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In 2023, many people are considering nursing programs as their college majors. However, going for a nursing program may require dedication and absolute effort. On the brighter side, pursuing a nursing career is rewarding and yields numerous benefits. Overall, it’s important to consider factors and possible outcomes before picking a specific career. Read more to know about the Philippines’ nurse salary grade in 2023.
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Why Are Nurses In-Demand in the Philippines?
Globally, Filipinos are known as hardworking and reliable nurses. The Philippines has been the largest exporter of nurses worldwide for many decades. As a result, a significant population of Filipino nurses can be found in several countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.
In the Philippines, however, nurses are paid less than the Filipino nurses working overseas. As a result, this led Filipino nurses to resort to migrating to the countries mentioned above for greener pastures. Overall, going into a nursing career path will need tons of patience, hard work, and stressful episodes.
Average Salary Grade Of A Nurse In The Philippines
The minimum salary of Registered Nurses working in the government centers in the Philippines is PHP 36,000 per month, with different variations depending on the region. The region with the highest salary grade is the National Capital Region for Private Duty Nurses, with a pay of PHP 36,000.
The table below indicates the salary range of nurses for the year 2023.
| Position | Salary Grade | Amount |
| Nurse I | SG 15 | Php 36,619 |
| Nurse II | SG 16 | Php 39,672 |
| Nurse III | SG 17 | Php 43,030 |
| Nurse IV | SG 19 | Php 51,357 |
| Nurse V | SG 20 | Php 57,347 |
| Nurse VI | SG 22 | Php 71,511 |
| Nurse VII | SG 24 | Php 90,078 |
House Bill No. 4599 – Salary Increase For Nurses Act
A new bill has been passed in the Senate to increase the salary of registered nurses. Submitted by the Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives, they aim to have the minimum salary grade of all nurses up to PHP 50,000.
The House of Representatives submitted this bill to entice nurses to stay and serve in the country. If passed, the bill will apply to all nurses in the public and private sectors.
The bill also aims to stop the contractual hiring of nurses, which gives an unfair salary as low as PHP 8,000 to PHP 13,500. These contractual hirings occur in public and private sectors, though more prominent in private hospitals.
Entitled Benefits for Nurses
During the 100th-anniversary celebration of the Philippine Nurses Association, President Marcos stated that the government had distributed ₱25.82 billion worth of benefits for the welfare of Filipino nurses.
Additionally, President Marcos said that the present benefits to nurses include the following:
- Hazard-Duty Pay: Additional payments for individuals working in high-risk locations and situations, such as COVID-19 pandemic centers.
- Night-Shift Differential: Additional increase to basic salaries for nurses who are working on night shifts.
- Retirement Benefits: Financial package or monthly pension given to nurses who have served a minimum of 15 years in government hospitals.
- Health Benefits: Health insurance and medical coverage for nurses and their dependents.
- Premium Pay: 30 to 50% increase in pay for nurses who work on holidays or rest days.
- Career Development: Packages for scholarship programs and other incentives for nurses who are looking to pursue further education.
It is also important to note that the following benefits and incentives are subject to change and vary depending on the employer.
Philippine Nursing Practice Act of 2022
Even with the number of nursing graduates in the Philippines annually, numbering 80,000, many of these graduates proceed to work abroad. This disparity in numbers was made more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic when a shortage of health workers was felt.
In addition, high turnover rates were seen at the pandemic’s peak since poor working conditions and low salary rates became apparent. Due to this, many nurses opted to work overseas.
Sen. Francis Tolentino has made an effort to propose a new comprehensive nursing law to revitalize the practice of nursing in the country. The proposed Nursing Practice Act of 2022 introduces the Advanced Practice Nurse, which he claimed to be the “prime mover” of the nursing profession relating to the Universal HealthCare Law.
An Advanced Practice Nurse is a nurse who has obtained a higher level of theoretical knowledge and decision-making skills in specialized areas of nursing. Moreover, an APN must also demonstrate proficiency in the clinical utilization of such knowledge in providing expanded and coordinated expert care.
The skills above need to be recognized by a higher educational institution in addition to being a registered nurse. Another goal is to give the nurse the ability to teleconsult. The APN and Physician in charge can agree that the nurse can act on behalf of the Physician in cases of emergency. Examples of such are the Physician’s absence or lack of ability to assess patients.
Closing Thoughts
Despite nursing being an exhausting and challenging profession, it remains one of the country’s most in-demand professions. However, Filipino nurses often continue their nursing path overseas, mainly due to better benefits. So before deciding, it’s important to weigh the factors and your interest to ensure you’re on the right path.
On a more positive note, nursing can also be emotionally rewarding. As nurses, we care for people in need and help them toward a successful recovery. Witnessing positive results makes us feel good and makes our nursing path much more worthwhile. It’s worth noting that there will be ups and downs along the way, but if it sparks your interest, success won’t be far behind. – WhatALife!/Val
Keep Reading: Nurse Salary Grade in the Philippines 2022
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