It has to go in a custom footer (not html module) to work*. The source, which also has some interesting thoughts on the desirability of disabling right click, is below: http://javascript.about.com/library/blnoright.htm *Using in a custom footer:replace all code in xslt box with this: ]]>

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Friday, March 23, 2007

Nursing wages rise, shortage continues

Luck has no magical formula. It surely comes when readiness meets an opportunity. For the 17,000 Filipino board passers in the June 2006 nursing examination, job opportunities in and outside the United States continue to beckon.

However, the question on the nursing board passers’ preparedness, which sprang from the reportedly tainted test results, seems to suggest their luck won’t come any sooner.

The issue on the exam leak has snowballed, settling on a move for selective retake of the examination based on the recommendation of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.

Opportunities

The shortage of nurses that US healthcare industry needs to fill up hits hundreds of thousands.

John L. Moore, in his March 17 article on The Morning News, www.nwaonline.net, wrote that the shortage continues despite rising wages of nurses.

Moore has quoted Steve Percival, director of human resources at Washington Regional Medical System, saying [that he] and his counterparts at other hospitals have a tough job trying to keep their hospitals fully staffed with nurses.

He said the health care industry has bemoaned the nursing shortage for more than a decade, and that more will be needed for additional patients as the Baby Boom generations age.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projected in 2005 more than 3.1 million registered nurse jobs would be available by 2014. That would add more than 700,000 new jobs for nurses, Moore said.

If other projections from the American Hospital Association hold true, the country could have a shortfall of 600,000 nurses by 2020, said Mike Meeks, senior vice president for Northwest Health System.

Paul Cunningham, senior vice president of the Arkansas Hospital Association, said that one of the problems in getting a larger supply of nurses into the US health care system is the lack of qualified nursing faculty for the nursing schools.

Cunningham said many faculty members of nursing programs are approaching 50 and beyond and are thinking about retirement in the next five to eight years.

Nursing schools at both NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the University of Arkansas have expanded their programs in recent years, but recruiting nursing faculty can be a challenge, officials for both schools said.

Quoting other sources, Moore also cited another reason for shortage of nurses being the multiple opportunities for work out side the hospital setting. Managed care organizations, insurance companies, doctor's offices, nursing homes, diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and medical software companies also hire nurses.

Citing a 2007 Minority Nurse magazine article, Moore said that the average salary of a registered nurse in Oakland, Calif. alone is $80,270 per year, adding that the projected number of new jobs added for registered nurses between 2004 and 2014 is 703,000.

Continue reading...http://www.gmanews.tv/story/35156/Nursing-wages-rise-shortage-continues

RP is training ground for China's nurses-to-be

What can be so extraordinary about a group of students studying “The Life and Works of Jose Rizal?" Well, for one, the classes are taught in Beijing, China. For another, the students are Chinese mainlanders who have no stake in Philippine affairs.

“I don’t think we need to learn too much about these matters," says Zhang Chan, a 19-year-old girl from northeastern China. “But students have mainly lost interest because they can’t understand the lessons. Our English isn’t very good and the teacher speaks too fast."

A twin sister younger by 27 minutes, Zhang Juan, realizes the value of learning about another country’s history and tradition but says that “talking about only one person’s life can get boring." The twins, however, are plodding on because they see education as the path to a secure future.

The girls, along with about 50 others, are college freshmen at Beijing’s Yanjing Overseas University.

They have come to the Chinese capital from various corners of the country – from the frigid north to the humid south, from the desert region to the coastal areas – in order to study nursing.

Training in RP

After a year of Philippine curriculum-based classes in Beijing, they head off to Tuguegarao, Cagayan, for studies at St. Paul University, Yanjing’s partner school in the Philippines. There, they will attend college for three more years until they finally obtain their nursing degrees. Then comes the real action: finding high paying jobs in the United States, Canada, England, Australia or maybe, even back home.

The real picture is not as simple as that of a bunch of young men and women tantalized by the dollar and the euro.

In informal class surveys, the most frequently cited reason for wanting to become a nurse was the desire to care for people in need of medical care.

