EVEN AS the dismal national passing percentage of 39.73 percent raises concern about the quality of nursing education in many Philippine schools, MMSU obtained a passing record of 78.64 percent in the November 2009 Licensure Examination for Nurses, making the university number one in the region, and top sixteen in the nation.

According to PRC, the November exams had the highest number of takers (94,462) and the lowest number of passers in the history of the licensure test.

The decline in the passing rate prompted call of alarm from various sectors of society. The number of nursing schools has swelled to 460 this year from 125 to 128 in the period 1988-1991. Many of these schools reportedly lack facilities such as base hospital and laboratories as well as qualified faculty members.

This predicament prompted CHED to intensify its campaign against sub-standard schools, issuing warning to \"shape-up or be phase-out\" to 152 of the 460 nursing schools in the country today. According to CHED statements, said schools have violated various regulations, including below passing average in the board exams in the past five years.

The College of Health Sciences honored the new nurses, together with the new physical therapists and pharmacists (see related story on page 5), in a Thanksgiving Mass and Testimonial Program held at Teatro Ilocandia, Feb.11. Prof. Lailani S. Galutira, CHS dean, attributes MMSU’s good showing in the board examinations to the collective efforts and sacrifices made by faculty members, staff, and students. She also acknowledged the unwavering support of the university administration. President Miriam Pascua and Academic Affairs Vice President Epifania O. Agustin attended the event and delivered congratulatory messages.

The oathtaking ceremony of the new nurses will be held before the Board of Nursing on March 8 and 9 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.