Nurses are there for us, from the day we’re born, until the day we die. They are the everyday heroes in our hospitals. They sacrifice a lot to care for strangers, but in some cases, they’re not paid enough so they can adequately provide for their own families. And yet, for a lot of nurses, the prospect of earning big bucks was the reason they entered the field in the first place.
But that was then. Four years ago saw the downturn in the international demand for nurses, and therefore, the decline in the enrollment of Filipinos into local nursing programs. This resulted in a lot of nursing schools closing down in the country’s provinces, and the course being discontinued in some colleges in Metro Manila.
Still, we do have a number of registered nurses in the Philippines – close to half a million, in fact. And also a shortage of nurses in the rural areas. Plus, there’s the wage problem. Generally, our nurses get better compensation in public hospitals. But a lot of nurses actually have to pay just to get some hospital experience.
These are just some of the issues the nursing community is facing today. And the Philippine Nurses Association, Inc. (PNA) is one of the organizations trying to provide long-term solutions to the problem. One proposal is a model for an independent nursing practice, or INP, so that our nurses can have more lucrative alternatives in their chosen profession.
What is the PNA?
Founded on September 2, 1922 as Filipino Nurses Association (FNA) in a meeting of 150 nurses presided by then Anastacia Giron Tupas (Mrs. Tupas), the FNA was incorporated in 1924. The International Council of Nurses accepted the FNA as one of the member organizations during the Congress held in Montreal, Canada on July 8-13, 1929. The FNA became the PNA (Philippine Nurses Association) in 1966, which was the same year that the office at 1663 F.T. Benitez Street, Malate, Manila was inaugurated.
The PNA was awarded the Most Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization by the Professional Regulation Commission in 2003 besting 40 other professional associations and was five-time nominee for the same award.
[Source: www.pna-ph.org/about_history.asp]
Of the approximately twenty nurses’ associations in the country, the Philippine Nurses Association, Inc. is the only accredited professional organization for nurses in the Philippines. Registration of licensed nurses to the PNA is highly encouraged, but not compulsory.
This year, the Philippine Nurses Association, Inc. marks its 92nd Foundation Anniversary and the 57th Nurses Week Celebration.
Annual Convention
The 2014 National Annual Convention will be held at the Manila Hotel from 21-23 October 2014. “Filipino Nurses Contributing to Global Health Care Outcomes” is this year’s theme, which is based on the International Council of Nurses 2015 Conference tagline “Global Citizen, Global Nursing”.
Free pre- and post-convention seminars will also be conducted at the PNA Anastacia Giron Tupas Auditorium at 1642 GP San Marcelino St., Malate, Manila. These free seminars require early registration due to the limited number of slots available:
20 October – Inter-faith Nursing Practices
24 October – Yoga Laughter
A note to the nurses looking to further their education: All the seminars offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission – CPD Council. A total of 20 CPD units can be earned in the year’s convention.
The keynote speakers are Mar Roxas, the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (21 Oct) and Senators Cynthia A. Villar and Antonio F. Trillanes IV (21 and 23 Oct, respectively).
Registration for the three days of the convention will cost Php 5,500 from August 16-October 15 and Php 6,000 from October 16-21. The daily registration fee is Php 2,500 if you’re not up for the whole nine yards.
For more information on the convention’s objectives and program of activities, as well as payment methods for the registration fees, please click the following:
Since the conventions are held out of Manila every other year, expect to be packing your bags for next year’s event. These out-of-town conventions are apparently more popular with the members than the ones held in Manila, so start saving up!
In the meantime, here are PNA’s contact details:
email: philippinenursesassociation@yahoo.com.ph
website: www.pna-ph.org
facebook: www.facebook.com/pna.manila, www.facebook.com/pna.org
