To be or not to be?

Is this what I really wanted? Is being a Nurse my calling? Is this really the path that I should take?

Well basically those were just some of the question one high school student may ask or thinking after graduation or may be not. But, imagine an already registered and licensed nurse ask these kind of questions would simply be so irrational and these questions will definitely make one raise eyebrows and ask, “Why did you took it in the first place?”

Well, let’s go back, about 5 years ago maybe, when one was asked by the admissions office of their university of choice (maybe for some, they underwent interview sessions, some didn’t) “Why did you chose Nursing?” Let’s face it, most of us may answered, “Because my parents wanted me to work abroad” or may be “I wanted to work abroad and help my family (Guilty?! Guilty?!) or may be “I want to help and serve humanity!” (Wow, martyr!). Yes, we have our own reasons why we chose BSN. After 4 grueling years of battling with different requirements, the sleepless nights of studying, having our graveyard duties and tons of paper requirements we had to do, the mind-boggling quizzes and exams and let’s not forget those “overnights” or “sleep-overs” and most importantly, tens of thousands of pesos on tuition fees and other expenses our parents had to endure, we received our parchment paper telling us we graduated, and then thereafter, we had to face one of the most challenging challenge, the Licensure Exam and after passing it, after the oath taking and the application process for the license and after months of waiting (Whew!) we have the LICENSE.

Reality check guys, the dilemma of having to look for clinical experience needed takes it toll amongst our colleagues. Let’s face it guys, we were like 30,000++ licensed nurses last June 2007 then add the December passers and compare it to the number of health care institutions in our country? Taking into consideration the Laws of Demand and Supply, what do we have? UNEMPLOYEMENT… Let’s face it, there is an OVERSUPPLY of nurses and there is well maybe SHORTAGE of hospitals maybe or where to put the RNs? And with the steady uproar of prices of basic commodities and services and may be with the little attention the health care sector gets from the government, its no wonder why our fellow colleagues chose to apply or work in the booming industry of call-centers or contact centers where they offer good compensation, benefits and opportunities or some of our colleagues, out of need, apply for any foreseeable jobs around (yeah, I am guilty, I’m considering applying to the Senate Electoral Tribunal as an Legislative Assistant). It really pains me to see and hear colleagues paying for their trainings in some hospitals for months with no assurance that they will be hired/absorbed by the hospital. For some that’s the only alternative for them to get their clinical experience, but how about those who really can’t? What can we do? We need to earn a living for ourselves and for our family!

I look at my license now as I near my final salutation. I marvel at it and look back how lucky I am that I have this license, how blessed I am that amongst the thousands who took the licensure exam, I was one of those who, with God’s blessing and will, made it and given that opportunity to have and as I look at the present, with the realities of the real world where I am living now and the blurred and uncertain future, it made me kind of introspect and ask myself again, Is this what I really wanted? Is being a Nurse my calling? Is this really the path that I should take?

What about you my dear colleagues? What do you think?

Albert Tesoro Silang Jr., RN

 

October 17th, 2008 by betty_bsn709 Name: Albert Tesoro Silang Jr., RN Institute: Nursing Course: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Associate in Health Science Education Batch: Class 2007 AHSE Class 2005