Citing the need to elevate the status of the country as a producer of leaders, experts, and authorities in the health care field, particularly in nursing, Senator Bong Go has filed a bill amending the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.
Senate Bill No. 395, also known as the “Advanced Nursing Education Act of 2019”, seeks to protect and improve the nursing profession by instituting measures that will result in relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, better career prospects and a dignified existence for the country’s nurses.
“The current nursing programs in the country put emphasis on deploying Filipino nurses abroad.”
Go mentioned that some current nursing programs in the country put emphasis on the deployment of Filipino nurses abroad, urging the legislator to work on the proposed measure to encourage these health workers to render their services in the country instead.
“Naka-focus masyado ang ibang kasalukuyang programa sa pang-iibang bansa ng mga nurses natin. Gusto kong maisama ang community integration and immersion sa kanilang mga curriculum upang mahikayat naman natin silang magtrabaho sa mga pamayanan dito sa Pilipinas,” the lawmaker said.
The senator’s proposed measure will require the establishment of standard basic and graduate programs for nursing education, to be established in Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-accredited institutions of higher learning.
Under the basic program, students will be mandated to undergo community integration and immersion to encourage them to work in various communities.
Meanwhile, a graduate program will be built on the experiences and skills of the nurses towards mastery, expertise and leadership in practice, research and education.
The faculty-to-student ratio will also be in accordance with the standard to be determined by CHED.
A National Nursing Admission Test (NNAT) also needs to be hurdled by aspiring nurses in order to ensure the quality of students getting into the nursing program.
The Advanced Nursing Education Act is just one among several bills Go has filed this month that seek to improve healthcare in the country and the protection of professionals in the public health care system.
Go is a known advocate of improving health care access in the country and the promotion of rights of health care professionals.
“I will promote the welfare of public health professionals.”
During his speech at the the 86th National Annual Convention of the Philippine Public Health Association, Inc., Go assured public health professionals, including nurses, that he will promote their welfare by pushing for measures that will benefit them including salary increases for public health professionals and other civilian government workers.
“Nandito ako para sa inyo. Bukas lagi ang aking opisina upang pakinggan ang inyong mga hinaing. At kasama po ninyo ako sa lahat ng inyong laban upang mabigyan ang inyong mga suliranin ng karampatang solusyon,” Go reassured the health workers.
The senator earlier filed SB 200 or An Act Modifying the Salary Schedule for Civilian Government Personnel. The bill seeks to increase the salary of civilian government personnel including nurses serving in public institutions.
Go filed the bill to champion the passage of a new version of the Salary Standardization Law. Senate Bill 200 seeks to increase the salaries of all government workers by modifying the existing Compensation and Position Classification System, making it more attractive and competitive in order to retain and motivate those in government service.
“Dagdagan natin ang suweldo ng mga ordinaryong kawani ng gobyerno, kasama na dyan ang mga guro at nurses. Dapat holistic ang approach natin upang lahat ng mga kawani sa gobyerno ay makapaglingkod ng maayos at magampanan ang kanilang tungkulin sa bayan,” he said.