Nurses’ test still unsure, Brion says
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics5_oct25_2006
The government is not yet sure when the successful nursing board examinees can take their oath as medical professionals.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez believes that the new nurses can take their oath on Oct. 28, when the decision of the Court of Appeals takes effect.
But Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, the Cabinet point man on the nursing leakage scandal, could not give a definite stand on whether the oath-taking can proceed on that day—or 15 days after the CA issued its ruling on the case.
Brion said it would be better to wait for a directive from the appellate court since the complainant—the faculty association of the University of Sto. Tomas School of Nursing—has filed a motion for reconsideration.
He said prudence dictates that all parties should wait for the “final” verdict of the CA and the disposition of the appeal.
Brion was irked by Gonzalez’ criticism on why he advised the Professional Regulatory Commission to refrain from administering the oath to the would-be nurses last week.
“If Secretary Gonzalez wants them to take their oath, then he should perhaps issue a legal opinion, that there is nothing wrong with it,” Brion said sarcastically.
He said the moment the board passers have taken their oath only to see the court declaring it illegal, they face the risk of having their licenses revoked. And that will give rise to more complications, he added.
Of about 40,000 nursing graduates who took the exam, more than 17,000 passed the five-part exams last June. But the CA ordered 1,687 who passed to retake Tests III (on medical surgical nursing) and V (on psychiatric nursing). They were the examinees who attended the last coaching sessions in three review centers in Baguio City and Metro Manila where the leaked questions were discovered to have circulated. Fel V. Maragay