2006 nursing graduates must face reality and retake test – Ang

The 17,000 passers of the June 2006 nursing licensure examinations should face the reality the United States Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) would not be reversing its decision to deny them Visa Screen certificates despite strong appeals from the Philippine government, a Malacañang official said.

Dante Ang, chairman of the presidential Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), said getting the CGFNS to change its decision was "an impossible dream" since the Visa Screen certificate was a requirement under US law for Filipino nurses seeking working visas.

The CGFNS reportedly rebuffed Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) chairwoman Leonor Rosero, who wanted to personally lead a team to the US to make another appeal. The commission said last week such a trip would be useless.

The CGFNS earlier said it would only issue Visa Screen certificates if the passers retake and pass Tests 3 and 5. The answers to the tests were reportedly leaked in the examinations last year.

"I think it’s time for those who passed the June 2006 board exams to accept the reality that if they want to work in the US, they have to retake the test," Ang said in a telephone interview.

He said those still pushing for an appeal should not give false hopes to the board passers so the latter can "make their decisions and move on." – Paolo Romero