By Marivir Montebon
Migrant Heritage Chronicle Managing Editor
New York -- On several occasions, strangers would ask me if I was a nurse when they realize that I am Filipino. Of course, I would say no, because I am not. And usually, the next question is, what do you do then. That is when I want to roll my eyes already. Nevertheless, I say, I am a writer. And interestingly, the answer would be a "wow!".
If I was perhaps a nurse, these strangers would likely say, you must be big time!
Two things: Filipinas are stereotyped to be nurses and because they are, they earn very good money. The second assumption is definitely closest to the truth.
Other common observations about the typical Filipino nurse would include that she is conscientious, caring to her patients, and hardworking.
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More importantly, the Filipino nurse is a great contributor to the survival of the Philippine economy. With her dollar remittances to her family in the Philippines, such local and national economies have managed to stay afloat despite the country's economic hardships.
To her patients and to the Philippines, the Filipino nurse is a hero.
A study made by Barbara Brush, a top ranking nurse and professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, explained in detail the historical roots of the nurses' diaspora from the Philippines to developed countries in the world.
Entitled "The Potent Lever of Toil: Nursing Development and Exportation in Post-colonial Philippines", the study was published in September 2010 by the American Journal on Public Health. Brush presented a well-researched historical perspective of the economic backwardness of the Philippines and its labor export policy, specifically nursing, as a means to solve this economic problem.
Brush noted that the nursing profession in the Philippines has become market-driven, with nursing education being reoriented to suit the needs of advanced countries, instead of responding to the Philippines' own medical and health care issues.
The study explained that the continued exodus of nurses to advanced countries is mainly economically motivated. However, it painted a negative reputation to the Filipino nurses, on a rather personal note, defining nurses as lack of competence, communication skills, and passive.
The Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a not-for profit organization providing services to immigrants in the US, reacted to the article saying it was flawed and unfair to Philippine nurses.
In a press release, MHC said, "the Brush study fell into a pitfall and flawed logic when it said that Philippine nurses lack competence, communicative skills, and are passive. In her bibliography, she was merely quoting a perception of a head nurse, and hence not representative of a sample population of nurses, patients, and administrative officials who can give a larger picture of how Philippine nurses are at work," the MHC press release said.
Arnedo Valera, MHC co-executive director, said labeling nurses to be passive, hard to understand because of communication problems are sweeping generalizations and without any solid basis. The Brush study comes across as illogical and insensitive, although it tried to sound highly academic and intelligent, said Valera.
Hyping on this weak and highly subjective interpretation from one source is an affirmation that the author looks at individuals and peoples from poor countries as inferior human beings and that she is racially superior with the "colonization mentality" of colonial-master servant prototype relationship outlawed by all civilized nations including the United States.
According to Valera, Philippine nurses who go abroad and seek greener pastures, pass rigorous tests, trainings, and have hospital patient experience comparable or even greater to what nurses have in the United States.
"Competence, integrity, hard work ethic, commitment, loyalty, total dedication are inherent traits of most Philippine nurses joining the American Work force," said Valera.
In another article written by Momo Chang for the National Nurse Magazine in October 2011, Philippine nurses were featured as hardworking and always will to do an extra mile for their work. Titled "Substandard Care," MHC emphasized that the article is wrongly and unfairly titled because it showed the dedication of many nurses to their profession.
"This article by Chang is another write up showing unfairness and insensitivity," said Valera.
Like Brush's study, Chang wrote about communication problems and the propensity for nurses to do overtime work.
"Even if my country is poor and continue to engage in a disoriented export policy, Philippine nurses have filled the gap and help abate the health crisis and its deteriorating health services industry. This is why the US needs to import RNs from the Philippines. Our educational competence explains why majority of nurses serving American patients are Filipinos. We all pass the rigorous tests in the US. More than 50% in the patient care here are Filipinos. We deserve thanks and credit for that," says Elizabeth Babiera, a registered nurse in Virginia.
She added that Philippine nurses usually don't ask for overtime work. "We are mostly asked to do overtime work. An indication that we are competent and dedicated and thus trustworthy. The title of Chang's article is a misfit and highly insensitive," Babiera said.
MHC believes that RNs from the Philippines strengthened the US healthcare industry and largely contributed to excellent patient care services across the nation. "We are proud of their achievements and their contributions to our health care system," said Grace Valera Jaramillo, MHC co-executive director.
MHC has had won several cases of anti-racial and anti-labor policies on behalf of Philippine nurses in California, New York, and Maryland. "Nurses know how to fight for their rights too. Who ever said they were passive? The study is clearly biased," said MHC co executive director Jesse Gatchalian. #
A FREE COMMUNITY SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MIGRANT HERITAGE COMMISSION (MHC) under its Information, Publication and Research Program xxxxxxx MHC brings people together to foster a culture of UNITY and SERVICE 3 MHC Executive Directors
Grace Divina Victoria S. Valera Jesse A. Gatchalian Arnedo S. Valera, Esq.
202-247-0117/ 202-631-8856/ 703-675-6334
migrantheritage@gmail.com
http://www.migrantheritage.org/
Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) is a non-profit 501 © 3 tax exempt, service-oriented non-governmental organization that addresses the growing concerns of immigrants. With its many dedicated volunteers, partner organizations/ institutions and supporters , MHC extends FREE consultations to immigrants in need on legal/immigration, healthcare support/screening, financial guidance, cultural promotion support, networking/outreach, publication (MH Chronicle), information & non-formal education. MHC also provides funeral assistance to Fil.immigrants who die bereft of funds & w/o immediate families in the U.S. It mobilizes the community for high profile cultural events (Nat'l Cherry Blossoms Fest, FIESTA Asia, Asia Festivals, US National Day Parade, Smithsonian Folklife, Dance DC Festival etc.), other significant & humanitarian community undertakings. Among its institutionalized events in honoring the Migrants are People’s Mass (MISA NG BAYAN), People’s Ball (biggest Fil-Am Community Gala in the U.S. capital region) & the Immigrant Workers’ Day Celebration/ Int’l Migrant Heritage Fest.
For the latest issue of the MH Chronicle, please go to: http://www.migrantheritage.org/mhc-chronicle.html
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