DOLE opens online app for rural nurses

Instead of paying private hospitals just to gain work experience, the government has urged new nursing graduates to participate in a community employment program by applying in an online facility. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz announced this week that unemployed registered nurses can now practice their profession and gain necessary experience under the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service (RN HEALS) project. “On January 17, 2011, the DOLE started the online registration of unemployed nurses who are in interested to undergo training under the RN HEALS project, which aims to deploy unemployed nurses to poor communities in the country," she said, adding that the registration would run until February 4, 2011. RN HEALS is a DOLE collaborative project with the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD), Philippine Regulations Commission-Board of Nursing, and the Philippine Nursing Association (PNA). The labor chief explained that RN HEALS aims to make essential health services available to all Filipinos by training and deploying 10,000 unemployed nurses in rural poor communities this year. “The program partners will identify the communities that will be the recipient of the project’s services in cooperation with the local government units (LGUs)," said Baldoz. She added that RN HEALS is expected to deal with the shortage of skilled and experienced nurses in 1,221 rural and unserved or underserved communities for one year, while also addressing the oversupply of nurses in Metro Manila and other urban areas. Registered nurses who are physically and mentally fit, and willing to serve in their municipalities can apply online through http://www.nars.dole.gov.ph/ until February 4, 2011. The list of successful applicants with their area of assignments will also be posted online at the DOLE website from February 7-10, 2011. These applicants will undergo an orientation on February 11-12 in their provincial centers of assignment by the regional DOH, DSWD, Professional Regulation Commission-Board of Nursing and the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) prior to deployment. Successful applicants will also undertake learning and development required in their field, and in accordance with the roles and functions required by the project. A certificate of competency and employment will be given by the DOH, DSWD, and the PRC to those who have satisfactorily completed their requirements. While on deployment, the nurses will be given an allowance of P8,000 a month by the DOH while the local government unit (LGU) where they are assigned shall supervise them, ensure their safety and security, and provide modest board and lodging. Likewise, LGUs are encouraged to provide additional allowances and benefits worth at least P2,000 for these nurses. PhilHealth and the Government Service Insurance System will provide group insurance to the nurses while private corporations are encouraged to contribute available resources for the nurses’ well-being. - Newsbytes.ph