An exceptionally expressive 18-year-old girl wrote: “When I was young, I already had a dream to be a nurse. At that time, I only felt that white clothes are very beautiful. But now I know the society need(s) nurses to serve people and help patient to reduce their pains."

Some of the students cite particular goal: to return to their hometowns to serve.

The more pragmatic reasons, of course, came up. These included finding a secure job, earning a high salary and having prestige in society. “I want to have a bright future and make much money," said another 18-year-old from southeastern China.

Yet a third student seemed to have stumbled on the perfect formula: “You can help others and earn a lot of money."

Some responses painted a dreamy portrait of the profession, and reminded you that these people were barely out of adolescence. A nurse “is an angel of white clothes," scribbled one girl. An 18-year-old boy bursting with idealism wrote: “I want to do something for our world."

Others gave straightforward answers, noting that the job would merely be a means to an end.

One young lady candidly said that she wanted to “make money and try to do other job." Another student seemingly gripped by wanderlust said: “I want to be a nurse in England, then trip around the world." One girl had quite specific plans to go to the US and get a green card so she could “live in America with my parents."

Family loyalty and devotion motivated a number of students. One 19-year-old admitted that her mother, in fact, had made the decision for her to enter this field. “My mother told me: to be a nurse will have a good future. Nurses is very less in our world now." Another girl’s attachment to her family seemed to jump out of the page: “I want to help my relatives. I can look after them very well."

They are citizens of a country that is one of the world’s economic super powers but these young men and women still look beyond their borders in their search for a better life? And why do their motivations resonate so deeply among Filipinos?

Continue reading...http://www.gmanews.tv/story/33216/RP-is-training-ground-for-Chinas-nurses-to-be

Thursday, March 22, 2007

A CALL FOR HELP, JUSTICE, UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE

OPEN LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ITS GOVERNMENT, AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION, THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT, PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, NURSING LEADERS AND JUNE PASSERS.

A CALL FOR HELP, JUSTICE, UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE

Have you tried give a child a candy or lollipop? I guess you did, but did you tried to take the candy you had given to him. Will he/she be happy? Definitely that child will cry. That is what happened to us, June 2006, Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination Passer. We were given the title NURSE because we passed the exam and met the required standards. We fought for our rights and we won over the highest court in the Philippines, the Supreme Court. We struggled; we face the embarrassment even though we haven't done anything wrong. We won over the court because we are proven ELIGIBLE and CAPABLE to work our Profession.

We are like hectares of ripe tomatoes and one of them is rotten, will you throw hectares of tomatoes because one was rotten? So please don't talk as if everyone did the crime. If only few people did this unlawful act then punish them but not everyone. I personally will volunteer to retake if those people who made this crime are punished. DOLE, PRC and the Government of the Philippines did not sue or put to case those people who neglected their work such as those two Board of Nursing members during the June examinations. We want them to pay for the wrongs that they did, they should be the one to be punished not INNOCENT passers. The government should take action because this leakage issue is solely because of neglect of duty as a servant of our nation. Corruption is one of the reasons why this thing happened.

This won’t be an issue as a matter of fact because the issue has been cleared and we won the decision of the court. The decision of the court indicates that we have the knowledge, skill, experience and eligibility. The following phrases were quoted in one of the email replies of ANA, these will be answered one by one.

First: "ANA considers this to be a matter of public health and safety. Absolute integrity of the professional licensure and exam process must be strictly maintained for purposes of public safety and confidence."

We are happy that ANA stands by a philosophy of maintaining good integrity on professional licensure and exam, because this is necessary to protect the public health of a country. What ANA did not understand or take into consideration that the issue on public health was addressed during court proceeding and that the courts decision is that the June board passers are eligible, capable, has enough knowledge and skills to work as a nurse.

Second: "ANA recognizes that these nurses are duly licensed and able to practice within the Philippines. Our interests lie with those who wish to come to the United States to practice nursing."

