Nursing Exam In The Philippines: Trends And Stats

While there are over a hundred websites out there that post exam for nursing results in the Philippines, I took interest in looking at the nursing exam trends over the last 5 examination periods, and I would like to share my views and analysis about their statistics. 

Based on the graph above, we could readily see the steady, linear downtrend in the number of NLE test takers. Even though the nursing board exam is still one of the biggest licensure exams in the country (it used to be the biggest, but the current number of test takers are now similar to those who took the licensure exam for teachers or LET), the columns indicate the steady decline of test takers. If you’re asking: “How did it happen that there seems to be less and less people taking the exam?” As far as I know, there are 3 interrelated factors behind this:

1.       Decreasing number of graduates. A significant decrease of nursing graduates resulted from stricter measures by the Professional Regulations Commission on the implementation of nursing programs throughout the country. Nursing schools are being pressed further to produce a significant percentage of nursing exam board passers, and failure to do this would result in immediate closure. As a result, nursing programs are now set on higher instructional and evaluative standards, and it’s getting much tougher to get a nursing degree.

2.       Decreasing number enrollees. Most people are still affixed to the idea that the only jobs available for nurses are hospital and clinical jobs, and because there are limited opportunities in hospitals for hundreds of thousands of nurses, many high school graduates are becoming discouraged to pursue a career that would include them on the long list of unemployed professionals. In addition, the Professional Regulations Commission made a public statement years ago that advised college entrants to not pursue nursing, and this has also contributed to the decline of enrollees nationwide.

3.       Increasing closure of nursing schools. Another contributing factor to the decrease of nursing exam takers is the increasing number of nursing schools closing down. It’s a domino effect – less enrollees lead to less graduates, and this leads to lesser chances of reaching the passing standard for these schools. Also, schools tend to downsize its number of nursing instructors, thus the quality of education is significantly affected. Some schools nowadays even operate with only 2-3 full-time faculty members, and even the Dean is now forced to handle clinical classes just to keep the ball rolling.

Although the almost proportional decrease of nursing exam board passers is noticeable in the graph, what’s more important to note here is the consistently low number of test passers over the last 5 board exams. This has always been the question: “How come the percentage of those passing the exam is always less than 50% of the total number of test takers?” Having observed numerous nursing schools and programs, I believe that there are 2 major reasons why the overall nursing passing rate is consistently low:

1.       Lack of solid instruction. It’s sad to know, but it’s true for most nursing schools, and while the PRC guidelines provide a workable plan for solid nursing instruction, the problem is with the implementation. Deans and instructors should work proactively and cooperatively to develop good quality instruction by establishing relevant syllabi, definite program objectives, meaningful learning experiences and instructional methods, and proper evaluative methods.

2.       Lack of exam preparation. I’m not here to criticize independent nursing reviewers and review groups, but it is an undeniable fact that the big reason they sprouted like mushrooms is because of lack of nursing exam preparation, and I believe that its prime responsibility lies with nursing schools. In fact it’s only right to commend these nursing reviewers, and you could only imagine if their service is complemented with solid instruction from a nursing school. Although attending a nursing review might increase one’s chances of passing the NLE, let me advise that solid instruction is the essential factor, and students should rely more to it.

Nursing is a dynamic field that continually changes with the times, and I personally disagree that people should be discouraged to pursue it. For me, it is false to think that the overall demand for this profession is dwindling – only the clinical work settings are. Schools of nursing should readily and appropriately change with the shift in nursing fields, and implement programs that answer the current demands of the health industry. If you want more info about other nursing careers other than hospital work, click here.

Furthermore, quality nursing education is needed to break the cycle of poor nursing exam performance, and nursing institutions should always strive for resolute, excellent education.

Top 10 Nurse Jobs Other Than Hospital Work

Photo Credit: Jeff Rasansky/Flickr

The country’s labor sector is faced with an overwhelming number of unemployed nurses, and most of them pursue a bottleneck path of applying for typical nursing jobs – that is, in hospitals, community health centers and clinics. It is estimated that around 200,000 nurses in the country are unemployed, and 16,908 newly registered nurses are expected to add to this number. Although there is a steady demand for nurse jobs in regions like the Middle East, many often encounter difficulties in getting hired, primarily because they lack hospital experience.

And how would nurses expect to have the necessary hospital experience if all 200,000 of them will apply for a few hundred nurse jobs in hospitals around the country? It is clearly observable that most hospitals have more volunteers than staff, and it’s just sad to know that these volunteer nurses are expected to deliver the same standard of quality care for free. Some nurses try to go to community health centers and private clinics, but the chances of entering these clinical areas are equally slim due to budget constraints.

