A New Ph.D in Nursing Program from St. Paul University

St. Paul University - Manila is now the 4th higher educational institution in the ocuntry that is offering a doctorate in nursing. The other schools are UP College of Nursing, Silliman University and St. Paul University - Tuguegarao.

What is so special in SPU Manila's program is its emphasis on nursing education. Its prolific faculty members include Dr. Annabelle Borromeo (PhD Nursing from Texas Women's University), Dr. Letty Kuan, Dr. Roberto Borromeo, among others.

Another special treat is its flexibility to deliver the program anywhere in the country if there are 15 enrolled participants as well as its distance learning mode. Instead of planning to enroll in Cebu, one can have it one closest location. It can also admit MN degree holders (meaning those without a master's thesis) to this program.

So this is, in fact, a good choice for now.

Interested parties may get in touch with Dr. Aldrin Darilag, SPU Manila Graduate School Director by visiting its website http://www.spumanila.edu.ph/

Call for Faculty Thoughts on the Nursing Problems and Challenges

Beta Nu Delta Nursing Society is working on a response to nursing problems and challenges in the Philippines and would like to interview faculty who are currently addressing these topics in their courses. We'd like to hear your thoughts on how nursing education can address these current events and help to guard against a recurrence of similar problems.

To share your point of view, please contact FJ Babate at secretariat@mail.betanudelta.com

Core Competencies of Filipino Nurses

The role our nurses play in the success of one's treatment, and in the entire healing process, can never be underestimated.

With my recent appointment as a board director of RO Diagan Cooperative Hospital, I took the initiative to improve the nursing service. We we recognize that the main part of the responsibility to create and maintain a safe and healing environment for patients falls on the nursing service personnel. Thus, we endeavor to improve them to be clinically proficient.

Using the core competencies of Filipino nurses that embed the 12 areas of competence, we gradually put these competencies in place:

Safe and quality nursing
Management of environment and resources
Health and education
Legal responsibility
Ethico-moral responsibility
Personal and professional development
Quality improvement
Research
Records management
Communication
Collaboration and teamwork
customer service

Our nursing services strategy is meant to develop these 12 core competencies. These competencies also serve as the:

practical tool for evaluation performance of nurses
basis for advanced practice and specialization
means to protect the public from incompetent practitioners
yardstick for unethical and unprofessional practice

The Metro Pacific Group's Entry to the Health Care Industry

Now that Metro Pacific Investments Corporation of Manny V. Pangilinan had jumped into the healthcare industry through a Share Purchase Agreements with several shareholders of Davao Doctors Hospital (Clinica Hilario) Inc. (“DDH”) representing approximately 34% of the issued share capital of the corporation, industry observers welcomed this new entrant with hope and enthusiasm.

Just recently, the same Pangilinan group has taken over Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

Personally, this is good for the nursing profession in general. We will soon see a big improvement in corporate hospital practices within the chain of MPIC hospitals which according to my grapevine would go for 5000 bed capacity hospital network.

Things like JCAHO and Magnet would soon be the things to be expected from these hospitals. So this would be to the advantage of the nurses. Positive environments will become the norm.

Watch out for MPIC string of acquisitions of hospitals in Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Lipa, among others.

Philippine's Top Hospitals Should Strive to Have A Magnet Designation

Why did a number of big US hospitals need Magnet recognition?

The answer is clear: These hospitals recognize that positive patient outcomes are a result of team effort, and Magnet is a way to recognize and maintain those efforts. Magnet honors the strong nursing and interdisciplinary team practice and each individual’s commitment to quality patient care.

What is Magnet?

The Magnet Recognition Program is administered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. It was established in 1990 and provides a method of recognizing hospitals that create and maintain a professional practice environment that ensures quality patient outcomes.

Magnet is the highest national or international recognition for excellence in the delivery of nursing services that are provided in a professional practice environment, promote quality and evidence-based practice, and result in positive patient outcomes.

