Jen at NT
Experienced Member
Posts:194
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| 09/08/2008 12:41 PM |
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I recently read an article from GMANews.TV about the Philippine Nurse Association (PNA) exposing the practice of hospitals (in the Philippines) using nurse volunteers instead of actually posting these jobs and PAYING nurses. It is a great article and I urge everyone to weigh in on this subject.
Here is the link: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/117732/DOH-urged-to-shut-down-hospitals-found-exploiting-nurses
From actual interviews of Philippine nurses, I know I have met nurses who have had to pay the facility for their training and to gain experience at that hospitals-- (even when they are not even earning a salary) It is unfair and unjust.
Has anyone had this experience? What are your thoughts about this practice? |
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simply
Active Member
Posts:82
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| 09/08/2008 7:05 PM |
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| That is the main reason why i work abroad |
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zylve
New Member
Posts:8
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| 09/09/2008 4:47 AM |
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Hi Jenny!Yes, I had this experience!I was a BSN grad of the 90's.After graduation, became a RN the following year.Though I was a full pledge RN then,in the Philippines, no one will hire a new RN except when we had our clinical experience.The question is:from where shall we get the required clinical experienced?Unless, somebody in the government position will offer a position for new RN.You knew, POLITICS RULES in the Philippines.The saying is true "its not what you know but of whom you know".However, for those who does'nt have a links to the politician,we'll we need to work for free in the hospital where they offers nurse training for new RN.
We do assumed the staff nurse position,uncompensated,(voluntary work),and we are required to pay for the said training.
Some hospitals used this method as an income generating project.They will post that they are now open for nurse training.Required payment varies according to hospital classifications (government/private,tertiary etc.)It is required too,you need to pay at least 50% before you can start then pay in full before copletion.
What's worst were,they only had at least five vacant post and it was already reserved for "a relative,friend of a friend".
It is true and it has been a practice in the Philippines until today.Yes, it is unfair and unjust but we are helpless and hopeless to eradicate such practice.Most nurses like me who wanted to get a better job,we did sacrificed months even years just to get the required clinical experience of job offers abroad.
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KMoby
Junior Member
Posts:46
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| 09/26/2008 11:43 AM |
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| This is the first I have heard of this--- this is in the Philippines? How can this happen? Does this happen anywhere else? This practice would not stand here in the US. Is there anything we can do to help? Does anyone have any updates on what Jenny posted?? |
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patrick
Junior Member
Posts:23
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| 10/15/2008 7:06 PM |
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| Hospitals are not actually exploiting nurse volunteers. In fact, we are helping them gain the experience they need to become highly skilled nurses. At present, the country is experiencing a surplus in the supply of RN's. We cannot immediately hire these new nurses since hospitals don't have enough financial capacity to pay for their salaries. Government hospitals have a limited budget and so the only option left for these new nurses is to undergo training. Hospitals require fees for training in order to augment the cost of running a training program. Hospitals cannot use their limited funds just to run a training program for nurses.The fees that are collected are used for their training alone not for any other purpose or for gaining profit. We must come to realize that in reality nurses in the Philippines are having a tight competition looking for jobs locally. So in the mean time while waiting for vacancy in major hospitals, you may enter into a training program for nurses so that you may now practice your profession, enhance your sklls and develop your fulll potential as a Registered Nurse. |
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Jen at NT
Experienced Member
Posts:194
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| 10/15/2008 8:24 PM |
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| Patrick, thank you for this point of view. |
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scheeksrn
Experienced Member
Posts:111
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| 10/24/2008 9:54 PM |
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| very interesting article... i have never heard of this practice before. |
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icedragon
Junior Member
Posts:13
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| 11/16/2008 7:39 AM |
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| Nurses have no choice and they will continue to be exploited. This is a simple law of supply and demand. Since there are too many nurses and too few jobs, the hospitals will use the RNs with impunity. Unfortunate, but true. |
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patrick
Junior Member
Posts:23
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| 11/17/2008 11:31 AM |
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Hospitals are not using new nurses with impunity. In fact, hospitals are transforming themselves as learning institutions for professional growth and development. Nurses are never and will never be exploited. The current situation of nurses in the Philippines is due to the fact that many dream of going abroad thru nursing. But reality bites. Not everyone can go abroad and not everyone can become nurses.
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dhona
New Member
Posts:1
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| 11/21/2008 12:18 AM |
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I feel sad about this idea. Its been four years when I had my license as a nurse. It was during my time that the significant increase of nurses in the philippines was felt. After some time working in a big hospital, there are some things that doesnt give me the kind of appeasement - nurses in relation to entry level practice.
Surplus? i don't think so... hospitals are understaffed with nurses. There are hospitals in the remote areas of the country don't even have a Registered Nurse. Its so frustrating to realize that nurses have to pay hospitals for them to have experience. Hospitals are using this as an income generating means at the same time, saving labor cost in augmenting the lack of health care workers. This is a false labor practice indeed. Another thing, continuing professional education units are already too commercialized. It seems like it is created to give more income to food suppliers managed by group of tenured nurses. There are a lot of good things about this profession, we can't afford to sacrifice its nobility with these false labor practices.
