CHED designs new nursing curriculum to address shortage

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is developing a new nursing curriculum to address the shortage of nurses in the country.

According to Vonne Aquino's report on "24 Oras," 51% of the country's registered nurses have emigrated, while 20% are not working in the hospital.

The remaining 175,900 nurses in public and private hospitals would have been enough if we had not been through a pandemic, says CHED.

In the new curriculum, "exit credentials" is a new option for nursing students who have completed one to two years, where they can now work as a nursing aid or nursing associate.

This is also said to be approved by the private sector, but some nursing students' opinions are divided.

“Okay naman po sa akin yet kung sa experience naman po, kailangan pa talaga ng more years talaga na kumpletuhin yung program. And also makakatulong rin kung sa pagiging nursing assistance, financially rin,” said Jasper Zeppi Cornejo, a nursing student.

Bianca Telen, nursing student, said, “50-50 po kasi masyado pa po kaming bata para sa ganun and then kailangan pa po namin ng more assistance or more guidance.”

“Mas okay siguro kung tataasan nila yung mga sweldo ng nurses. Mas malaki pa rin yung sweldo kung ibang trabaho ang gagawin nila,” said Hannah Collamar, nursing student.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) also approved the new nursing curriculum, but noted that the nurses' association should be included in the public consultation.

“Ang present curriculum kasi natin ng first year, wala pa silang actual patient interaction. Kailangan din kasi ng actual exposure ng ating mga student so that they could achieve the basic competencies. Ang core ng ating responsibilidad ay patient’s safety,” said PNA President Melvin Miranda.  —LBG, GMA Integrated News