Characteristics of Magnet Hospitals

Research has identified the following characteristics that are present in Magnet organizations:

Nursing

Flatter organizational structure
Higher nurse-to-patient ratios
Collaborative relationships with physicians
Broad-based participation in decision-making related to clinical care
Limited use of agency personnel
Nursing research which enhances clinical practice
Flexible patient care delivery systems
Higher percentage of B.S.N.-prepared nurses
Influential nurse executives
Investments in education and expertise of nurses
Decreased turnover rates for registered nurses
Nurses perceive that they have adequate support services

Patient Outcomes

Shorter patient length of stay
Lower utilization of ICU days
Lower mortality rates for Medicare patients
Increased patient satisfaction


14 Forces of Magnetism

Quality of Nursing Leadership: Knowledgeable, strong nurse leaders willing to take risks, a strong sense of advocacy and support on behalf of nursing.
Organizational Structure: Nursing departments are decentralized, with unit-based decision-making and strong nurse representation in committees throughout the organization. The nursing leader serves at the executive level of the organization.
Management Style: Managers involve staff at all levels of the organization. The nurse leaders communicate with staff. Feedback is encouraged and valued.
Personnel Policies and Programs: Salaries and benefits are competitive. Creative and flexible staffing, with staff involvement. Opportunities for promotion, both in clinical and administrative areas.
Professional Models of Care: Nurses have responsibility, accountability and authority in the provision of patient care. Nurses are accountable for their own practice and are coordinators of patient care.
Quality of Care: Nurses believe that they are giving high-quality care to their patients and that their organization sees high-quality care as a priority.
Quality Improvement: Staff nurses participate in the quality improvement process—see it as educational—and believe that it helps improve patient care within the organization.
Consultation and Resources: Knowledgeable experts, particularly advanced practice nurses, are available and utilized. Peer support is available and utilized.
Autonomy: Nurses are allowed and expected to work autonomously, consistent with professional standards, as members of the multidisciplinary team.
Community and Hospital: Hospitals maintain a strong community presence that includes a variety of long-term outreach programs.
Nurses as Teachers: Nurses are permitted and expected to incorporate teaching in all aspects of practice. Nurses feel teaching gives a great deal of professional satisfaction.
Image of Nursing: Nurses are seen as essential to the hospital’s delivery of patient care by nursing and other members of the health care team.
Interdisciplinary Relationships: Nurses, physicians, pharmacists, therapists and other members of the health care disciplines treat each other with mutual respect and have positive relationships.
Professional Development: Organizations emphasize orientation, inservice education, continuing education, formal education and career development. Personal and professional growth and development are values.

Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP) Program in Asia

The University of Makati (UMAK) is contemplating of offering the Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP) Program. This will surely be Asia's first if it will be offered on 2010.

However, let us take a look at the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP or DrNP as the title is affixed). This is an advanced-level practice degree that focuses on the clinical aspects of nursing rather than academic research.

The curriculum for the DNP degree generally includes advanced practice, leadership, and application of clinical research related to nursing. This DNP is intended primarily to prepare registered nurses (RN) to become advance practice nurses. Advanced practice roles in nursing include the nurse practitioner (NP), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse midwife (CNM), or clinical nurse specialist (CNS).

If you notice, many other professions require entry-level professional doctorates for practice. These include the Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).

According the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), transitioning advance nursing practice programs from the graduate level to the doctoral level is a "...response to changes in health care delivery and emerging health care needs, additional knowledge or content areas have been identified by practicing nurses. Thus, the DNP is a good choice for UMAK.

With a dynamic leadership at UMAK under Dr. Evelyn Ciabal and her team of young educators, UMAK will certainly etch a name in the nursing arena not just in the Philippines but in Asia as well.

A Nurse's Position on Random Drug Testing at DEPED Schools

This month saw DEPED Secretary Jesli Lapus announcing that the random drug testing of high-school students will start between February and March this year.

At the same time, Lapus branded as unfounded fears that students tested for drug use would be the subject of ridicule, as well as the possibility that the process may lead to corrupt practices.

“Our intention is not to humiliate the students. We are very strict about confidentiality,” Lapus said.

Thanks goodness that confidentiality is assured however, there is more to this issue.

Of course, some issues of particular concern to the nurses and nursing profession considering implementing suspicionless and/or random drug testing are:

1. Who determines the need for testing?
2. How will chain of custody be enforced to allow for use in any legal actions that may arise?
   
3. Who does the testing?
4. How and where will the specimen be obtained and made available for testing? (Will the DEPED school nurse be involved?)
5. Who will provide training for staff performing the testing to assure that all legal requirements have been met? (What will be the role of the DEPED school nurse?)
6. Who obtains parental permission to release the results of the testing to the DEPED school district?
7. Where will permission be filed? (Will it be in the health file?)
8. Where will testing results be filed and who may see the results of the screening? (Will these be in the health file or in another location in or out of the building?)
9. What services will the school system provide or not provide in the event of a positive test?
10. What does drug testing tell or not tell about a student’s drug use?
11. What do national laws say about issues surrounding drug testing of minors?
12. What services should be in place for communities to deal effectively with students who test positive for drugs?

