From the UST Nurses to the World
AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL WHO CARE FOR THE NURSING PROFESSION IN THE PHILIPPINES
WE, the administrators, faculty members, alumni and students of the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing, express our grave concern over the leakage in the recent Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination and the subsequent haste of the Professional Regulations Commission in releasing the results without consulting parties concerned.
This action raises more doubts not only on the integrity of our Licensure Examination but also on the quality of our country's nursing graduates. More specifically, this action tarnishes the image of all the nursing graduates who took the Licensure Examination this year.
We are fully aware that the Professional Regulations Commission, in its resolution dated July 12, invalidated the twenty-five questions in Test III (Medical Surgical Nursing) as well as all questions in Test V (Psychiatric Nursing). The said tests measure the knowledge and competence of nursing graduates in two key subject-areas of the nursing curriculum: Medical Surgical Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing. These subjects are major areas of competencies of the profession!
Consequently, the said action of the Commission appears to ignore Section 14 of Article VI of Republic Act 9173 quoted herewith:
Scope of Examination: "The scope of examination for the practice of nursing in the Philippines shall be determined by the Board. The Board shall take into consideration the objectives of the nursing curriculum, the broad areas of nursing, and other related disciplines and competencies in determining the subjects of examination"
Since their competencies in the aforementioned areas were not considered, examinees who have "passed" the June 2006 Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination have not necessarily proven their ability to provide safe and quality care to their future patients. Their competence is under a cloud of doubt. The Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled in DECS vs. San Diego, and echoed in a number of subsequent decisions that it is the duty of the State "to insure that the medical profession is not infiltrated by incompetents to whom patients may unwarily entrust their lives and health." Will the government allow the risking of patients' life and limb under the care of nurses with doubtful competence?
In addition, we have received information from our graduates that despite the pronouncement of the Professional Regulations Commission that Test V was invalidated, they were given a score in the said test. This action is a direct violation of Section 15, Article 2 of RA 9173:
Ratings. - In order to pass the examination, an examinee must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) with a rating of not below sixty percent (60%) in any subject. An examinee who obtains an average rating of seventy-five (75%) or higher but gets a rating below sixty percent (60%) in any subject, must take the examination again but only in the subject or subjects where he/she is rated below sixty percent (60%). In order to pass the succeeding examination, an examinee must obtain a rating of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in the subject or subjects repeated.
Moreover, in Test III, there is no absolute certainty whether only 25 questions were indeed leaked out. How did the investigating body come to the conclusion that these were the only items leaked out? Hence, to free it from allegation of arbitrariness it is incumbent on the Professional Regulations Commission to explain to the public the basis of computation of grades of the examinees. Certainly, Truth and Justice demand that a more credible and reasonable explanation be given to all concerned sectors.
In view of the above observations, we CALL ON THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATIONS COMMISSION TO SUSPEND THE SCHEDULED OATH TAKING WHILE THE RESULTS OF A FULL-SCALE AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION ARE STILL PENDING.
WE CALL ON THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATIONS COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF NURSING TO IMMEDIATELY RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED ABOVE.
We assure concerned parents and candidates for licensure that we do not wish to prolong your inconvenience and anxiety. We are all victims of a decision of the Professional Regulations Commission that clouds, rather than sheds light, on this disgraceful incident that happened in the recent June 2006 board examination. Rather, we seek to welcome you as new nurses in the profession in a process that is free from mockery and suspicion.
SUSAN N. MARAVILLA THELMA ABELARDO
Assistant Dean Treasurer, UST Nursing Alumni Association
RENE M. TADLE ALFREDO PAYAWAN
President, Faculty Association of the PRO, Nursing Student Council
College of Nursing, UST
WE ARE FOR CLEAR AND HONEST LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS!
WE, the administrators, faculty members, alumni and students of the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing, express our grave concern over the leakage in the recent Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination and the subsequent haste of the Professional Regulations Commission in releasing the results without consulting parties concerned.
This action raises more doubts not only on the integrity of our Licensure Examination but also on the quality of our country's nursing graduates. More specifically, this action tarnishes the image of all the nursing graduates who took the Licensure Examination this year.
We are fully aware that the Professional Regulations Commission, in its resolution dated July 12, invalidated the twenty-five questions in Test III (Medical Surgical Nursing) as well as all questions in Test V (Psychiatric Nursing). The said tests measure the knowledge and competence of nursing graduates in two key subject-areas of the nursing curriculum: Medical Surgical Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing. These subjects are major areas of competencies of the profession!
Consequently, the said action of the Commission appears to ignore Section 14 of Article VI of Republic Act 9173 quoted herewith:
Scope of Examination: "The scope of examination for the practice of nursing in the Philippines shall be determined by the Board. The Board shall take into consideration the objectives of the nursing curriculum, the broad areas of nursing, and other related disciplines and competencies in determining the subjects of examination"
Since their competencies in the aforementioned areas were not considered, examinees who have "passed" the June 2006 Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination have not necessarily proven their ability to provide safe and quality care to their future patients. Their competence is under a cloud of doubt. The Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled in DECS vs. San Diego, and echoed in a number of subsequent decisions that it is the duty of the State "to insure that the medical profession is not infiltrated by incompetents to whom patients may unwarily entrust their lives and health." Will the government allow the risking of patients' life and limb under the care of nurses with doubtful competence?
In addition, we have received information from our graduates that despite the pronouncement of the Professional Regulations Commission that Test V was invalidated, they were given a score in the said test. This action is a direct violation of Section 15, Article 2 of RA 9173:
Ratings. - In order to pass the examination, an examinee must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) with a rating of not below sixty percent (60%) in any subject. An examinee who obtains an average rating of seventy-five (75%) or higher but gets a rating below sixty percent (60%) in any subject, must take the examination again but only in the subject or subjects where he/she is rated below sixty percent (60%). In order to pass the succeeding examination, an examinee must obtain a rating of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in the subject or subjects repeated.
Moreover, in Test III, there is no absolute certainty whether only 25 questions were indeed leaked out. How did the investigating body come to the conclusion that these were the only items leaked out? Hence, to free it from allegation of arbitrariness it is incumbent on the Professional Regulations Commission to explain to the public the basis of computation of grades of the examinees. Certainly, Truth and Justice demand that a more credible and reasonable explanation be given to all concerned sectors.
In view of the above observations, we CALL ON THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATIONS COMMISSION TO SUSPEND THE SCHEDULED OATH TAKING WHILE THE RESULTS OF A FULL-SCALE AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION ARE STILL PENDING.
WE CALL ON THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATIONS COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF NURSING TO IMMEDIATELY RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED ABOVE.
We assure concerned parents and candidates for licensure that we do not wish to prolong your inconvenience and anxiety. We are all victims of a decision of the Professional Regulations Commission that clouds, rather than sheds light, on this disgraceful incident that happened in the recent June 2006 board examination. Rather, we seek to welcome you as new nurses in the profession in a process that is free from mockery and suspicion.
SUSAN N. MARAVILLA THELMA ABELARDO
Assistant Dean Treasurer, UST Nursing Alumni Association
RENE M. TADLE ALFREDO PAYAWAN
President, Faculty Association of the PRO, Nursing Student Council
College of Nursing, UST
WE ARE FOR CLEAR AND HONEST LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS!