Many options to solve nurse issues amid legal hurdles – Herbosa

A test taker must score a 75% rating with no grade below 60% in any subject to pass the country’s licensure exam. (Pexels photo)

MANILA – Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Friday said there are many options available to solve the shortage of nurses in public hospitals despite legal limitations.

In a statement, Herbosa said the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) commissioners and the Board of Nursing are ready to help the Department of Health (DOH) find solutions.

“There are still many options despite legal limitations which I understand,” he said. “However, it’s good to know they are with me to find the solutions to the 4,500 unfilled nurse items in DOH hospitals.”

He added that the Board of Nursing has provided suggestions on how the problem of outward migration of Philippine nurses can be solved.

“I am thankful that Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and PRC Commissioner Charito Zamora are all very supportive of finding legal ways to solve our health manpower problems,” he said.

Herbosa is planning to tap board eligibles who received a grade of 70 to 74 percent in the nursing licensure examination.

A test taker must score a 75% rating with no grade below 60% in any subject to pass the country’s licensure exam.

READ: DOH eyes to tap ‘board eligibles’ to solve nurse shortage

Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Rontgene Solante earlier expressed support for the plan, saying nursing graduates who have yet to pass the board examination already possess the skills of a nurse and are competent enough to do nursing work after graduation.

Solante added that such a move will encourage nursing graduates working in other industries like call centers and tourism to practice their profession.

Meanwhile, the PRC said there is no provision in the Philippine Nursing Act o Republic Act 9173 that allows them or any government agencies to issue temporary licenses to nursing graduates who failed the licensure examination.

They would be under the direct supervision of registered nurses if they would be allowed to work in hospitals.

All their tasks would be monitored by their supervisors as part of a quality assurance mechanism to ensure patient safety and welfare.

In May 2023, the PRC reported about 14,000 examinees took the licensure test for nurses and about 10,764, or 74.94 percent passed.