- By Carolyn L. Yoro, MAN
ABSTRACT
This tracer study was conducted to gather relevant information as to the employment of Central Philippine University College of Nursing (CPUCN) graduates from 2005 to 2010 and compare the present findings with the previous findings. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire among 274 out of 345 (79.4%) computed sample size of graduates of the CPUCN from 2005 to 2010. Results showed that majority of the respondents were female, single, not more than 29 years, from Region VI, specifically from Iloilo. Moreover, in the first survey the respondents were residents of cities, but in the present survey, respondents were residents of municipalities. A greater proportion of respondents in the present survey had acquired professional skills particularly nursing and all respondents had taken and passed the nurse licensure examination. Opportunity for employment abroad was the main reason for taking up nursing in the first survey but in the present survey the major reason is a strong passion for the profession. In both surveys, the respondents had attended any training, had advanced studies and were employed, however, a greater proportion of the respondents were regular or permanent in the first survey than in the present survey. The dominant occupation in both survey is a staff nurse, although OFW is increasing and a new program of DOH, nurse deployment program (NDP). Most of the respondents were employed with present positions related to course completed and had obtained their first job within 1-6 months locally as walk in applicants. A greater proportion of the respondents in the present survey were working abroad and claimed their present employment as their first job. Most of the respondents in both surveys stayed in their first job for one or two years. For those respondents working in the hospital, most of the nurses were assigned in medical/surgical area. The initial gross monthly earning in their first job of most of the respondents in both surveys is P 5,000 to less than P 10,000. In both surveys, medical/surgical nursing competencies, communication skills, and human relation skills were deemed to be the most useful competencies learned by the respondents in college that greatly contributed to their job placement. Respondents’ suggestions to improve course curriculum focus on the improvement of communicative skills by intensive English training, increase number of hours in clinical area, and major subjects. Among the eleven different services/areas of the university/college the highest mean satisfaction rating was on campus physical environment while the lowest satisfaction rating was on laboratory facilities.