Most Pinoys back hiring unlicensed graduates as nursing aides

MANILA, Philippines — A small majority of Filipinos support the hiring of nursing graduates who have not passed the board examinations as nursing aides or assistants in hospitals, a recent survey conducted by the OCTA Research group found.

Results of the July 22 to 26 survey released on Friday found that 54 percent of the respondents support the hiring of unlicensed nurses to augment the workforce in government hospitals.

Some 39 percent were not in favor, while seven percent were undecided or refused to answer the poll question.

Support for the hiring of unlicensed nurses was highest among respondents in Metro Manila at 79 percent, followed by those in Mindanao at 71 percent, rest of Luzon at 49 percent and the Visayas at 32 percent.

Meanwhile, 64 percent of respondents from the Visayas said they do not support the proposal, followed by 38 percent in balance Luzon, 29 percent in Mindanao and 18 percent in Metro Manila.

The Commission on Higher Education has announced plans to offer a customized review program to assist underboard nursing graduates and clinical care associates employed in hospitals.

The initiative will provide graduates with an upskilling program that will capacitate them to serve as clinical care associates in public and private hospitals, as well as help them pass the nursing licensure examination.

The OCTA poll had 1,200 adult respondents and a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.