Over 90,000 nursing graduates to take July exams

MANILA, Philippines - Over 90,000 nursing graduates are set to take the Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE) on July 3 and 4.Marco Sto. Tomas, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Nursing member, said the number of examinees has reached 92,000 and is still expected to increase.

“The number of nursing students who graduated last March and those failed in previous tests who will be taking the licensure examination already reached 92,000,” he said.

The latest batch of examinees is fewer compared to that of the November 2009 NLE, which totaled 95,000.

The huge number prompted the PRC to put up additional testing centers.

Traditionally, fewer examinees are recorded during the June NLE because some of the graduates are unable to meet the deadline for the filing of application.

Sto. Tomas said the PRC and the Association of Deans have agreed to move the NLE from June to July to give the schools and examinees sufficient time to process the credentials necessary in filing their application to take the examination.

Earlier, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines reported fewer young Filipinos are opting to take up nursing due to a slump in demand abroad.

However, Sto. Tomas said the demand for nurses has not diminished, although many of the new board passers are having difficulty finding employment here or abroad.

Countries hiring nurses require one to two years’ actual employment experience.