Nursing graduates from seven schools push for retake of exam

If braving another exam is what it takes to redeem their batch’s tainted image, then these nursing graduates are up to the challenge.

A group of nursing students from seven schools who passed the June 2006 licensure exam yesterday said they are ready to retake Tests 3 and 5, the portions affected by the alleged leakage.

"We believe it’s the only rightful solution to remove the doubt caused by the leakage. We are willing to retake Tests 3 and 5. We already want to move forward and plan our future," Patricia Ann Bata, 21, a nursing graduate of University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM), said during a press briefing held at the University of the Philippines-Manila in Ermita.

An estimated 30 passers from the University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University and University of Sto. Tomas — all based in Metro Manila — were present during the briefing. Passers from St. Louis University in Baguio City, St. Paul University in Iloilo and Siliman University in Dumaguete City called in to express their support.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation asked Malacañang yesterday for a four-day extension in submitting its recommendations on the nursing exam controversy. The NBI’s original deadline was yesterday.

Regional director Elfren Meneses Jr. of the NBI’s anti-fraud and computer crimes division said the request came about after "new witnesses came forward and are willing to testify."

Meneses said they are now verifying reports that the alleged test leakage was not limited to the National Capital Region and Baguio City, but reached as far as the Visayas and Mindanao — particularly Tacloban and Davao cities.

"I have instructed our regional offices to get their statements," he said, referring to the new witnesses who, he said, surfaced as the NBI was winding down its investigation.

After the NBI missed yesterday’s deadline, Malacañang pressed the agency to speed up its probe to aid concerned authorities in its decision whether to order a retake or not.

"Ang Palasyo ay may nabanggit na deadline at inaasahan natin na ‘yung lahat ng mga dapat gawin ay matutupad sa takdang panahon (The Palace has given a deadline and we expect that all they have to do will be done within the time frame given)," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

And as there is no NBI report on the alleged exam leakage, Bunye could not say whether the meeting today primarily to tackle the controversy would push through.

The pro-retake group said they are willing to retake the two controversial tests just to erase doubts on their integrity and competence as nurses.

Bata noted that she is even willing to surrender her license as a registered nurse should there be a retake. She acquired her license before the Court of Appeals issued a temporary restraining order that stopped the Professional Regulation Commission from administering the oath taking of the June 2006 exam passers.

The group’s stand, however, clashes with that of passers who banded themselves into the Alliance of New Nurses (ANN), which is set to hold a rally today to drum up their "No Retake" position.

Joined by their parents, members of ANN will hold a rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila at 9:30 a.m.

During the pro-retake press briefing, 21-year-old Joanna Espinosa, president of the UP-Manila College of Nursing batch 2006, lamented that the image of their batch has been tainted by the issue before the international and local industry.

Espinosa pointed out that big hospitals in the country have turned them away, pending an investigation into the anomaly. — With Evelyn Macairan, Aurea Calica