Philippine Nurses Association - 6.27.2008
POSITION PAPER OPPOSING INSTITUTION OF PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM IN THE
Position Paper Opposing Institution of
Practical Nursing Program in the Philippines
We, the nursing sector representing all the nursing
associations, specialty groups and other nursing
institutions from public and private sectors, declare our
strong objection to the institution of Practical Nursing (PN)
program and further oppose the insertion of PN by CHED
through a proposed ladderization of the nursing curriculum.
We deplore moves that impose upon the nursing
profession, critical proposals like the PN program that
gravely impact our nursing profession already saddled
with a host of serious problems that need immediate
meaningful intervention.
Well-trained health workers save lives! (WHO, 2006).
This is the Human Resource for Health (HRH) Development
philosophy currently pursued around the world espoused
by the World Health Organization. It seems that the
current efforts on health human resource development
are not harmonized with this dictum.
Philippine trained nurses have been and are in high
demand globally particularly because of the quality of
professional nurses being produced in the country. To
date, the
preparation at the Bachelor of Science in Nursing level,
which prepares professional nurses for service,
academic and leadership positions here and abroad.
There is definitely a global demand for professional
nurses, not for practical nurses.
We are unequivocally opposed to the institution of
practical nursing on three major points:
1. There is no local demand nor positions for practical
nurses within the Philippine Health Care Delivery
System particularly in the light of the oversupply of
nurses and subsequent unemployment of graduate
nurses;
2. There is no global demand for foreign-trained
practical nurses, only for professional nurses; and
3. There is no licensure of practical nurses provided for
in the Philippine Nursing Act (RA 9173) and therefore
the institution of practical nursing programs has no
legal basis.
To further substantiate these points, we offer the
following:
1. There is already an oversupply of different types of
health workers in the Philippine health care system,
with nurses comprising the biggest number. Adding
another type of health worker will further bloat the
health manpower amidst a market unable to absorb
this production level. We have about 65,000 newly
registered nurses just in 2007. In the coming years,
we expect some 100,000 new hopefuls who will be
churned out yearly by the country’s 460 nursing
schools many of whom will be unemployed. This
does not even consider the vast numbers who do
not pass.
2. As it is, the quality of nursing education is already
deteriorating because of the proliferation of poor
performing nursing schools that are not effectively
monitored and regulated. By CHED’s account, only
12 nursing programs are recognized as excellent
while an additional 18 were identified as highly
performing in terms of board performance and
quality to ensure that their students acquire the
nursing competencies to deliver quality health care.
There is not enough training capacity within the
country with only about 20 percent of about 1,600
hospitals that have formal training capacities. With
the introduction of the Practical Nursing program,
we will further tax the already overburdened training
hospitals and nurse preceptors. In the end, the
safety and well-being of the patient is compromised
and endangered.
3. The protection of public safety is a key policy goal
that Philippine nursing shares with all other health
professions. The Filipino people who will benefit
from well trained human resources should likewise
be a major concern of education, business and
other sectors.
4. Many countries notably,
currently considering adopting a single standardized
nursing program such as what we have in the
single BSN preparation for their nurses is
happening. In view of this, introducing the PN
program is a global trend regression and untenable.
We are convinced that the proposal to introduce the
PN may not be an effective economic strategy. Instead of
creating more jobs, it will lead to more unemployment and
exploitation by unscrupulous businessmen who see this
as another income opportunity in enrolling young people
without real job opportunities both here and abroad. The
bigger stake here is the welfare of would-be enrollees,
the unemployed nurses, and ultimately, the welfare and
safety of the Filipino patient.
We believe that there are already viable propositions
that we need to revisit and review to effectively address
the critical issues confronting nursing systems (both
practice and education, including all HRH involved in the
provision of nursing services) as part of the bigger picture
of a national health situation just as grim. The proposed
introduction of the PN program is not part of the solution.
We therefore strongly recommend that moratorium on
the operation of existing practical nursing program be
imposed and that serious review of this program be
undertaken in proper consultation with the critical
stakeholders to close existing PN programs that have no
mandate. It is not fair to urge for the revision of the
Philippine Nursing Law just to legitimize these programs.
We reiterate our firm objection to the institution of
Practical Nursing program in the
progressive nation.
INSTITUTIONALIZING PRACTICAL NURSING IS A STEP
BACKWARD IN PROGRESS … NOT FORWARD!
DR. LEAH PRIMITIVA G. SAMACO-PAQUIZ
PNA National President
