Nursing training in the Philippines: A comprehensive overview
Nursing training in the Republic of the Philippines is a four-year higher education programme leading to the academic degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programme. This programme is offered by state and private universities as well as colleges that are supported by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are accredited. The BSN programme is highly recognised both in the Philippines and internationally, as many graduates are in demand as nurses worldwide.
Structure of nursing training
The Curriculum of the BSN programme includes both general education and vocational subjects. The general education subjects include:
- English
- Mathematics
- Filipino
The job-specific subjects focus on medical and nursing knowledge, including:
- Anatomy
- Hygiene
- Internal medicine
- Surgery
The focus is on teaching practical nursing skills in order to prepare students for their future role as nursing professionals. The core areas include Care interventions, Pre- and post-operative care, Palliative care and the Medical documentation. Another important topic is the care of patients with physical disabilities as well as mental and degenerative illnesses.
Theory and practical lessons
According to the CHED specifications, the BSN programme comprises a total of 2,106 hours of theoretical lessons and 1,578 hours of practical training. The practical training takes place in Hospitals and Community clinics where students provide direct nursing care and are supervised by experienced mentors. The students care for assigned patients under constant supervision to ensure that the care is carried out professionally.
Specialisation options
During their studies, students have the opportunity to specialise in certain areas of nursing, including
- Hospital care
- Community care
- Palliative care
- School care
- Psychiatric care
- Elderly care
- Clinical care
These specialisations enable future nurses to concentrate on specific specialist areas in order to increase their career opportunities after graduation.
Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE)
In order to be a state-recognised nursing professional, also Registered Nurse (RN) BSN graduates have to be able to work in theinside the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) pass. This examination is organised by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) organises and tests the candidate's knowledgein five core areas:
- Basics of nursing care
- Community care
- Healthcare for mothers
- Paediatric healthcare
- Psychiatric care
After passing the NLE, graduates are officially recognised as Registered Nurses and can work in various areas of the healthcare system.
Career opportunities after graduation
After successfully completing the Nurse Licensure Examination, Registered Nurses can work in public and private hospitals as Staff Nurse work. They work in various departments, including:
- Intensive care unit
- Paediatric ward
- Outpatient clinic
In addition to working as a staff nurse, there are numerous career opportunities for registered nurses in various specialised areas. These include:
- Hospice care
- Elderly care
- Community care
- School care
- Nursing training
Nursing staff who do not pass the NLE have the opportunity to work as Nursing Aide or carer's assistant. These professionals mainly carry out Basic care activities such as assistance with washing, dressing and undressing and eating.
Basic care and family care
In Filipino culture, basic care is traditionally often provided by Family members or Nursing assistants adopted. Basic nursing care therefore plays a rather subordinate role in the formal curriculum of the BSN programme. Nursing assistants provide support, particularly in situations where constant care and support is required.
Caregiving NC II Certificate
In addition to the BSN programme, many universities in the Philippines offer the Caregiving NC II course. This six-month course, which is organised by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is certified, teaches participants basic nursing care methods, such as caring for infants, the elderly and patients.with disabilities. The most important contents include skills in Basic caresuch as assistance with eating, washing and dressing and undressing. GraduateThe participants in this programme are particularly Palliative care in demand.
Conclusion
Nursing training in the Philippines provides comprehensive theoretical and practical preparation for the nursing profession and offers many opportunities for specialisation. Due to the high demand for Filipino nurses worldwide, graduates have numerous career opportunities, both at home and abroad.
Comparison of nursing training in the Philippines and Germany
Nursing training in the Philippines differs from nursing training in Germany in several respects. While both countries focus on high quality training and a broad spectrum of nursing skills, there are significant differences in the structure, duration and focus of the programmes.
Duration and structure of the training programme
In the Philippines, nursing training in the form of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) four years. The training programme consists of a combination of theoretical lessons and practical assignments in hospitals and clinics. After completing their studies, graduates must Nurse Licensure Examination to file as Registered Nurse (RN) to be recognised.
Germany has had a generalist training programme since 2020. Nursing trainingwhich as a rule three years lasts. This training leads to a state-recognised qualification as a Nursing specialist and enables graduates to work in all areas of nursing - from nursing care for the sick and elderly to paediatric nursing. The German nursing training programme combines theoretical instruction with a high proportion of practical training, which takes place in various facilities such as hospitals, retirement homes and outpatient care services. An academic degree, as in the Philippines, is not required in Germany to enter the profession, although there are also dual study programmes in nursing sciences that lead to a degree in nursing. Bachelor of Science lead.
Focal points of the training
One major difference is the focus of nursing training. In the Philippines, the focus is on Medical and nursing interventions to prepare students for their work in a hospital and clinical environment. The programme focuses on pre- and post-operative care, Palliative care and Documentation of medical data.
In Germany, on the other hand, the generalist nursing training programme pursues a holistic approach. In addition to hospital care, the Elderly care and Community care in focus. Due to demographic developments in Germany, caring for the elderly is particularly important. In addition, German training places great importance on Communication and Patient care especially when dealing with people with mental illness or dementia.
Career opportunities
Both countries offer their graduates a wide range of career opportunities. After successful registration, Philippine nurses can work as Registered Nurse work both domestically and internationally, as their training is highly recognised worldwide. Many Filipino nurses choose to pursue a career abroad, especially in countries such as the US, UK, Canada and the Gulf States, where the demand for qualified nurses is high.
In Germany, the State recognition as a carer This enables graduates to start their careers immediately in a variety of facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes or outpatient care services. Thanks to the generalist training, they are broadly positioned and can work flexibly in different areas. There are also many further training opportunities in Germany, such as Specialised training in intensive care, oncology or palliative care.
Conclusion of the comparison
While nursing education in the Philippines is strongly orientated towards clinical and medical practice, German nursing education focuses on a holistic approach that covers all areas of nursing. Both training systems provide a solid foundation for a successful career in nursing, however the Internationality and the Academic focus in the Philippines should be emphasised, while German nursing training is characterised by its Width and Specialisation options convinced.