Therefore if ANA recognize that we are duly licensed and able to practice within the Philippines then it’s clearly saying that we have the knowledge and what's necessary to become a Registered Nurse. Therefore no public safety was questioned because you didn't question our eligibility as nurses. You are saying that your only concern is the public safety of your people, and Philippine government does not care about public safety of its people at all? Before a nurse Filipino nurse can work as a registered nurse in your country they are obliged to take US exams which are CGFNS and NCLEX. The PNLEX (Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination) solely made to test the capacity of our local nurses to work locally. Your exam is different with our exam here. And you have two exams to test the capability of Filipino nurses. Then there's nothing to worry unless if you doubt your own exams.

Third: "ANA understands that investigations into this matter have found that Tests #3 and #5 were substantially compromised. However, there was nothing that was made public that indicates that these were the only two tests of the exam that were compromised – only that these were the most compromised."

It comes from your own statement. There was no substantial evidence to prove that there was no leak question on tests 1, 2 and 4, but there's also no substantial evidence that there was leak questions in the said tests. In law, no one/nothing is proven guilty/wrong unless proven so. You don’t have the proof therefore no leakage on test 1,2 and 4.

Lastly: "Nursing is responsible and accountable for assuring that only those individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge, skill, practice experiences, commitment, and integrity essential to professional practice are allowed to enter into and continue to practice within the profession."

This was answered, a court trial was made and the court decided that we are capable, we have the knowledge, skills, practice experiences, commitment and our integrity was established, we won it. Not everyone cheated but only a few. If you won’t respect the Supreme Court then you don’t respect the Philippines Independence over countries like yours. If the Philippines Government will follow what you instruct then we are not an independent country. We live by your laws and by your decision and that's what I don’t want to happen. If this decision is just to show that your powerful please stop, are lives are broken, we're destroyed and you keep destroying us.

The DOLE who handles PRC should take action in this kind of humiliation. We are a country with its own government, why do we do what other country directed. We are a separate entity; we are not part of US then why let US do the decision for us.

DOLE why that short span of review? You are paying the review and you are proud of it but why that short? Please think twice before saying or doing something, we count on you and we got a week review? For God sake we reviewed at least 3 months when we took the June 2006 Board and we are not that confident that time and you give us a week review. If this step is for us to fail the exam and then retake it on December for your office to earn money from us please stop the corruption. Do what’s right. You’re saying that we have to retake because US said that we don’t have the integrity; I say you don’t have integrity too; will you step down and study again?

Is PRC doing things to fight for the passers because they are afraid to be blamed for all of this? Well they are the main reason why this happened and they should be the one to be blamed. No goodness can cover past fault as long as that someone was punished.

The President said once that there will be no retake, well, why are you saying that we should retake. Are you afraid because US told so or because if we wont retake, NCLEX wont be located here and we are the sacrifice.

I don’t mean to put down someone, an office or a country but I guess its time these people wake up realize their faults and do something good

Received via Email

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Reply to QueenB's email from ANA

Guys eto yung sagot ng ANA sa email ko, sa tanong na retake all ba o partial lang ang gusto nila?? QueenB ito

---------------------

Thank you for contacting the American Nurses Association (ANA) about its recent announcement on the compromised June 2006 Philippine Nurse Exam. As noted in our letter to the Philippine Regulation Commission, ANA considers this to be a matter of public health and safety. Absolute integrity of the professional licensure and exam process must be strictly maintained for purposes of public safety and confidence. ANA also noted in the letter that it is clear that the United States has benefited from the many excellent Philippine nurses who have come here to practice.

ANA recognizes that these nurses are duly licensed and able to practice within the Philippines. Our interests lie with those who wish to come to the United States to practice nursing.

ANA understands that investigations into this matter have found that Tests #3 and #5 were substantially compromised. However, there was nothing that was made public that indicates that these were the only two tests of the exam that were compromised – only that these were the most compromised. It is for this reason that the ANA Board of Directors recommended that the entire exam be retaken. ANA is aware that the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) has agreed that retaking Tests #3 and #5 is sufficient to meet their requirements for a VisaScreen Certificate.

Each organization’s position stems from a different perspective. CGFNS is a regulatory authority. ANA’s position stems from our role as the professional association and the custodian of the U.S. Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Provision 3.4 states that:

Nursing is responsible and accountable for assuring that only those individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge, skill, practice experiences, commitment, and integrity essential to professional practice are allowed to enter into and continue to practice within the profession.

