Doctors becoming nurses: the new wave of Filipino overseas workers

Alan Feranil, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development

This paper discusses the emergence of a different type of labor force in the Philippines. Because of the large demand for nurses in developed countries, local nursing schools have higher enrollments while some even offer nursing diplomas to doctors who take on special nursing courses. This phenomenon of downgrading one’s profession is taking place in the Philippines where doctors shift to the nursing profession in order to work overseas and seek better opportunities. Analysis of published reports and statistics collected from government and non-government organizations will be presented in this paper. Results of interviews with doctors who have taken nursing units to qualify for work overseas and other key officials will also be included. The potential effects of this trend on education, health, and society will be also be discussed.