Administrative order for hiring underboard nurses as 'Clinical Care Associates' signed
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) signed a Joint Administrative Agreement (JAO) on Wednesday, July 19, to utilize underboard nurses as "Clinical Care Associates (CCAs)" in both public and private hospitals, addressing the nurse shortage in the country.
DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa and CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III, together with officials from Private Sector Advisory Council and hospital groups, signed the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) on Implementing Guidelines for the Nurse Workforce Complementation and Upskilling Program on Wednesday, July 19 at the Seda Manila Bay in Paranaque City. (Photo courtesy of CHED)
"We're cognizant that the Department of Health needs the other agencies, needs the other education institutions, needs the private sector to be able to effectively address the problem of health human resources," said DOH Secretary Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa during his speech. Non-passers, fresh graduates, and nursing graduates working in other industries are eligible to become CCAs. They will be employed on a one-year contract and assigned "important non-core functions." The health department will provide coaching and mentoring services until they take the exam and they can renew their CCA contract if ever they fail to pass the board.
(Photo courtesy of Luisa Cabato)
Another policy guideline included in the signed JAO is free board exam review classes for nursing students at CHED-certified higher education institutions.
DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa and CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III, together with officials from Private Sector Advisory Council and hospital groups, signed the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) on Implementing Guidelines for the Nurse Workforce Complementation and Upskilling Program on Wednesday, July 19 at the Seda Manila Bay in Paranaque City. (Photo courtesy of CHED)
"We're cognizant that the Department of Health needs the other agencies, needs the other education institutions, needs the private sector to be able to effectively address the problem of health human resources," said DOH Secretary Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa during his speech. Non-passers, fresh graduates, and nursing graduates working in other industries are eligible to become CCAs. They will be employed on a one-year contract and assigned "important non-core functions." The health department will provide coaching and mentoring services until they take the exam and they can renew their CCA contract if ever they fail to pass the board.
(Photo courtesy of Luisa Cabato)
Another policy guideline included in the signed JAO is free board exam review classes for nursing students at CHED-certified higher education institutions.
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[CHED mobilizes HEIs to address PH's nurse shortage](https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/19/ched-mobilizes-he-is-to-address-ph-s-nurse-shortage) Herbosa emphasized that the policy development process involved various government offices, private sectors, hospital associations, professional organizations, regulatory bodies, and relevant stakeholders. "This is a 'quick fix' solution para madagdagan tayo ng nursing supply pero ang long term solution dagdagan natin yung nursing school, ma-encourage natin ang young people to go into nursing (This is a 'quick fix' solution to increase our nursing supply, but the long-term solution is to expand our nursing schools and encourage young people to enter nursing)," he said in an ambush interview. There is no exact advisory yet on whether the participants of CCAs and board review programs are required to render a "return service agreement." "I suppose that's part of the idea; they should be able to serve the country or so, parang return service agreement (like a return service agreement). That's only rational to do," Herbosa stated. There is also no definite timeline yet until when these programs will be implemented.