June ’06 nursing board exam and May ’04 election
Inquirer
Last updated 01:29am (Mla time) 10/07/2006
Published on Page A14 of the October 7, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
ASKING the passers to retake the nursing board exam is absurd. If we’re talking about integrity of the exam -- or, perhaps, the integrity of those students who have benefited from the leakage and want a retake -- then by all means, they should take the exam by themselves.
For those who passed the exam through honest means, we say: We waited four years for this exam, worked hard during the review and then took it honestly. I think our integrity, credibility and our competence as nurses are still intact. I really don’t see the word “retake” as the only means to save this thing called “integrity.”
The investigators already know the exact places where the leakage happened. I guess the best way to resolve this case is to have the “retake” only in those places where the leakage occurred.
Many of us need to support our families. Because of this, some of us have already applied for a job as call center agents. This kind of work isn’t even our field. Also, most of the hospitals in Cebu and in Mindanao don’t accept this year’s board passers. Why? Is it because of the leakage?
Nursing directors are fast becoming paranoid. They know for a fact that the leakage took place in just a few places, not in all exam sites. So why is the Professional Regulation Commission giving us a hard time applying for work in hospitals? I do think the retake is unfair to those who passed without cheating.
Finally, by ordering the retake, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has shown that she doesn’t tolerate cheating. I just hope she has the same mind-set about the 2004 election. If we must take the exam again, then a snap election or a recount of the votes will just be fair -- to clear and erase all doubts about the legitimacy of the country’s highest public official.
LOUWEL YEE (via e-mail)