One of the pressing issues facing the country is the insufficiency of manpower in the healthcare sector, specifically the scarcity of nursing professionals. To address this concern, the Department of Health has formulated a plan to fill the vacancies in public hospitals by recruiting a substantial number of unlicensed nurses. This initiative is a response to the immediate need to fill a total of 4,500 nursing positions nationwide.
The topic of unlicensed nurses working in the healthcare sector was discussed on the radio program Pintig ng Bayan, which aired on DZMM on August 23. The discussion was centered on the results of a survey conducted by Capstone-Intel Corporation, which was explained by its Chief Data Scientist, Dr. Guido David. The survey found that 83 percent of respondents believed that unlicensed nurses could be employed under the guidance and supervision of licensed nurses.
“‘Yung need natin sa nurses, hindi natin nafi-fill itong kakulangan natin. Hindi natin napupuno iyan dahil maraming graduates natin ay nagsisialisan especially ‘yung board passers. Kasi sila rin ang nakakapasa ng licensure (exams) sa ibang bansa,” said Dr. David.
During the interview, Dr. David was asked about the results of the survey conducted between August 1, 2023 to August 10, 2023. He was further questioned regarding the competency of the public to assess whether unregistered nurses can provide quality services, mainly if the public is unaware of the nursing student’s curriculum.
“Opinion naman nito ng mga kababayan natin. Gusto ko rin i-clarify na hindi naman nila sinasabi na itong nurses ay puwedeng magtrabaho na as nurses, kasi may follow up question na, ‘In your opinion should nursing graduates be given an opportunity to work in healthcare settings under supervisions of a licensed nurse,” explained Dr. David.
Legislators may want to consider the findings of this study as a means of addressing the increasing issue faced by the country, as explained by Dr. David.
“So klaro ito. Ang context nito ay puwede silang magtrabaho sa hospitals or healthcare service, pero under the supervision ng isang licensed or registered nurse. Sa ibang bansa, ginagawa rin ito, in fairness. May nursing aids at nursing assistants na hindi pa board passers na nakapagtrabaho sa hospitals,” he added.
Also, the study is noteworthy and highlights the importance of a result-focused approach in the nursing profession.
In his initial statement, Dr. David presented an argument that involving non-licensed nurses in healthcare facilities can contribute positively to their chances of passing the board examination. This, in turn, can enhance the country’s healthcare system.
“Working in a healthcare setting would help improve their chances of passing the board exam,” said Dr. David.
