Nursing Brain Drain: Inquirer

The Philippines educates and trains nurses for work overseas, but the number available for workplaces at home is sinking. Fewer people enter nursing or pass the board exams. Turnover rates are high with dissatisfaction over wages. “Between 2012 and 2017, 92,277 nurses left to work overseas,” explains Michael Tan for the Inquirer. “That’s more than the total number of nurses who passed the board exams from 2015 to 2018.” Low wages are behind the exodus of nurses, with Tan pointing out how a shortage in Filipino nurses forces those working to handle more patients, compounding stress. Diploma mills exacerbate the problems. A decline in work conditions as well as separation from children and growing hostility about immigrants in destination countries discourage students from entering the field. Tan concludes by urging communities, hospitals, co-workers, patients and families to show more gratitude to nurses. The loss of young trained professionals challenges the economy. – YaleGlobal