68.69 percent pass nursing exam retake

(Updated 10:14 a.m) Almost two-thirds or 9,198 of the 13,338 nurses who volunteered to retake Tests 3 and 5 of the controversial June 2006 nursing licensure examinations have passed the exams. Without a doubt, they are now full-fledged nurses. The Labor Department announced Monday that of the 13,338 nurses licensed before the June 2006 exam, 9,198 passed for a passing percentage of 68.96 percent. "A total of 13,338 nurses licensed pursuant to the June 2006 NLE took the voluntary retake examination and 9,198 or 68.96% passed. The rest (4,140) failed to meet the passing grade of at least 75% in both Tests III and V. Results of the voluntary retake examination, however, will not affect their status as licensed nurses," it said in a statement on its website (www.specialnursingreview.dole.gov.ph/SNResult). It added those who failed the retake "will simply not qualify for US VisaScreen Certificate." Meanwhile, a nursing graduate of Our Lady of Fatima University topped the 2007 Nursing Licensure Examinations (NLE), the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) said Sunday. PRC head Leonor Rosero said the passing rate for first-time takers, repeaters, and voluntary examinees is 48.18 percent or a total of 31,275 of the 64,909. She said the complete list of the passers will be published Monday in major newspapers. According to Rosero, Fatima’s Darlene Chutuape scored the highest with 88 percent. In second place is Romeo Pangilinan (87.8%) from De Ocampo Memorial College of Nursing. Pierre Florendo from Mount View College and Mona Lisa Pua from the Chinese General Hospital School of Nursing are tied in third place (87.2%). In 2006, the nursing exams were marred by allegations that answers to some of the test questions were leaked by some review centers. On June 1, 2007, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered filing of criminal charges against two members of the Board of Nursing for last year’s nursing examination leakage. The Labor Department initiated the voluntary retake examination of Tests III and V of the June 2006 Nursing Licensure Examination to qualify licensed nurses for the US VisaScreen certificate. Also, the DOLE said the Office of the DOLE Secretary in Intramuros shall start issuing certificates to successful examinees starting Sept. 3. It said the issuing of certificates will be from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1:30 to 4:30 p,m., upon presentation of the examinee's PRC license. The DOLE set up a schedule for the successful examinees to follow for the release of individual certificates. "Those residing outside of Metro Manila who wish to claim their Certificates via the DOLE Regional Offices are advised to register with the Regional Office nearest their place of residence/work. The DOLE Central Office shall transmit (in batches) the Certificates within 3 days from receipt of notice from the Regional Office concerned," DOLE said. Proxy claimants or representatives are required to present an authorization letter and a photocopy of the examinee's PRC License. The original license must be presented, it said. The full list of successful examinees is listed on a special website the DOLE set up for the special examinations (www.specialnursingreview.dole.gov.ph/SNResult). DOLE to issue certificates The Labor Department has drawn a schedule in issuing certificates to the 9,198 successful examinees who voluntary retook the nursing licensure exams last June. In a statement on its website, the DOLE said the Office of the Labor Secretary will issue the certificates from the DOLE head office in Intramuros, Manila. "Those residing outside of Metro Manila who wish to claim their Certificates via the DOLE Regional Offices are advised to register with the Regional Office nearest their place of residence/work. The DOLE Central Office shall transmit (in batches) the Certificates within 3 days from receipt of notice from the Regional Office concerned," DOLE said. Proxy claimants or representatives are required to present an authorization letter and a photocopy of the examinee's PRC License. The original license must be presented, it said. The schedule for issuing of certificates from Sept. 3 to 27 is as follows: September 3: Aala-Angeles September 4: Angelo-Barcelon September 5: Barcelona-Bumidang September 6: Bunagan-Castillo September 7: Castillon-Cuarteros September 10: Cuasa-Dimaano September 11: Dimacale-Fabros September 12: Facto-Gidoc September 13: Gil-Jimenez September 14: Jimera-Llena September 17: Llenes-Marcelo September 18: Marcia-Navarris September 19: Navarro-Pacho September 20: Pandan-Racelis September 21: Racho-Sables September 24: Sabud-Somejo September 25: Somorostro-Tomas September 26: Tomboc-Villegas September 27: Villena-Zuñiga - GMANews.TV