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PORTRAIT OF THE PHILIPPINE NURSE
If you are a nurse or a nursing student browsing through the pages of any local
Manila newspaper, nine in ten chances are guaranteed that you will come across
advertisements recruiting nurses to work overseas.
The enticements usually range from generous compensation and exceptional benefit
packages that may include paid medical and dental coverage, monetary bonuses,
relocation assistance, continuing education and training to immediate and
expedited processing of immigration papers, sometimes even retirement plan
package.
Surfing through the different staffing and placement agencies in the worldwide
web is provides similar results. On the one hand, this is a very good indication
of employment opportunities for Philippine nurses. On the other hand, it
reflects the growing need to source out nurses to fill in their alarming
shortage of nurses worldwide.
In the United States alone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report in
November 2001, indicating that the country will need over one million registered
nurses over the next ten years to make sure that the needs and demands of the
American population are met.
AHAnews, in an article published in January last year, cited a report by the
Health Resource and Service Administration saying that the nation could face an
estimated shortage of up to 275,000 nurses by 2010.
With the US demographics pointing to a growing patient volume and increased
demand for services, the need for nurses have become quite acute. But since
fewer individuals want to serve in this demanding and difficult profession, the
shortfall of qualified nurses continues to be a major problem for almost all
healthcare facilities in America .
To meet this growing demand, US authorities were forced to source the supply of
nurses from foreign shores. Among the various nationalities serving American
hospitals and other healthcare facilities, Philippine nurses are becoming one of
the favored choices.
Over the years, the Philippines has become probably the largest exporter of
registered nurses to foreign countries.
According to an article published by the New California Media, the World Health
Organization estimates that there are approximately
250,000 Philippine nurses who have relocated to the United States , the United
Kingdom and other countries facing a severe shortfall of nurses.
According to a study conducted by the University of the Philippines' National
Institute of Health Care in Manila, which was released in
November last year, in the past four years alone, there were more than 50,000
Philippine nurses who have found employment in the US. Of course, no one has to
re-state the obvious reasons with regards to the market for nurses these days.
For their part, health-care employers embarking on foreign recruitment have
always signified their preference for Philippine nurses for
various reasons. For one, the training and educational background of Philippine
nurses meet American standards and thus have
qualifying clinical and technical expertise. Among the ASEAN countries, the
Philippines takes pride in having the quality of nursing
education with over 190 universities and colleges accredited by the Commission
on Higher Education to offer nursing courses. These
nursing institutions are considered at par with their counterparts in Canada ,
United States , Japan and Australia.
Secondly, the facility in expressing themselves in English gives the Philippine
nurses the extra advantage. With a good command of the
language, the Philippine nurse is able to communicate effectively with
employers, co-workers, and most importantly with the patients.
Their English fluency minimized communication problems in the work environment.
In drumming up the advantage of hiring Philippine nurses, one staffing agency
describes them as: "One who possesses a pleasant
attitude and demeanor towards work and life in general, good work ethics, loyal,
family-oriented, and grateful for the opportunity."
In addition, the Philippine nurses, like any other Philippine worker of various
professions, are known to be conscientious, highly skilled,
competent and dedicated to their job.
People who have worked in the medical field side by side with Philippine nurses
often speaks highly of them.
"Philippine nurses are some of the sweetest persons on earth," according to Tom
Wagner, a respiratory therapist who have always
worked with Philippine nurses in various hospitals he was employed with. "In
addition, they are very professional, goal-oriented and
always eager to learn," he added.
These qualities, which are never put on, could be attributed to the Filipinos'
generally caring nature, according to Ron Ganzon, who
together with several other colleagues, make up the all-male Philippine nurses
in Barlow Respiratory Hospital 's satellite unit in Whittier .
"It's the Filipino's culture of caring that makes us excellent nurses. We treat
our patients like their members of our own families," he said.
"In addition, Philippine nurses can easily adapt to their work environment.
Also, they are generally quick thinking, and are able to
function under stress. This is not to mention that they are very organized."
Janice Jimenez, who has worked as a nurse in different
health-care facilities for the past ten years has this to say: "Nursing comes
naturally to us because we, Filipinos, are generally a very
caring people.
What makes the Philippine nurses very well-liked in almost every working
environment they're in are their vibrant, easy going nature,
their neatness and well-groomed appearance. And because the Philippine nurses
have become the preferred choice by many
employers, they have become a popular figure in many hospitals, nursing homes
and other healthcare institutions around the world.
Over the years, they have gained the reputation as being key assets to many
healthcare facilities across all corners of the world.
No doubt, economics prove to be the major factor in the Philippine nurses
migration to other countries. But certainly there is more than just the amount
of money these nurses receive from working long, demanding hours.
Janice puts in quite succinctly: "The greatest reward of being a nurse is the
immediate gratification you get when you see the patient
getting better and out of danger before you leave your shift; to see the kids or
the elderly and the sick smile; to know that you have done something to help
ease their pains; to have been given the chance to make a difference in other
people's lives. No amount of money can equal the joy and satisfaction you feel
knowing that you have helped save a life." No doubt, nursing is a very demanding
profession.
It does not only mean giving out pills, or dressing wounds but it is also about
giving encouragement to those who need it. It is not only about having the
physical stamina to work long shifts or emotional strength to attend to the sick
and the dying; it is also about having the time and the patience to listen and
talk to those who need sympathy and companionship. Nursing is about holding the
hands of a complete stranger and calming their fears. It is about love and
compassion and understanding for all people regardless of color, age, race or
creed. Nursing is all these and much more.
On October 28, the Philippine Heritage Institute International pays tribute to
the nursing profession by honoring 20 outstanding nurses
from Los Angeles County . They, who have shown excellence and active
volunteerism and have contributed to the enhancement of life
in the community they live in.
There is no doubt that there are more of them scattered in the many medical
communities in all corners of the world: those who not only excel in their field
but who have the passion to serve and love complete strangers. They, who always
go the extra mile in doing beyond what is expected of them; they who not only
have the talents, knowledge and skills required of their profession, but also
the biggest of hearts. They are the Philippine nurses: the angels who have
chosen to walk on the earth.
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