Nurses should be reminded that hospitals and other clinical areas aren’t the only satisfying and rewarding nurse jobs, and they should accept the reality that the needs of the healthcare industry change over time. Numerous technological advancements have already impacted healthcare processes through computer and information technology and business process outsourcing, and it only makes sense that nurses should prepare themselves for the future.

Photo Credit: wistechcolleges/Flickr

While hospital and clinical careers in nursing are dwindling in numbers, other areas such as healthcare outsourcing, online research and education are booming with opportunities that allow nurses to develop new skills and earn more. If you’re getting tired of doing volunteer work for a hospital or having a seemingly hopeless search for a hospital job, here are the top 10 alternative nurse jobs that you can explore:

1.       Medical Transcriptionist

A medical transcriptionist is responsible for producing accurate and organized medical documents by extracting information from audio files, and these recordings may vary from emergency room visits, to diagnostic imaging studies to chart reviews. Excellent listening skills and in-depth knowledge of medical terminology and transcription guidelines are a must, as well as English communication skills.

                               

2.       Medical Biller

This nurse job involves preparing medical bills and invoices and recording the amount due for medical procedures and services. A medical biller is responsible for getting in touch with patients and obtains and relays the account information. Accuracy and attention to detail are the basic requirements for this job, as well as in-depth knowledge of medical records.

3.       Benefits Analyst

A benefits analyst is one who interprets and processes requests and secures the necessary data to appropriately implement the patient’s medical and insurance benefits. In most cases, the medical biller analyzes benefits claims with the aid of an adjudicating or validating system. Critical thinking and attention to detail are needed for this job.

4.       Virtual Healthcare Secretary

Another trending nurse job is a virtual healthcare secretary, where the nurse is mainly tasked with receiving, communicating and arranging medical correspondence online. The virtual healthcare secretary answers telephones and directs calls to appropriate staff, and transcribes dictation for various medical reports from physicians. Virtual healthcare secretaries are also tasked to compile and record online medical charts and reports.

5.       Telehealth Nurse

Basically, the telehealth nurse engages with the pre-medical and post-procedure needs of patients over the phone. A telehealth nurse will conduct a pre-treatment assessment and the preparation of the patient prior to the required medical or surgical procedure, and follows up the client’s condition as they recover from illness or medical/surgical treatment. If you like a clinical type of job without much stress from the hospital environment, then this job’s for you.

6.       Private Duty/Home Care Nurse

Who says that nurses can’t be self-employed? Although there is a shortage of opportunities in hospitals and other clinical areas, there are numerous individuals and families that employ private duty and home care nurses. Most cases involve cancer clients and patients experiencing debilitating or degenerative illnesses that result in considerable strain on caregivers, and this is why families of such patients opt to avail the expertise of nurses.

7.       Medical Representative

Medical representatives are in charge with the promotion of medical equipment and supplies of their respective companies, and they are engaged with sales, distribution and business development within their assigned areas. Oftentimes, we hear stories of their numerous benefits, including car and vacation incentives and sales commissions, and this can be a very exciting career path for people who love to travel. Excellent communication skills and a strong drive are required for this nurse job.

8.       Health Researcher

If you have the talent, skill and passion for searching and discovering new information about healthcare, then being a health researcher may be a rewarding career for you. The tasks are diverse, from the nature of the studies conducted to the areas of healthcare being researched. Researchers engage themselves in the review of current and existing technologies, data gathering, statistical and interpretative analyses of data and documentation, and this career provides the perfect opportunity to those who wish to pursue further studies. Knowledge of the scientific method, critical thinking and attention to detail are the skills needed for this profession.

9.       Writer

If you love to write about nursing and healthcare topics, a writing career may be a fulfilling alternative nurse job, and people do make money from writing medical or nursing-related articles. Being a writer, you have the choice of either getting hired by a company or working as a freelance writer creating engaging and relevant content to various clients. The pay also varies, and if you are consistently writing top quality posts, you might even be earning twice or thrice as much as your day job in the hospital.

10.   Nursing Tutor

Nursing education is also a career path that is not much explored by the majority of nurses, and even if there’s a low demand for clinical instructors, nurses can still employ themselves as private tutors. Through information technology, nurses can easily disseminate information and interact with students and colleagues through blogs, virtual classrooms, social media and online chat platforms, and online tutoring is an excellent nurse job if you want to develop communication and teaching skills. Not only will you help guide students in understanding concepts, but you will be able to build your network as well.

The nursing profession is constantly changing, and change is inevitable. Nurses have the ability to adapt to change, thus they should face reality that nurse jobs in the hospital are just one of their options. The key is to stay employed and develop skills that are currently needed by the industry.