so parang magiging positive nga na possible na may empleyado ngang gumagawa ng anomaly?

Yes it’s possible but we’ll never know for sure until it has been proven that someone working at the PRC is involved in this activity.

Wala ba kayong kakilala sa mismong PRC na pwde natin ipaverify ung name ng sister ko? pero hindi ko alam kung anong pangalan nung tumawag sakanya. Ayaw kasing sabihin ng ate ko eh.

I do not know anyone working at the PRC. If your sister won’t say the name who called her, it could be that she was asked not to to avoid getting caught.

na sakanya na daw ung certificate of passing certified true copy daw na sakanya and then PRC will mail her certificate of passing as well on the school she graduated.

What I know is that PRC doesn’t send a certificate of some sort to the school where a nursing board exam applicant has graduated from. If a claim stub will be sent to her, that means that she is already registered without her going to the PRC not even once.

I’m confused if totoo nga ba talaga na pumasa ung ate ko even w/out her name sa PRC website.

Please don’t be confused. I have said this to you before and I will say it again. The only list that is official is the one released by the PRC in their website and to the newspapers with a wide circulation in the Philippines. If your sister’s name is not on that list, she did not pass. End of story. She is involved in a suspicious activity.

…that girl told me, nabiktima ang ate ko ng fixer.

Enough said. Now that you’ve told somebody at the PRC of what’s going on, I hope they will do something about it. However, you have called my attention on this thing many times and I am forced to make some action. You are not the only one who is asking me about this. There are a couple more who has a similar situation. I will make a post out of this comments and we’ll see what happens from there.

—————-

bianca yvonne 2010/09/13 at 8:08 pm
mam, ask ko lng po sana. my kakilala po kc me sabi nya pumasa sya nun july 2010 board pero wla po sya name s masterlist ng prc. ang sabi p nya, aside p dun s 37 thousand n nireleased n passers meron p dw 8 thousand n nd npublish ang prc at doon nksma ung name nya. totoo po b 2? mg-ooath dw sya sa sept 20. please paki-reply po! thank you very much!

Rona RN 2010/09/13 at 11:11 pm | In reply to bianca yvonne.
@bianca yvonne – It’s not true that she passed. Somebody in another post have commented with the same exact story. Her name is Gladys and her sister told her the same thing. We had a lengthy discussion about it. You can read it here: http://www.philippinenursingdirectory.com/2010/08/29/prc-initial-registration-instructions-for-new-rn/comment-page-3/#comment-14449

bianca yvonne 2010/09/21 at 8:28 am
gud day mam rona! naitanong ko po snyo e2 about dun sa kakilala ko d2 smin na sabi nya pumasa sya sa board exam pero wla sya name sa masterlist ng prc. sabi nyo po nd nman tlga sya pumasa. i’m just wondering lng po kc, mkapag-oath taking po sya yesterday. bakit ganun? tnx!!!

Rona RN 2010/09/21 at 12:28 pm | In reply to bianca yvonne.
@bianca yvonne – yes I still remember what you’ve told me. She might be involved in a scam or she has been victimized by a fixer. I will make a post about this. You can read from there what Gladys have commented here because her sister is in a similar situation.

The following is originally a comment by “RN#2” to the post entitled “Senate Press Release: Gov’t Should Address Lack of Local Jobs for Nurses” (published September 8, 2010).

I asked for RN#2′s permission to make his comment into a post. He chose “Melchor Aquino” to be his pseudonym.

To Whom This May Concern,

I do not know if this website is an avenue for a person like Sen. Angara to actually read, nonetheless, there is no harm in trying.

I very much think that this program is a big BULL. It’s the same with the NARS program of DOLE before. Nothing much had really became of the nurses who participated in that program. Needless to say, they’re all jobless still. I know because I am one of them.

So what do I think is the solution for this problem? With very limited money that the government could give to us poor nurses and with the us very oversupplied, there seemed to have no solution at all.

Here is what I think. We need to sacrifice. And there are certain laws that should be rescinded.

For nurses to actually qualify to work abroad, one must have that very precious hospital experience. Telehealth nurses? It’s not going to help a nurse’s credential when he/she will wish to go abroad. NURSES NEED HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE for crying out loud. Please do not waste your money into this program as the nurses who will be participating in this program will still find themselves at the end jobless after the contract. Us NURSES, much as we don’t want to say it, dream of a better life because of the temptation of a better pay abroad.

So what should the government do?

Hire these nurse to WORK IN THE HOSPITAL but limit the contract for only a span of two years since this is the minimum requirement if one wants to go abroad, right? Demand these nurses, with the help of POEA, to secure job offers abroad. Now here’s the catch, deduct a small but generous amount from their salaries. The money that will be collected will be used to fund future participants of the program for their salaries.

I know that this might not sound very favorable to some but, we need to keep the program running. Let’s admit it. We can’t expect the government to prioritize, with all the problems of the government, the national budget to this. We need to be realistic. We all howl to ask for alms but there’s really too little to expect.

With the 15million budget, let us also study if instead of giving the minimum wage, of 8k, we could bring it down to 2.5k or 3k, only enough for some personal expenses. I guess with the very limited budget we have, we could stretch the money so that it can be allocated to more nurse participants.

It’s just my personal say. Though, this I belive, has a very high percentage of being the BEST solution for this problem. And I apologize because it’s too long. Hell, i just need to let this out.