The number of Filipino nurses that indicated their desire to seek employment in America by taking that country’s nursing licensure examination plunged by 21.38 percent in the nine months to September this year, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) reported recently.
A total of 11,854 Filipino nurses took the NCLEX for the first time from January to September 2009, a decrease of 3,225 compared to the 15,079 that took the test in the same nine-month period in 2008.
On account of its economic decline, America has lost some of its allure as a land of greener pasture for foreign nurses and other highly skilled professionals.
The confidence of foreign workers in America’s economic supremacy has clearly been shaken by the staggering job losses there.
A total of 7.6 million Americans have lost their jobs since the start of the US recession in December 2007.
Since then, the number of unemployed Americans has doubled to 15.1 million, with the national jobless rate at 9.8 percent, according to the US Department of Labor.
In the July to September quarter alone, only 3,582 Filipino nurses took the NCLEX for the first time, down 1,660, or 31.66 percent versus the 5,242 that took the test in the same quarter in 2008.
The continued decline in the number of Filipino nurses seeking to practice their profession in America comes even after the establishment of an NCLEX testing center in Manila, which has made it easier for them to take the examination.
Prior to the establishment of the local test center, Filipino nurses had to travel overseas to take the NCLEX in Hong Kong, Guam or elsewhere.
The NCLEX refers to US National Council (of State Boards of Nursing) Licensure Examinations for registered and practical nurses.
In the whole of 2008, a total of 20,746 Filipino nurses took the NCLEX for the first time. This was down 3.5 percent compared to the 21,299 Filipino nurses that took the test for the first time in 2007. Filipinos still account for four out of every 10 foreign nurses seeking to enter the US nursing profession.
The aggregate remittances of Filipino workers in America, including some 200,000 nurses, fell by $635 million, or 11.84 percent to $4.731 billion in the seven months to August this year compared to $5.366 billion over the same period in 2008. –ernestboyherrera@yahoo.com
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
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against serious violations of protocols of
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Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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