80% of new nurses want to work abroad - PNA

MANILA, Philippines – The head of the country’s biggest nursing organization has estimated that roughly 80 percent of the latest batch of more than 28,000 new nurses in the country intends to work abroad.

“That is just my assumption (about 80 percent). It was based on the people that I have talked to pero wala talagang study ‘yan, but I think that’s a safe estimate," said Dr. Leah Samaco-Paquiz, president of the Philippine Nurses Association.

Economic reasons, such as the lack or absence of better job opportunities in the country and the low salary rates have been cited as primary factors for migration, Paquiz said.

They want to learn more (while) they are young. They consider working abroad an adventure," Paquiz said.

The unstable political situation in the country also somehow encourages Filipino nurses to leave the country and try their luck somewhere else.

Citing a proposal to require new nurses to render service first in the Philippines before they can be allowed to work abroad, Paquiz appealed to the new licensed nurses to serve their “kababayans" first to gain the necessary experience before working overseas.

“Hindi naman natin sila mapipigil na mag-abroad at wala ring batas na dapat dito muna sila magtrabaho. Pero sana magsilbi muna sila sa mga kakabayan nila para makakuha din sila ng experience," she explained.

Paquiz added that while there is no shortage of nurses in the Philippines, this doesn’t mean that there is no cause for alarm.

“Marami tayong nurses pero ang nawawala sa atin mga good, experienced and top caliber nurses na puwedeng mag-head ng mga faculty, kasi sila ‘yung kinukuha sa abroad," she noted.

The PNA president also advised those who are dead set to work abroad “not to forget the place where they come from." – Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV

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