DOLE advises nurses to seek alternative jobs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday advised newly licensed and unemployed nurses to seek alternative employment rather than wait for job openings in medical facilities.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said a wide array of non-clinical but medical-related job openings are available for nursing graduates.

“With the growth trend in the healthcare information management outsourcing industry, healthcare careers now expand into various disciplines, which open huge career opportunities for nursing graduates and allied medical professionals,” Baldoz said.

She cited medical transcriptionists, billers and health care secretaries as possible alternative employment for those seeking a career in the healthcare industry.

“We should be realistic about the global employment market. There are jobs aplenty if you just explore other careers in the healthcare industry,” Baldoz added.

Based on data from the DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), healthcare outsourcing jobs have starting pays ranging from P14,000 to P18,000, while clinical appeals specialists employed in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry receive basic pay of P20,000 to P40,000.

“These remunerations may even go higher depending on the hours of work, typing speed, and type of employment,” Baldoz said.

More than 16,000 nursing graduates hurdled the licensure examination last December. They are expected to join the growing number of unemployed nurses in the country.

However, Baldoz said nursing graduates need not be discouraged to look for employment because alternative employment are available to them.

As this developed, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warned Filipino nurses and other medical workers against accepting offers for nonexistent jobs in Canada, Singapore and other countries.

POEA chief Hans Cacdac said there are nonexistent jobs in Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, US, and Singapore that are being offered through email.

Cacdac said target victims were required to pay P3,800 for visa interview preparation fee through a bank account.

“It is safer for our jobseekers to submit their applications through licensed recruitment agencies in the Philippines,” he said.