Thursday, April 20, 2006

Where are they going?

A new school year is nearing; by this time several high school graduates had already made their choice of what course to take and what school to attend. And recently, the most popular course is Nursing.

Slots for the said course in some schools have been close as early as March due to an overwhelming number of applicants. Since there is a large demand, schools offering Nursing sprouted like mushrooms in the metropolis.

If you would ask those students why they have chosen to be a future nurse, the answers may vary but it is not surprising if they believe that nursing is the channel for them to land a good-paying job abroad.

The sudden influx of job opportunities abroad for nurses has resulted for more students to aspire to work abroad. According to an article published at Manila Standard Today the United States alone needs one million nurses by 2010, while in Europe, about 20,000 nursing slots are available.

The nursing phenomenon does not limit to undergraduate students but college graduates as well. News of doctors and other professionals studying nursing is not new anymore. From 2000-2004 around 6,000 Filipino doctors were reported to be taking up Nursing.

Statistics from Philippine Overseas Employment Administration stated that from 1996 to 2002, 16, 124 nurses were deployed abroad. But other countries’ gain is our country’s big loss. The exodus of nurses and doctors resulted to the shortage of nurses and doctors especially in the rural areas. An alarming statistical figure stated that there is only one government nurse per nine barangays and ,worse, one nurse per 16, 723 Filipinos

How could we expect for this country to be “cured” from its “illness” if the people will leave it unaided? Who will take care of the Filipinos if almost all capable health workers have flown out to somewhere but here?

But can we really blame them if they seek greener pastures? What they earn abroad pales in comparison to what they receive here in the country. These people also have their own families to support and, unfortunately, the prospect of having a stable life in the Philippines is bleak. To be idealistic in this country is one tough road to take. Sad but true.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The trend/demand for nurses abroad is expected to last until 2020. With a large aging population, countries in the Americas and Europe needs more Health care practitioners. And who's to blame? Blame the artificial birth-control methods. They're the culprit why the birth rate lagged behind the death rate.

Sad to say, I am one of those "who look for greener pastures" thru nursing. I don't have the intention to work abroad, leave those for the dollar-lovers. There's a fair opputunity here in the Philippines for nurses. Say for example, Nurses can join the Military and earn high (Military nurses earn an average of Php 40,000, depending on rank), though not as high compared to jobs abroad, but, at least, you're working from home.

Unknown said...

herman... hanggang pati nursing dapat military pa rin. bilib nako sayo. hehehe...

as for them other nurses, whatever happened to 'love of country'? damm sellouts.

Anonymous said...

Haha, hindi naman ako ganoon ka militaristic. Naisip ko lang yung mga military nurses kasi malaki ang sweldo nila compared to civilian nurses.

Damn those who work abroad, those who choose to change their citizenships, those who raise their child speaking in a foreign tounge!

Nasaan ang pagiging Pinoy?

Anonymous said...

bilib ako sau herman..
anyway, nakakalungkot pagka may nababalitaan akong doctor na nagnu-nurse. I thinkw e shouldn't just see it na uy, maganda sweldo. heck! mas mataas kaya ang pagiging doctor.
anyway, may boon at bane ang nursing sa ating mga pinoy..