Nursing licensure exam result dismal–PNA Manila Times 2/24/09

“I am not happy with the board exams result. The mortality rate should not be that big,” said the Philippine Nursing Association (PNA) Inc. President Teresita Barcelo on Monday. Barcelo said the government has to implement measures to improve the quality of nursing education after expressing concern over the dismal result of the recent nursing licensure exam. Part of the reform is an enhanced curriculum that will ensure that nursing students get quality education in their chosen field, Barcelo added.

The steep decline in the number of those who passed the board exams this month was also observed with some concern by former PNA President Dr. Leah Primitiva Samaco-Paquiz. “During our time, the passing rate was about 80 percent,” Samaco-Paquis said, noting that the decline started way back in the 1970s when the Marcos administration “rationalized” the nursing curriculum and changed the five-year course offering to the current four years.