Philippine E-Journals

Perception of Selected Nurses on their Employment and on the Nursing Profession

Myra M. Ramos

Discipline: Nursing

 

Abstract:

The study focuses on the perception of selected nurses on their employment status, as well as, on the nursing profession. Data came from a survey of 126 nurses who graduated from 2007 up to 2012 and from the focus group discussions of selected nurses. Results show that 16.67 % (21) of the respondent nurses are unemployed, which is higher than the national employment rate of 7.5%. Of the 105 employed nurses, 85 work on jobs related to nursing while 20 are employed in jobs not aligned to nursing like call center agent. Ambivalence or uncertainty is seen on the responses of the nurses regarding their employment status, which, probably stem from the scarcity of nursing jobs brought about by the oversupply of nurses. Though the nurses remained optimistic, they cannot help but worry on the financial implication of their situation. Further, their uncertainty or indecisiveness is probably brought about by their conflicting motive to work: to serve the patients or to earn sufficient money for their families.