I am also a Registered Nurse like you like every person who recently passed the Nursing Licensure Examinations. And I might just know what you are thinking now, “Yeah. A bunch more of competitors in the world of employment and survival.” Too bad, that is the painful reality. Nursing Profession is like a virus, it is capable of growing and multiplying in large numbers, unknowingly causing a nationwide disease of unemployment. Maybe the question “So what do we do now?” runs in your already stressed minds.
“So what do I do now?”
We all know that nursing pays big time overseas, no doubt about that. It will make you a lot richer but first, it will get you buried in debt. And take note, the work is not a walk in the park. People told me it’s backbreaking and very challenging. But they usually end their stories with, “It all pays off.”
Some college batch mates already took off and touched down in various foreign lands. I noticed that if you have a family or friends abroad makes it easier to fly out of the country. Oh well, I wish them good luck. I know one who tried her luck in Australia, she finished her nursing education and is already an Australian Registered Nurse. She has not found a nursing job yet that’s why she took additional subjects to extend her stay there. There is one thing she told me which I guess will help me and you. She urged me to brace myself with a lot of hospital experiences, and volunteer to medical causes because in Australia, you will still be competing with fellow Filipino Nurses and some Internationals.
Others found their paths in hospitals and doing humble service for the people. Some get paid, some do it for free. With nothing else to do, I know some nurses who took time sitting in four walled rooms, completing their Master’s Degree or attentively listening to various seminars and demonstrations on Emergency Responders’ Training and eventually volunteering in different Emergency Response Teams.
We also have the one year program initiated by the Department of Health. It is called the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service. The primary work here is to make the delivery of health services accessible to the priority areas of your community. It is a rewarding job; it does not promise you jackpot salary, just “allowances”. Oh well. Better than nothing. 🙂
My hometown is a historical landmark for mining industries in the Philippines. Mining companies are surviving and still needing nurses for their corporations. I know some neighbors who fortunately landed jobs in these industries, it pays. :0
My utmost admiration and respect goes to them. Oh yeah. Those are nurses who became real nurses.
Some just don’t. They become more than nurses.
Recently, I met with my friends back in college.
One friend came and is holding a dashing red newly bound thesis book entitled Techno Writing, with the headers saying School of Information and Computing Sciences, and at the bottom, I found his name. He is now a 3rd year IT student.
Another friend took a U-turn; she has finally given up nursing. She is trying to get her life back after years of nursing education, she is now taking culinary lessons. I guess she can still be a good nurse and a better cook.
While three of my group mates never thought of leaving those wicked and challenging medical life. They are now 3rd year Medical Students. They will soon be a proof to the theory that nurses make good doctors.
Waiting for the results of the Board Exams is boring. One friend relieved himself of boredom by enrolling and finally achieving Education subjects. He told me he can teach Biology or Health subjects in the Secondary schools. Better to do something than nothing.
Another friend who being challenged with unemployment, tried joining the Bureau of Fire Protection and is currently on training. He said he could land a job as Fire fighter and simultaneously provide health care services to others.
Traversing the same path, a childhood friend is contemplating on daring to go to Philippine National Police. That would be really cool, a nurse who can kiss a**, and shoot like a pro.
And with the launching of the new course on Criminal Science, another nurse friend enrolled in Forensic Science. A Forensic Nurse, one who can work for the National Bureau of Investigation or SOCO in the future. Awesome!
You want more?
You know those friends or acquaintances who out of the blue invite you to have some coffee? Surprising, right? And even before taking your seat, they will ask if you want to become a millionaire without exerting that much effort. Very enticing. Some of those people are nurses who ventured into the world of business. They now tell you that they enjoy the privileges and benefits of networking undertakings and entrepreneurship living. They will narrate to you their rag to riches stories, how they found the light, and how they were able to buy that Ipad, laptop, all those stuffs. They will ask you to join them, and it’s all up to you. If you’re smart enough, you know what to do.
With today’s rising of the standards of living, one cannot say no to other jobs which may not be nursing related but still pays. They teach ESL (English as a Substitute Language) to Koreans or work as Call Center Agents in various companies.
We are given a lot of options; we just have to know what our heart’s desires are, choose and go for it.
But then, it’s not always the case that you will find what your choice is in a snap. There is a long and rough road that you have to navigate. Your choice can be opposed by other priorities in life. It will be tough.
“Long and rough road..” (PS:This is a picture from the Movie Book of Eli, watch it, good one.)
And like everybody else, other friends are still on that road. Confused and undecided, they are at home, contemplating on what to do next. It might be good if you don’t take too long in making your choice because time runs so fast that you might get lost track of time, and you will not feel it’s already one year wasted.
We are always puzzled of the choices life give to us. And hell yeah, we are the living testament to that. Weigh your strengths and weaknesses, and pray hard. Time will come that you have to make your choice and stand on that ground.
“Make your choice and stand your ground..”
Young, and Wild and Free... 