Tackling the Nursing Exodus in the Philippines

Macrine ( RIP) Graduating with Her AA Degree in Nursing, Contra Costa College, Richmond, CA 1979

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2021/08/celebrating-macrines-waksi-one-year.html

Nursing is a profession that I can personally identify. My wife ( RIP) was a nurse, educated in the United States. My two sister- in-laws ( now retired), were nurses educated in the Philippines but immigrated to the US. Both of them had nursing careers in the USA they are very proud of. My nephew is a current practicing nurse in the UK. My deceased wife has several relatives in the US and Europe who are or were nurses. Thus the nursing profession is close to my heart. Thus, this article about Nursing in my FaceBook page today, 

My Wife (RIP) Graduated with her Bachelors Degree in Nursing, Holy Name College, Oakland, CA. 1981. Macrine had an Accounting Degree from the Philippines. When we immigrated to the US in 1960, she stayed at home and raised our four children until they were all college graduates. Macrine went backed to school and pursue her life-long ambition to be a nurse at the age of 40.

I supported her dream and when she passed the Nursing Board ( California), I treated her to a one-week vacation to the big Island of Hawaii. That was the week, we will always remember!!

💚💚💚The Pride of Cleaning Asses!! I was inspired to repost this article- Tackling the Nursing Exodus in the Philippines.   

"The Philippines has been known as a major – if not the largest – exporter of nurses globally. It was estimated that in 2020, some 240,000 Filipino nurses are working across the world.

https://www.hospitalmanagementasia.com/talent-skills/tackling-the-nursing-exodus-in-the-philippines/#:~:text=It%20was%20estimated%20that%20in,grow%20to%20250%2C000%20by%202030.

But ironically, the country is now facing a growing nursing shortage at home. As of 2023, the Philippines faces a shortage of around 127,000 nurses a number which is expected to grow to 250,000 by 2030.

Ms Everrette C. Zafe

The reasons behind this trend are many-fold, but Ms Everrette C. Zafe, Nursing Director at World Citi Medical Center (WCMC) in Manila, points to the COVID-19 pandemic as a tipping point.

Before the pandemic, the hospital saw the pace of recruits keeping up with the pace of those leaving. The pandemic however heavily disrupted this balance.

“Nurses feared the risk of catching the virus themselves, and we saw an exodus of nurses with many leaving the profession altogether. At the peak, we were seeing 2 to 3 resignations every week,” said Ms Zafe.

With a nursing strength of around 130 Staff nurses at WCMC, the rate of resignations was significant.

Moreover, as more nurses began catching the virus and stayed home to be quarantined, the number of nurses available at the hospital fell further, she noted.

As such, it has had to halt admissions for a while due to a lack of nurses to ensure quality of care.

When the pandemic situation stabilised, the hospital then faced the new challenge of nurse retention. With the reopening of borders, many countries dangled attractive packages to Filipino nurses, including higher compensation, conducive benefits, and visa provisions.

On the Philippine government’s end, several measures were launched to tackle the growing shortage, including temporary deployment bans restricting nurses from moving abroad. Last year, it launched the Clinical Care Associate programme, allowing the employment of nursing school graduates who have yet to pass their board exams".

💚💚💚"The Pride of Cleaning Asses !!!-From My Face Book Page this Morning

" Today I heard again "you work cleaning asses" and it's neither the first nor the eighth time I've heard it. And I feel the need to claim my work and shout out to the world how proud I am of it. Yes ladies and gentlemen, proud to clean asses, cut nails, wash heads, dress, shower, feed and care for people among other things, yes yes PEOPLE, who cannot do it by themselves and need help. But let's summarize it in "wipe ass".

I am already a little fed up with the negative connotations of this expression that is closely linked to my profession. It is clear that not all of us are worth everything. For example, I couldn't work in something that required me to lie, like a banker or something like that. And yet that is a highly valued profession, on the contrary, facing mine is like the last of the last. 

I tell them that most of us who classify us like this never need anyone to "wipe their ass" that: I hope they never need someone to do it. But if the time comes that is necessary, any of my colleagues who are professionals or I will be willing to help you and make you have the best possible quality of life, and always with good humor and love. 

Now they are going to say what is the really important job for people like us nurses, but please, do not use the expression "wipe ass" with contempt, because maybe one day someone will have to do it for you and believe me you will feel grateful."

Meanwhile, Did you Know that?

The British occupied Manila during the Seven Years’ War between Britain and Spain.

Key figures were William Draper & Cornish leading the British, while Simon Anda y Salazar resisted in the provinces.

The British looted Manila, taking treasures, including historical documents and gold.