Peace to all!
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erico
New Member
Posts:2
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| 11/21/2008 11:16 PM |
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| RN's in the Philippines most especially those neophytes are the most vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by hospitals. There is no argument on this. "Volunteerism" by nurses in hospital is not at all "volunteerism" in the truest sense. I say this because new nurses have got no choice but rather submit themselves to this unfair practice by hospitals with employment promises come the end of the volunteer period. Nurses are left with no choice as "Volunteerism" now becomes part of the protocol in employing nurses be it expressed or implied. It is even sickenning to know that this may seemingly be the acceptable practice in hospitals in the Philippines, yet the proper agencies concerned do not even mediate, intervene and adopt measures to curb this unethical practice. Some say that "volunteersim" by nurses in hospital is a symbiotic relaltionship as both benefit from it, not at all for me because our nursing education has prepared us to become nurse generalist which is supposed to qualify us an entry level position in hospitals. Once employed, these hospitals have now the obligation to provide for us the needed training...Again i'd like to define what volunteerism is...it is an act done consciously and willfully given a set of choices...not out of no choice at all. |
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patrick
Junior Member
Posts:23
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| 11/22/2008 11:27 PM |
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| I would like to emphasize again that HOSPITALS ARE NOT ABUSING NEOPHYTE NURSES. Training Programs are implemented by hospitals for these nurses to gain proper skills enhancement prior to employment and to equip them with excellent nursing skills. Fees are required for them to join the program to augment the needed cost of running the program. Training programs require thorough preparation from the Nurse Preceptors in the hospitals. We have to understand that training programs entails use of supplies in the hospital. |
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erico
New Member
Posts:2
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| 11/30/2008 7:40 AM |
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simply put, the nursing profession in the Philippines have already become a business venture.
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GayPinoy
New Member
Posts:2
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| 12/07/2008 2:10 AM |
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| The Department of Health in the Philippines, I think has taken notice and the last I heard, the secretary is doing something about the situation. |
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icedragon
Junior Member
Posts:13
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| 12/20/2008 1:25 AM |
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| This is a sad reality and no amount of denial can change the unfairness of some hospitals. They are now making money out of the hapless new graduates instead of the other way around. |
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marino
Junior Member
Posts:16
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| 12/26/2008 11:56 AM |
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My wife and I arrived from a 10 year stint in Saudi Arabia. To continue our nursing career here in P.I. we applied for a job at a government hospital located just in front of our house. We presented our credentials and resume to the HR. To my surprise they asked for referrals preferrably from politicians. They said that after submitting the referrals, we will have to work as volunteers and wait for a while to get hired.
It was a very frustrating experience, I have some friends working there and visited them, clearly they were under staffed, a ward with more than 30 pts had one head nurse and 5 volunteer nurses i asked the volunteers and they have been volunteering for more than six months.
My wife and I just started a business but we truly miss working in the hospital. Now my son graduated in BSnursing and already passes the NLE.
We are a family of Registered Nurses outside the healthcare system......IT HURTS |
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marino
Junior Member
Posts:16
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| 12/26/2008 11:56 AM |
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My wife and I arrived from a 10 year stint in Saudi Arabia. To continue our nursing career here in P.I. we applied for a job at a government hospital located just in front of our house. We presented our credentials and resume to the HR. To my surprise they asked for referrals preferrably from politicians. They said that after submitting the referrals, we will have to work as volunteers and wait for a while to get hired.
It was a very frustrating experience, I have some friends working there and visited them, clearly they were under staffed, a ward with more than 30 pts had one head nurse and 5 volunteer nurses i asked the volunteers and they have been volunteering for more than six months.
My wife and I just started a business but we truly miss working in the hospital. Now my son graduated in BSnursing and already passes the NLE.
We are a family of Registered Nurses outside the healthcare system......IT HURTS |
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patrick
Junior Member
Posts:23
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| 12/28/2008 9:39 PM |
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| You can look for other hospitals. You and your wife will surely be accepted in other hospitals since you have lots of experience in the clinical area. As far as I know, large hospitals prefer to accept nurses with experience since they will no longer undergo training and doesn't need supervision. Just try your luck! There are so many hospitals. Just be confident and stay focused. Be sure to write down your resume comprehensively so that your possible employers would be impressed. |
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marino
Junior Member
Posts:16
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| 12/29/2008 3:20 AM |
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| Thanks Patrick, we may had lost focus and patience. My wife and I are now enrolled in MAN, we'll graduate this March. Wish us luck! Maybe we'll try teaching. |
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Jen at NT
Experienced Member
Posts:194
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| 12/29/2008 9:41 AM |
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| this sounds so frustrating and you are not alone. I would love to hear from others about what do you think can be done? I think the solutions will come from nurses themselves via grassroot campaign and a push for leadership. |
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