Philippine Nurses Association of North Carolina

By: Reginaldo Fidel Flores Horwitz

(Editorial Published in 2006)

The globalization of nursing has opened up floodgates of opportunities for Philippine educated nurses so much so that Filipino nurses serve in all continents of the world. With nursing shortages unabated in developed nations, the lucrative market for Filipino nurses has never been better. Decades of mostly excellent and assiduous service in all corners of the world has earned for us global respect. With all the plaudits that have been accorded us, however, the grim realities of a system that supports the exportation of Filipino nurses at all costs has never been closely scrutinized as much as it has been in the last year. The fiasco surrounding the June 2006 Philippine nurse licensure examination was merely a symptom of a much bigger malady that has plagued professional regulation in the Philippines. Moreover, the Philippine government's policy and strategy supportive of nurse migration has resulted in the explosive growth of nursing programs across the archipelago to the detriment of the profession. The quality of nursing education has deteriorated as the quantity of aspiring nurses overwhelmed an already beleaguered healthcare system. The world watched as the Philippines handled the licensure scandal as it has broad global implications. To their credit, the Philippine government dealt with it decisively yet the call for reforms should continue if we are to regain our standing before the world. If two recent developments affecting Philippine nurses’ global practice were our judge, the battle to overhaul the system is far from over. However, there is a reason to hope and persevere. Here's why- for the thousands of Filipino nurses who aspire to practice in the United States as registered nurses, victory was so much sweeter when many years of constant lobbying and campaigning finally came to fruition. The NCSBN officially announced in February 2007 that Manila, the capital city of the Philippines has been chosen as the latest site for international NCLEX administration.

The PNANC has the PNA America, the Philippine government and private sectors to thank for their concerted efforts. It also commends the NCSBN for working with the stakeholders to bring the NCLEX to the Philippine capital and closer to the Philippine nurses. On a more sober note, the CGFNS has ruled that these groups of nurses wanting to practice in America should retake the Philippine nurse licensure exams to ensure that the American public is protected.

We have come a long way. We need to celebrate the victories we have been blessed with. Take time to count them. Those with little or no appreciation of them could easily feel dissatisfied and critical. Let's forge ahead with the battles we choose to pick but let it never be said that we can't rejoice when our prayers are answered in our midst. May we have more faith, hope and love to keep us going and to share to others this year. Happy Easter!