Health Secretary Ted Herbosa plans to grant temporary licenses to nursing graduates who did not reach a 75% passing score in the board exam or 70 to 74% grade obtained in the exam.
Herbosa announced this on Monday while clarifying his plan to allow nursing students who did not pass the board exam to work in government hospitals.
According to Herbosa, those who will be given a temporary license still need to retake the exam.
“We will tap the nurses who are board eligible. So nakapasa. Hindi lahat ah. Siguro ‘yung lumagpak na — 70 to 74 [percent] ang marka,” the secretary’s explanation in the ambush interview at the turnover ceremony at the DOH office in Manila.
“Propesor ako. ‘Yung 70 to 74, puwede kong ipasa ‘yun kung ako ang propesor. Kung nakita ko na maganda naman ang recitation and everything, ipapasa kita sa klase ko,” he added.
According to Herbosa, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma has agreed to such a plan and will contact the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for the issuance of temporary licenses.
The new DOH secretary also said that once they pass the board exam, they will sign a four-year return service agreement with the government hospital before they are allowed to work abroad.
The starting salary of nursing graduates who will work in government hospitals is estimated to be P35,000 to P40,000.
Nursing graduates who almost passed boards may be given temporary license
Currently, Herbosa said there are 4,500 vacant plantilla items for nurses in more than 70 DOH hospitals.
“Huwag umasa lahat ng nurse ha. Mayroong specification. Tsaka ‘yung 4,500 vacancies ko, hindi lahat Metro Manila ‘yon. All over the country ‘yon. So ‘pag napuno na siya, tigil na muna ‘yung temporary license,” the DOH chief said.
Last year, the Department of Health (DOH) stated that the Philippines needs 106 000 nurses for public and commercial hospitals and clinics.
“We have a shortage or a gap of around 106,000 para mapunuan natin ‘yung mga facilities natin all over the country, both public and private,” Vergeire said.
“Sa ngayon, meron tayong mga plantilla positions that are still to be filled up sa ating mga ospital,” she added.
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