This is a complex issue going beyond simply performing suspicionless routine and random drug testing in schools.

May this article offers a widened understanding to the issue on random drug testing.

Prof. Faustino Jerome Babate

President

Beta Nu Delta Nursing Society Inc.

Email fjbabate@mail.betanudelta.com

Mobile 639265856435

More Nursing Related Events for 2009

Last year 2008 had some remarkable events for the nurses in the Philippines.

In early January 2008, the PNA-ADPCN-UPCN mounted an international nursing conference at Manila Hotel.

In September, UPCN and University of Hawaii at Manoa had a joint project called the 1st Asia Pacific Conference on Nursing Research.

The following month saw Mindanao hosting its 1st BIMP International Nursing Conference in Davao.

Finally last November, the 1st National Nursing Research Conference was held in General Santos City.

For 2009, ADPCN will have its 50th year celebration and Dr. Divinagracia promises it as a big celeb this October.

Hopefully, the Philippine Nursing Research Society Inc. will have a side-by-side international/national conference on nursing research on November in Cagayan de Oro City.

Of course, the PNA will have its national convention at the famed Boracay Island which will be hosted by PNA Region VI. The venue is a major attraction and nurses would absolutely put this event in their schedule.

Nursing Research and Some Issues

Nursing research in the Philippines is growing very slow.

While there are now 49 schools offering graduate (MAN, MSN, MN) and post-graduate (Ph.D and DNS) degrees in the country. The ability of this sector to sustain its little gains remains doubtful.

I am saying this remark because there is no such opportunities available in the country in the last ten years (between 1998 and 2007) in terms of nursing research conference, nursing research publications and nursing research society.

The natural inclination of our nurse researchers after obtaining their graduate or post graduate degrees has been to stand still and wait for opportunities to come.

I thought that our nursing education (and consequently, our nursing research) is the best in this part of the globe. However, the reality is simply opposite. Our research capability is already been lagging behind our neighbors such as Taiwan, Hongkong, Korea, Japan and even, Thailand. Evidence: browse the international peer-reviewed nursing journals.

Our latest international nursing conferences in the Philippines were dominated by Filipinos as plenary speakers, oral and poster presentors. So, practically we have not seen the best of the outside because each one of us is flaunting his or her work. In other words, outperforming one another at the expense of another Filipino nurse. Sad reality.

I have been a nurse for 15 years and had never attended a PNA National Convention because of negative statements and experiences shared by colleagues that such event was fraught with verbal tussles and overriding insults. I was told that this incident still happened during the last national convention. Instead of providing avenues to present "simple" research works, either orally and poster, the PNA bigwigs have kept on hurling invectives. This is really bad.

When will this scenario stops...

Nursing Education in the Philippines

I was surprised to learn from Dr. Carmelita Divinagracia that the country has 674 schools offering BSN programs, 49 for masteral level (MAN, MSN, MN) and 3 for doctorate (University of the Philippines College of Nursing, St. Paul University Tuguegarao and Silliman University).

Indeed, this is pretty amazing statistics.

I am tempted to calculate that this industry now has a population of close to half a million nursing students; about 9,000 clinical instructors; more than 65,000 graduates per year.

In fact, I was also told that these figures may even go up if not for the intervention of ADPCN since locally-owned universities and colleges are planning to set up nursing schools.

Imagine the trend if this scenario will continue.

Will it be safe to say that our country is still producing globally competitive nurses judging from the past three NLEX results where even the prominent nursing schools have been performing poorly?

What kind of nursing education does our student get when the so-called clinical instructors have no sound background on clinical practice?

What are we to think of the open-admission policy of many nursing schools? Are they attracting the lousy individuals for the BSN programme?

What about the masteral programme now proliferating in various provinces offering non-thesis option? Is the MN title already enough to justify a professional competency?

Now that the US is temporarily closing its doors to Filipino nurses, where are our nurses going?

Positive Outcomes for 2009 in the Nursing Profession

If there are negative things to be expected in 2009 for the nursing profession, there are also positive things to look forward to.

I would like to view these positive things as opportunities for the nurses.

