Job for Nurses: Registration is Now Open for RN Heals Program

Image via WikipediaThe number of unemployed registered nurses increases every year. With more than 70,000 thousand registered nurses produced each year, not to mention the more than hundred thousand examinees who fails the board exam, the employment rate gets lower and lower each year as the supply overwhelms the demand.

Although most of the nurses that stay in the Philippines only wants to gain the necessary experience to go abroad, the scarcity of job vacancies in the local hospitals and clinics prevents them from going out of the country. Also, with the ever increasing supply amid the decreasing demand, the nurses are prone to abuse by offering below-minimum wages even in well known private and public hospitals.

To help address these issues, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in cooperation with Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD), Philippine Regulations Commission-Board of Nursing, and the Philippine Nursing Association (PNA) launched a program to help local registered nurses gain the necessary experience. The program is called RN HEALS, an acronym for Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service.

The program aims to train and deploy 10,000 nurses in poor rural areas in the country this year. This will address both the scarcity of nursing service in the rural areas and the oversupply of nurses in the urban areas.

Requirements and Registration

Those registered nurses who are physically and mentally fit and are willing to serve in rural communities are encouraged to apply online at http://www.nars.dole.gov.ph/. Registration began last January 17 and is only until January 4, 2011. The list of qualified applicants will be posted at DOLE's website February 7-10, 2011.

Qualified applicants will undergo training according to the requirements of the program. After finishing the required trainings, they will receive a certificate of competency from DOH, DSWD, and PRC.

Compensation and Benefits

The Department of Health (DOH) will provide 8000 pesos monthly allowance while the local government will provide a decent board and lodging and ensure the security of the nurses. The local government is also urged to provide additional allowance of at least 2000 pesos per month. Moreover, PhilHealth and GSIS will provide group insurance for the nurses.