A shoutout to the Philippine government (for the past,the present and hopefully not for the future) from a Ph nurse
Reap the karma now. You're still turning a blind eye when you know the solution that is sitting right in front of you. When we were crying out for help and trying to voice out our concerns, what did we get? A sarcastic remark that it is a simple lesson in economics - surplus versus demand. Filipino nurses were abused for a very long time, exploited to the point that we were paying exuberant training fees amounting to 10,000 pesos (public hospitals also do this, surprise!). Even a meager increase in the salary was vetoed because you said that the hospitals association (hello De Grano I remember you participating) cannot afford to do so and it will be unfair for the other healthcare professionals. Backer system is the key if you want to have a regular position (well it may still apply today with public hospitals if you want a plantilla position and not a job order). Contractualization was rampant and the government was the top ranking employer that does this. Remember RN HEALS? Nurses in the province are taking a home pay that only amounts to 5000 per month and deductions are not included here. So a huge number of us resorted to the BPOs and other industries in order to survived. We were paid lower than the minimum wage earner. Even household help and cleaners had better pay than us. We were demoralized to the extreme. Imagine yourself putting all that 4 years of hard studying and toiling plus the review for the board examination just so in the end to get paid 5000 pesos. Tuition fees of nursing schools are the highest in the undergraduate program even in state universities. Peoples' lives and licenses were on the line, we were held accountable and yet we were gaslighted that we should be thankful to get this type of treatment. The highest expectations and high standard requirements but shitty compensation. Some insensitive people might say that we shouldn't rant because it is what we promised to do. The Nightingale Pledge. For the service of the people. What does that mean anymore when we were demoralized to a pulp? Because of your insensitivity people, that sense of compassion and drive to be of service slowly faded away. I realized that you know what, I'm done playing a martyr. Maybe it's time to take care of myself first. Try to immerse yourself to what horrendous situation nurses are subjected to and let me know what you think.
I thought that it was unjust that people had the notion that we you become a nurse, you just like to make money and work abroad. I was once someone who didn't really had the intention to work elsewhere than here. Call it to being too idealistic and someone who wants to pay it forward, I thought I could survive it here as others do. But as time went on and reality struck painfully, it pierce every inch of that soul to serve and the meaning of service slowly became slavery of servitude.
And then the pandemic happened. Everybody was scared. For it took the lives of even young healthy individuals. Nobody wants to front the lines now. Units in the hospitals closed because of shortage of nurses. Now surprisingly, there were increase in the salary and benefits like birthday cakes, signing bonus and such to entice us. Review centers are even sponsored now. Should we be thankful? No. Because we know our worth and that in the first place we deserve better compensation and better working conditions. I'm proud of the new generation of nurses that know already that these things are mandatory and not an option. And this time, fuck that nationalistic theme your spewing about (I'm talking about those dramatic legislators with all talk but no action) when in reality you're treating us like shit.
There is no shortage of nurses. Only that nurses don't want to subject themselves to the harsh conditions in the hospital. Unpaid overtime which could last for more than 2 hours or more, bullying, unsafe nurse to patient ratios, the verbal abuse and disrespect that we get from some patients and companions who may have taught they already bought our soul just because they are paying a premium amount in the hospital. Training requirements like a basic life support that costs 2,500 pesos and Intravenous training for 2,500 pesos, ACLS that is around 10k or more should be attended first before you are employed.
Nurses take care of people but who takes care of these health care workers? Do not force us to serve when the government is not the ones paying for all the expenses in the nursing school. Give up your salary instead and take away the money in politics. Will there still be remaining that are willing to do public service?
The Philippines is a circus. And I can't wait to leave it.
-Coming from a decade long practicing PHNurse
