Pinoy R.N.

Nursing Exam Retake Deferred Pending Court Decision

Posted by Lyle, RN

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Friday said that the announced retake of the June 2006 Nurse Licensure Examination has been postponed pending the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) on the case filed by the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) College of Nursing regarding the oath taking of successful examinees in the June 2006 Nurse Licensure Examinations.

The decision came after PRC officials informed Labor Secretary Arturo Brion that details such as who should retake the exams and whether it will be a full or partial retake will depend on the Court of Appeals decision.

Meanwhile, the Labor Department on Friday endorsed Malacañang's move to fund a retake by nursing graduates of the leakage-marred licensure examinations held last June.

"We could ask the National Government to subsidize the retake of the 2006 nursing board exam but as of now I cannot really commit because I am not in a position to say that because of the pending petition filed in the Court of Appeals," said Brion.

President Arroyo Orders Retake of June 2006 Nurse Licensure Examinations

Posted by Lyle, RN

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered a retake of the controversial June 2006 Nurse Licensure Examination after meeting with her cabinet, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) officials, the task force on national council on licensure examination (NCLEX), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).

Arroyo is also placing the PRC under the supervision of the DoLE following the alleged leakage.

The Labor Department and the PRC will meet on Thursday to decide whether to repeat all subjects or to limit the retake on the leaked subjects only.

ASEAN Agreement to Open More Opportunities for Filipino Nurses

Posted by Lyle, RN

Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to sign a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on Nursing Services at the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu this December.

Under the agreement, Filipino registered nurses will automatically be licensed as nurses in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Moreover, the recruitment and deployment of Filipino nurses within ASEAN member countries would be eased up and expedited.

Earlier this month, the Japanese government has opened its health care industry to filipino nurses and caregivers under a bilateral agreement signed in Helsinki, Finland.

Japan Opens Doors to Filipino Nurses and Caregivers

Posted by Lyle, RN

Tetsuo Tsuji, administrative vice labor minister of Japan, announced on Monday the planned hiring of 400 nurses and 600 caregivers from the Philippines as part of a free trade agreement between the two Asian countries.

The pact was signed in Helsinki, Finland on Saturday by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Under the agreement, filipino nurses and caregivers will be allowed to work in Japan after passing japanese language proficiency tests and state qualification examinations.

Japan is also holding talks with Indonesia and other Asian countries on admitting nurses and caregivers.

Two BoN Members Rapped for Nurse Exam Leak

Posted by Lyle, RN

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended the filing of charges against Board of Nursing (BoN) examiners Anesia Dionisio and Virginia Madeja for the June 2006 Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) leakage.

Charged before the Ombudsman for violating Republic Act 8981 (Professional Regulation Commission Modernization Act) and Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), both Dionisio and Madeja face possible jail terms of six to twelve years should the court rule against their favor.

The Office of the Ombudsman has created of a special panel composed of five members to determine the need for another fact-finding investigation or to proceed with preliminary hearings. Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro was designated as chairman of the panel, while agency director Susan Guillermo, was named vice chair. Other panel members are director Eulogio Cecilio and Lawyers Silverio Manuel Jr and Mary Antonette Yalao.

Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered that all six BoN examiners be replaced because of the cheating controversy that has tainted the conduct of exams by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).