First on the list is the burgeoning nurse population needing continuing professional education (CPE) - While it is not a requirement imposed by the Board of Nursing, a nurse is responsible to update himself or herself with the new trends in the profession. Presently, there are a lot of industry players whose services are catered only to licensure reviews, NCLEX exams, CGFNS. So whoever will offer the best CPE services in nursing management and administration, infection control, maternal-child, are surely a big hit.

Those with MAN degrees can organize themselves into a for-profit organization and start offering their services to hospitals, and schools. They can, in fact, contract these traditional services.

Schools offering MAN and Ph.D programs in nursing may consider going to different places. Bring their products to where the population really needs it. For instance, Mindanao has no doctorate in nursing program, maybe an enterprising university will consider having a base in Davao City.

Nurses with no jobs may in fact explore possibilities of opening community-based spa and wellness centers. Areas such as Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and Batangas are potential areas for this kind of business.

Some nurses who have a knack for writing may join the blogging world. I know of a few nurses who made monies from this venture.

I strongly believe that there really a lot of opportunities around.

Top 5 Likely Scenarios for Philippine Nursing in 2009

As the year 2008 literally ends in less than 10 days, expect several individuals from feng shui experts to shaman to futurists to just anybody who has the penchant to see the future will rattle off possible scenarios in the coming year. Most of them would just be safe to predict positive outlook.

My nursing colleagues from Manila just texted me about the likely scenarios that would happen in 2009. Knowing that I got special information from the best nursing people in the country, thus they asked something from me. Well, modesty aside, some of my affirmation before particularly in Philippine nursing did happen. Like, 8 out of 10 possibilities.

So what are in store for in the Philippine nursing profession.

1. Pay offs in the tenured teaching posts

Some prominent nursing schools have tenured positions for nurses are now grappling with the situation of separation and severance obligations. They have been hired and offered permanent jobs at the height of the nursing fever in the early 2000s.

2. More RNs are getting jobs in non-nursing but health-related jobs

Adding the bad case of almost 120,000 jobless RNs, the easiest jobs for them are working for spas, wellness centers, stand alone medical units across the country. A number of them would even go to hospitality industry like hotels, restaurants, among others.

3. Sharp reduction in the BSN enrollment

A number of practically-minded parents are now realizing that a nursing job is not a guarantee for fortune and may decide to have their children enroll in non-nursing course. I am seeing an across the industry reduction of 22% or more.

4. New employment opportunities abroad

Not in the United States or United Kingdom but in some Middle East countries are looking for Filipino nurses. Potential areas are Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Ten thousand nursing personnel are likely to be hired.

5. Some deans will be axed

As some school owners now find the extravagant pay for deans at Php 50,000 or more per month so impractical, I expect that they will go for a reorganization and fire the deans at will.

Sigma Theta Tau in the Philippines

This year 2008, the prestigious nursing organization in the world is making headway in the Philippines. Thanks in part to the collective efforts of Lourdes Salandanan, Dr. Rusty Francisco, Dr. Caster Palaganas and Prof. FJ Babate.

I remember it took us four years to get ourselves organized and we waited for Lourdes to become a president-elect of the Iota Sigma chapter (Azusa Pacific University).

So it was in the middle of this year when Lourdes finally arranged a meeting with some of the nursing leaders of the country and introduced the Society. There was an overwhelming interest from these leaders.

Also in October of this year, through the combined efforts of Dr. Palaganas and Prof. Babate, the hosting of 1st National Nursing Research Conference came into fruition. Of course, this was made possible by a modest financial grant from Iota Sigma chapter.

Hopefully, with the Sigma Theta Tau International giving the go signal to proceed with the establishment of a Philippine chapter, we can rightfully say that we are now part of the growing international nursing community called the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Christmas Greetings from Nursing Leaders

The year 2008 is a grace filled year with new friends and colleagues that have been established from the nursing profession. I count on them as real persons. May God bless their professional efforts.

I abridged a number of their messages:

One of the many blessings for the year 2008 is the chance to meet you both along with the nice people from GenSan. Thanks for the great opportunity in knowing you more during the conference and may the true spirit of this holiday season be with you all. God bless and keep the spirit high in underpinning the true advocacy for Filipino nurses.

Dr. Rusty Francisco
CEO, NCCLEX

This is when we reflect on the gift of life that God has given us and how we should live thatgift here on earth so that we will bring HIM joy. This Christams I wish that all my friends will love their wives andchildren for they are th pillars we can cling to in moments of joy and pain.

Prof. Deogracia Valderrama, RN, MAN, MHA

Dean, School of Health Sciences, Mapua Institute of Technology