Given The Code, ANA’s perspective is that when entrusted with caring for the public, there can be no doubt as to the qualifications of the nurse. ANA recognizes the CGFNS’ position that successful retake of Tests #3 and #5 is an acceptable remedy to meet the needs of a VisaScreen Certificate.

Again, thank you for contacting the ANA. Please do not hesitate to contact Cheryl Peterson, cheryl.peterson@ana.org, should you have any further questions.

Best regards,

Mary McNamara

Senior Public Relations Specialist

American Nurses Association

Credits to QueenB [ monserat ]
http://z8.invisionfree.com/Pinoy_BSN_Forum/index.php?showtopic=1266&st=0&#entry2064858

Davao doctors college [June batch] letter to DOLE secretary

DAVAO DOCTORS COLLEGE
GENERAL MALVAR STREET, DAVAO CITY 8000
Tel. Nos. 222-0850 to 53 Fax: 221-1074
E-mail: adm@davaodoctors.edu.ph
Web: www.davaodoctors.edu.ph

March 21, 2007

SEC. ARTURO BRION
Department of Labor and Employment
Muralla St. cor. Gen. Luna St., Intramuros
1002 Manila
Philippines

Dear Secretary Brion:

Greetings.

Foremost, let me thank you, on behalf of the other June 2006 PNLE passers whom I represent, for the untiring efforts you have done in assuring us a hold on our local licenses. Your efforts, as well as with the other government representatives, prove that we are not alone in this battle.

The recent release of Executive Order No. 609 signed on March 12, 2007 is proof that ours is no longer individual problems but already a national issue. However, some points in the conduct of the retake need clarifications.

While it is true that we have the option to either retake TESTS III and V or the whole exam, we believe that there are flaws in the mechanics of the retake, to wit;

1. On December 2006, 1,687 examinees were ordered by the Court of Appeals to retake TESTS III and V. To begin with, these 1,687 examinees are those who truly FAILED the board exam, but were given the chance to retake since they were erroneously declared as passers;

2. Passing the Nursing Licensure Exam requires that an examinee obtain an AVERAGE rating of 75%. Article IV, Section 15 of RA 9173 also known as Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 reads:

In order to pass the examination, an examinee must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) with a rating of not below sixty percent (60%) in any subject. An examinee who obtains an average ratings of seventy-five (75%) or higher but gets a rating below sixty percent (60%) in any subject must take the examination again but only in the subjects where he/she is rated below sixty percent (60%). In order to pass the succeeding examination, an examinee must obtain a rating of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in the subject or subjects repeated.

3. That we, the June 2006 passers, satisfactorily met the passing requirements stipulated in Article IV Section 15 of the Philippine Nursing Act.

4. The CGFNS, in its recommendations to the Philippine Regulatory Bodies, wants the June 2006 passers to retake TESTS III and V, and obtain a passing rating in both.

5. That by requiring us to obtain a 75% in the two tests and not averaging it with our earlier test ratings, the government drafted an executive order that proves harmful than beneficial to us.

6. That in comparison to the leverage given to those who retook the exam last December 2006, we too, deserve a little compassion and leniency in the conduct and processing of the retake.

7. That while the government subsidized the exam fees, other documentary requirements needed for the registration was on our expense.

8. That while a 1-week review is offered for free, that is barely enough to cover the very broad concepts of Medical-Surgical and Psychiatric Nursing which are the bulk of TEST III and V.

9. That a 200-item exam proposed in the retake is not comparable to the 300-item exam in the PNLE used to gauge our proficiency in Medical Surgical and Psychiatric Nursing.

10. That it is almost a year since we took and passed the board exams that a resolution to this effect is applied. Such delay has caused us too much anguish, extra mental baggage, professional stagnation and persecution from the very people in the profession.

11. That while the US is not the only market for Filipino nurses, we understand that the retake is the only way to ERASE the stigma of being a cheater associated to each one of the June 2006 passers. We are not taking the retake for the sole reason to be eligible for the VISA SCREEN. Thus, the term CERTIFICATION for VISA SCREEN should also be reviewed by your department.

