DOLE open to Licensed Practical Nursing for exam flunkers, career choice

Secretary Arturo D. Brion of the Department of Labor and Employment said Wednesday said that the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) possibility is an option that should be actively explored.

Brion said this option could open not only for nursing flunkers but as a career choice for those who do not want the longer course and the heavier Registered Nursing (RN) degree that the Nursing Act provides. .

Brion said the idea came up when he met recently with Senator Edgardo Angara to discuss the employment situation in the country, including the matter involving the country's nurses.

"This is a policy issue that we will look at together with the stakeholders, particularly the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and even the TESDA," Brion said.

He added, "We will have to find out what we can do for those who will not make it in the licensure examination and those who want to make the shorter LPN route their career choice."

He said that of the 78,000 who took the examination last June, a significant portion will fail based on the records of the previous nursing exams. Only about 40,000 may pass if the government is to be guided by the passing rates in previous exams.

"The problem we cannot close our eyes to is what to do with those who will flunk. Many of them can retake the exam but still many do not pass after retakes. We should provide them an option they can handle. This is where the stakeholders can come in by starting a debate on the issue," he said.

Practical nurses perform simple medical tasks, mostly dealing with patient medication and care, under the direction of a full nurse or a physician.

The government does not license practical nurses in the Philippines, but they are recognized and licensed in the United States and Canada , Brion said.

"This can be a sunrise opportunity that we should look at and explore with those engaged in education and training, particularly the PRC, TESDA and CHED. We can forward our findings to our legislators if legislation would be necessary," the labor secretary said.

He said that he is very happy that the media has aired his idea since this can be the start of a discussion and debate on the issue. "Our nurses and their organizations, together with the academe should be heard in this debate," he added.

He said that the Board of Nursing expects to come out with the June 2007 nursing licensure exam results possibly by mid-August.