NEW ZEALAND REMAINS OPEN TO FILIPINO NURSES

PNA PRESS RELEASE
NEW ZEALAND REMAINS OPEN TO FILIPINO NURSES


Filipino nurses are very much welcome to work in New
Zealand, contrary to earlier reports circulating in the
press and broadcast media. This was the assurance given
by visiting executives of the Nursing Council of New
Zealand to the Department of Foreign Affairs, even as New
Zealand continues to adopt measures to facilitate the
continued entry of competent foreign nurses into the
country.

The assurance was given by Chief Executive Ms. Carolyn
Reed and Registration Manager Ms. Andrea McCance both of
the Nursing Council of New Zealand, during their call on
Dr. Teresita Barcelo, President of the Philippine Nurses
Association (PNA) and Dean Carmelita Divinagracia,
President of the Association of Deans of Philippine
Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN). The DFA was represented by
ASPAC Director J. Susana Paez and OUIER Director Eric
Gerardo Tamayo.

The council executives visited the Philippines upon the
suggestion of Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand
Bienvenido Tejano, and in their hope of undertaking
consultations with their counterparts in the Philippines.
The Executives held separate meetings with officials of
the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) and the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Ms. McCance further informed that rather than
discriminating against foreign nurses, the Nursing
Council has been making it less complicated for qualified
foreign nurses to come to New Zealand. Steps they have
taken include providing complete information in its
website, and staggering the completion requirement of
completing seven (7) bands under the International
English Language Testing System (IELTS) which includes
the option of taking the IELTS in the country of origin.
The Council officials cite a very low failure rate in the
required competency assessment program, and observed that
Filipino nurse candidates are able to successfully hurdle
the prescribed bridging program.

Ms. Reed informed that Filipinos comprise the second
largest number of foreign nurses. About 200 Filipino
nurses are registered in New Zealand every year. Most of
those who are registered find work in homes for elder
care - some in remote areas. The Council, the PNA and the
DFA noted the difficult cultural adjustment process in
such a situation and the need to ensure the welfare of
Filipino nurses.

Ms. Reed expressed regret at the nuisance and confusion
brought about earlier by erroneous media reporting on
disparaging statements questioning the competence of
Filipino nurses. Such remarks were made by other parties
who are not connected with the New Zealand Nursing
Council or the New Zealand Government.

Ms Reed and Ms. McCance clarified that the issuance of
residency visas is beyond the scope of their work, but a
foreign nurse registered with them presents such
registration in support of a separate proper residency
status application with New Zealand immigration
authorities. The Nursing Council encourages direct
applications rather than coursing registration via
recruitment agencies.

The visiting executives were briefed by Dr. Barcelo on
the role of the PNA, while Dean Divinagracia presented
the Philippines' BSN curriculum and the educational
standards for registered nurses in the Philippines. Ms.
Reed expressed her appreciation that the meeting
facilitated their understanding of the Philippine nursing
program for purposes of matching course requirements.

The DFA encouraged the Nursing Council, PNA and ADPCN to
pursue and adopt a practice done with other countries, of
having school registrars identify and match subjects with
foreign government requirements on the applicant's
transcript of records. This would also facilitate the
evaluation of those pursuing nursing as a second degree.
This measure would also help the Council ensure that
nurses registering in New Zealand are indeed
International Qualified Nurses (IQN) suitable for the
country's healthcare standards.

The meeting's outcome assures an open line of
communication between the Council and the nurses sector
in the Philippines, and augurs well for better
opportunities for Filipino nurses and the adoption of
relevant programs to further uplift the nursing
profession in the country. END



TERESITA IRIGO-BARCELO, PhD, RN
National President