12. That by virtue of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002; Article IV, Section 15 should also be made the basis for the passing of the retakers this June and December 2007.

13. That we understand that this is only a certification procedure, not a licensure exam and that by far, no laws govern or are in absolute practice that covers the mechanics of the retake.

14. That due to clause No. 13, the mechanics of the retake should be re-written and re-approved in a way that benefits us more.

These said, we hope that clarifications and actions will be taken to address our concerns. Thank you very much for your untiring efforts in championing the causes of the Filipino workers.

Very truly yours,


Richard Erick Caballero, RN
CC: IQuAME Specialist – Davao Doctors College
PRC, MANILA, RO XI Representative – DDC BSN Class of 2006
PDI, GMA June 2006 PNLE Passer
DOLE RO XI

Monday, March 19, 2007

GUIDELINES IN FILING APPLICATIONS for the NURSE LICENSURE EXAMINATION BY THE JUNE 2006 SUCCESSFUL EXAMINEES WHO WILL VOLUNTARY RETAKE

Types of Retakers

1. Selective retake of Tests III and V of the 1,687 examinees ordered by CA
a. up to DECEMBER 2007 only
b. to re-submit NOTICE OF ADMISSION, TOR, BC
c. NO EXAMINATION FEE

2. Voluntary retake of 5 subjects
a. with WAIVER (surrender BOARD RATING and PROF. ID/BOARD CERTFICATE if issued already)
b. pay EXAMINATION FEE of P900
c. to re-submite NOTICE OF ADMISSION, TOR, BC
d. up to DECEMBER 2007 only

3. Special voluntary retake of Tests III and V for the PURPOSE OF EMPLOYABILITY (VISA SCREEN CERTIFICATION FOR CGFNS)
a. to be taken ONLY ONCE either in JUNE or DECEMBER 2007, at the examinees CHOICE
b. to re-submit TOR, BC, PHOTOCOPIES OF PROF. ID., CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION, if issued already
c. MUST PASS THE TWO SUBJECTS
d. if FAILED in JUNE 2007
d.1 LICENSE IS STILL VALID FOR LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AND FOR NON-US COUNTRIES
d.2 Examinee has an OPTION TO VOLUNTARILY RETAKE 5 SUBJECTS in DECEMBER 2007, BUT with WAIVER and SURRENDER OF BOARD RATING, PROF. ID/BOARD CERTIFICATE
e. NO EXAMINATION FEE
f. FILING PERIOD is from APRIL 2 to MAY 11, 2007
g. since this is not for licensure, filing by REPRESENTATIVE MAY BE ALLOWED if applicant is not present during the filing period, BUT APPLICANT MUST PERSONALLY CLAIM NOTICE OF ADMISSION at least ONE WEEK before examination
h. QUERIES on REVIEW CLASSES - INFORM examinees to call DOLE
h.1 registration for review will start on MARCH 21 - APRIL 4, 2007 at selected center of excellence nursing schools nationwide or through DOLE provincial offices or online at www.specialnursingreview.dole.gov.ph

A separate database for these types of applicants (Retakers per CA order and retakers for CGFNS purpose) shall be created by the EDP and Rating Divisions for their preparation of room assignments, masterlists and other reports.

Examination Dates are JUNE 10 (SUNDAY) and JUNE 11 (MONDAY)

TESTS III AND V SUBJECTS are scheduled on the SECOND DAY of JUNE 11, 2007

Note: you can get a copy of the guidelines directly at the PRC regional offices

Source: Office Order No. 2007 - 61, March 15, 2007 Licensure Office, PRC Manila, Philippines

Sunday, March 18, 2007

29 nursing schools to give review classes

29 nursing schools to give review classes
By Sheila Crisostomo
The Philippine Star 03/18/2007

Twenty-nine nursing schools in the country have agreed to give free review classes to passers of the leakage-tainted June 2006 licensure exams who want to retake Tests 3 and 5.

This was the result of yesterday’s meeting between Labor Secretary Arturo Brion and members of the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN) to help passers who aspire to work in the United States.

Continue reading: http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200703180403.htm



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