Nursing Job Opportunities
Here in the Philippines, Nursing has become the ‘cream of the cream’. It is undoubtedly the best contender for the “Course of the 21st century” if I may describe its popularity among students of this generation. Why? Even doctors of medicine and already college graduates opt to become nurses. Is it service, prestige, money or the chance to go abroad that entices people to wear a lab gown and a nursing cap? Whatever is the reason, it is no surprise that the trend line will continue to go steep in many years to come.
This brings me to thinking, how can 15,000 new Nursing graduates land a job? If they ever land a job, how long shall it take for them to get one? The figures relative to “mismatch”, underemployment and unemployment in this country is startling. Mindless to say, we have one of the highest in Asia (if not in the whole world). Within my reach alone in our province, an average of 60% passes the local board exam (based on statistics of board passers for 2005-2007). Of this number, some 10% will be able to land a job in suitable workplaces like hospitals, clinics and rural health units. The rest, either employed in department stores, groceries and gasoline stations, or will kill time staying at home waiting for their relatives’ foreign remittances more popularly known among Filipinos as “Foreign Aid”.
In this regard, there is a need for Nursing graduates to find other resources and create opportunities for themselves using alternative forums. The most popular in my view is none other than the internet, hence, the phrase ‘online job search’. From the standpoint of a jobseeker, this method is convenient as it only requires a computer with an internet connection and a sane mind (hahaha!) to post online resumes at the proper places/websites.
Some websites that are very active in accepting resumes for submission to companies/employers are workabroad.ph and jobstreet.com. I had former students who have gone to Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Middle East and other countries through their persistence in seeking jobs online. Nursing job opportunities in the Philippines are scarce. That is a harsh reality.
Also, this observation could only mean that nursing job opportunities are primarily dependent on the person’s determination to succeed abroad, not to mention his/her discipline and perseverance in order to pass other examinations like TOEFL/IELTS, NCLEX and CG, among others. The money involved to complete the whole process is not meant for a regular family’s salary though. In more cases than one, the nurse’s family members have to resort to loans from various sources like banks, relatives or friends. Worse, they are compelled to sell their cars, houses and other properties with high value, all in the name of greener pasture.
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Tags: Nursing, nursing education, nursing jobs, nursing opportunities
You are right about one thing - nursing job opportunities here in the Philippines are scarce and limited. If I had a choice, I would have taken Engineering instead of BS Nursing.
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