Nursing graduates who earned a 70 to 74 percent rating in the Nursing Board Exam will be utilized as an additional workforce in the healthcare system, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa said on Monday, June 19.
Sec. Teodoro Herbosa during the formal turnover of DOH leadership on Monday, June 19. (Photo courtesy of DOH)
"We will tap nurses who are board eligible. So, nakapasa, so hindi lahat ah. Siguro yung nakapasa...yung lumagpak na 70 to 74 ang marka (So, they passed, so not all. Maybe the one who passed...the one who scored 70 to 74)," he said.
"Agree na si Secretary Laguesma sa idea ko eh at kakausapin niya raw ang PRC para mabigyan ng temporary license itong kategorya ng nurses na 'to (Secretary Laguesma has agreed with my idea and he will talk to the PRC to grant a temporary license to this category of nurses)," the health chief added.
However, unlicensed nurses will only be given limited tasks in government health facilities to ensure the safety of patients.
They will also undergo accreditation and verification, which are yet to be further elaborated by the DOH head.
These nurses will be given a specific timeframe until they can retake and pass the exam.
Herbosa noted that this initiative will be beneficial to the country's healthcare system and it is important to invest in human capital development since healthcare is under the service industry.
"The core of any healthcare system is nurses kaya pinapirate ang mga nurses natin sa ibang bansa kasi sila nag eexpand din sila ng services (That is why our nurses are being pirated in other countries because they are also expanding their services)," he said.
The timeline for its implementation and other details are yet to be announced.
He reminded nurses to still pass the board as there are only 4,500 vacant plantilla items or permanent nursing posts that unlicensed nurses can hopefully fill.
Once the DOH has filled these vacancies, the acceptance of said nurses will be closed.