The number of Filipino nurses seeking topractice their profession in the United States plunged by one-third during thefirst half of 2010 compared to the same period last year.

Based on a mid-year report by the US’ NationalCouncil of State Boards of Nursing, only 5,533 Filipino nurses took theNational Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) as of June 2010, or more than 30percent lower from the 8,272 examinees during the same period last year.

The NCLEX is the licensure examination for nursesin the US, administered to registered nurses and licensed practical orvocational nurses. 

The Philippines, however, remains the top countrywhere most of the examinees come from this year, followed by India, SouthKorea, Canada and Puerto Rico. Last year, the Philippines was also the topcountry with over 15,000 examinees. 

“The number of Filipino nurses taking theNCLEX for the first time is a reliable indicator as to how many of them aretrying to enter the profession in the US,” said Trade Union Congress ofthe Philippines (TUCP) secretary general Ernesto Herrera in a statement. 

He said Manila-based labor recruitment agenciespreviously reported that more Filipino nurses are now leaving for the UnitedKingdom than for the US.

“Filipino nurses and other highly skilledprofessionals will go to foreign labor markets where it is easier for them toenter and work, and where they will get the best reward in terms of pay andother benefits,” Herrera said.

He however said more Filipino nurses are stillseeking employment in the US than elsewhere owing to a “strong culturalattachment” to the former colonizer. 

“The two biggest suppliers of foreign nursesin the UK are actually India and Australia, which is not surprising since bothare former British territories. After them, the Philippines is now Britain'sthird biggest supplier of foreign nurses,” Herrera said, citing statisticsfrom the UK's Nursing and Midwifery Council.

A total of 15,382 Filipino nurses took the NCLEXfor the first time in 2009, down 5,364 or 26 percent from 20,746 in 2008.

In 2007, a total of 21,499 Filipino nurses tookthe NCLEX, up 6,328 or 42 percent from 15,171 in 2006. 

The 2006 figures meanwhile were up 65 percent or5,990 compared to the 9,181 Filipino nurses who took the NCLEX in 2005.

All in all, some 82,000 Filipino nurses took theNCLEX for the first time over the last five years. – KBK, GMANews.TV

GMANews.tv