Physical therapy grads from RP barred from taking US exams

JERRIE M. ABELLA, GMANews.TV
07/19/2010 | 11:17 PM

Filipinos have been temporarily disallowed from taking the licensure examination for physical therapist in the US following reports of cheating by a local review center.

In an exclusive report by GMA News’ Tina Panganiban-Perez on “24 Oras," the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (BPOT) said the temporary suspension was imposed on physical therapy graduates from the Philippines, Egypt, India and Pakistan.

"We think it's not a ban, it's a temporary suspension. Second, we think it's not even [because of a] leakage, [but] because [there were] recalled [questions]," BPOT chair Dr. Rey Matias said in the report.

‘Pervasive security breaches’

In a statement on its web site, the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) said it suspended the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) testing for physical therapy graduates from the four countries due to “pervasive, ongoing security breaches."

The FSBPT said it is preparing a “separate, secure exam" for the graduates, expected to be completed in 2011.

“This necessary security measure is in response to compelling evidence gathered by the (FSBPT) reflecting systematic and methodical sharing and distribution of recalled questions by significant numbers of graduates of programs in the affected countries, as well as several exam preparation companies specifically targeted to these graduates," the statement read.

The FSBPT cited the case of the St. Louis Review Center in Manila, which it accused of sharing hundreds of live test items. It said this constitutes copyright infringement and cheating.

“The evidences taken from the hard copies of notes and flash drives showed exactly the same questions. Even the illustrations had the same figures as what were present in the board exam," explained BPOT member Bernadette Reyes.

According to the FSBPT, it is now pursuing criminal copyright charges against the owners of the review center.

The federation said it has invalidated the scores of examinees whom they believe to have benefited from the advance access to test questions. It also said the compromised items have already been removed from the exam.

The FSBPT earlier charged St. Louis for the same offenses, but the Philippine Department of Justice dismissed the case in 2009.

No regulator

The PRC admitted it cannot do anything about review centers even in light of accusations of cheating and copyright infringement.

“No particular agency or body is regulating the activities of review centers. Review centers are not under the jurisdiction of the PRC," said PRC chair Nicolas Lapeña.

A reviewer in St. Louis, identified only as Michelle, disputed in the “24 Oras" report the accusations against the center. “We have nothing to worry about. What they are saying about cheating is not true. If that were the case, don’t you think all examinees would have passed?" she said.

GMA News tried but failed to get in touch with the owners of St. Louis, whom the FSBPT identified as Gerard Martin, Roger Tong-An, and Carlito Balita.

A report in ABS-CBNNews.com said Balita, a radio announcer, has denied that he is one of the owners of the review center. He was quoted as saying that he was never engaged in review programs for physical therapists.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz had earlier said she had already directed the Philippine labor attaché in Washington to prepare a letter to US authorities to appeal the suspension.

She added they will also investigate the veracity of the accusations of cheating against St. Louis. - KBK, GMANews.TV

Nursing grads must be flexible to find jobs in US

DALY CITY, California – New nursing graduates are advised to be more patient and flexible in order to find jobs in the US.

Jaeann Milan graduated in 2008 with a nursing degree from the Philippines. She was expecting to find work right away when she went back to the US. Instead, she found herself applying and waiting for six months.

“I was discouraged, I almost moved to Los Angeles to try to find something there. But I just stayed here and waited it out. You just have to be patient,” said Milan.

A survey conducted in June 2009 by the National Association of Nursing Schools found that less than half of new graduates had no jobs by the time they finished school.

According to Priscilla Chua of Relief Nursing Services, hospitals are hesitant to hire new nurses because of the recession. She said hospitals spend an average of $50,000 to train each new hire.

With the high unemployment rate, many have lost their health care coverage. Also, budget cuts at state- and government-run hospitals have caused hiring freezes and hurt graduates’ chances for a job.

“I think there are still a lot of patients. It’s just that these nurses, they don’t want to change their jobs, they want to stay because of the recession,” Chua said.

But Chua said there are ways new nursing graduates can gain experience.

“You got to start somewhere. Start in long term care. Start through a nursing agency. Once you gain the experience, the hospitals will hire you. They’ll be more willing to hire you as a registered nurse,” added Chua.

Milan’s patience eventually paid off. She gained experience as a per-day nurse with a staffing agency and a job as a nursing school instructor. Milan has since become a full-time Registered Nurse at a hospital. --Balitang America

PRC Changes Nursing Exam Schedule

By Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:23:00 01/13/2010

MANILA, Philippines—The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Wednesday announced that the 2010 licensure exam for nurses has been rescheduled.

In a statement, the PRC said that the nursing board examination for 2010 has been moved from June and November to July and December, following the Commission Resolution No. 2009-537 dated November 13, 2009.

Deadline for filing of applications for the July examination will be on April 14 for repeaters while first time examinees may file theirs until May 14.

For the December examination, repeaters may file their application until September 8 while deadline for first time examinees may file is on November 8, the PRC said.

G Spot: Hit or Miss?

Love or Lust. Naked Truth or Bull Crap. Agree or Disagree.

Believe it or not, I'm putting the "G" on the spot.

Read on...


CNN) -- Ladies (and gentlemen): Can you find the G-spot?

Women everywhere have read or heard that they may possess a secret pleasure zone inside their bodies that, if stimulated correctly, yields intense pleasure and even orgasm.

But this so-called G-spot has never been precisely identified as a concrete biological entity. Scientists are still arguing over what it is and whether it exists at all.

Researchers at King's College London in the United Kingdom have brought the elusive G-spot to the forefront with a study of more than 1,800 female twins.

The study suggests that there is no genetic basis for the G-spot and that environmental or psychological factors may contribute to whether a woman believes that she has a G-spot.

No physical examination

The new study is published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

But the lead study author, clinical psychologist Andrea Burri, isn't sure that the question was asked in a way that accurately got the information the researchers were seeking, as reflected in the study's discussion section.

Her team did not physically examine the women for the presence of G-spots but instead gave participants a survey asking whether they believed that they had a "so called G-spot, a small area the size of a 20p coin on the front wall of your vagina that is sensitive to deep pressure?" (A 20p coin is about the size of an American nickel.)

They found that 56% of respondents answered "yes" and that there was no genetic correlation.

But only about 30% said they were able to achieve orgasm during intercourse, which may indicate that women were confused by the G-spot question because stimulation of the G-spot is supposed to induce orgasm, she said.

The definition of G-spot in the study is too specific and doesn't take into account that some women perceive their G-spots as bigger or smaller, or higher or lower, said Debby Herbenick, research scientist at Indiana University and author of the book "Because It Feels Good."

"It's not so much that it's a thing that we can see, but it has been pretty widely accepted that many women find it pleasurable, if not orgasmic, to be stimulated on the front wall of the vagina," said Herbenick, who was not involved in the study.

Arousable women

The study also found correlations with personality components in women who did report having G-spots: For instance, these women tended to be more extroverted, arousable and open to experience, which may indicate a psychological component to the G-spot, Burri said.

More research is necessary to make more conclusive statements about whether the G-spot has a physiological basis, experts say.

"I don't think that these are invented experiences at all," Herbenick said. "And if at the end of the day, someone's invented something and they feel pleasure from it, then I think that's great."

The G-spot has been so difficult to identify because it is more of a physiological change -- akin to swallowing or urinating -- than an anatomic structure such as a nipple, said Dr. Irwin Goldstein, director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, California, who oversees the peer review process for the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Evidence

But a recent study that adds credence to the G-spot concept.

French researchers Odile Buisson and Pierre Foldès did ultrasounds of a small number of women having intercourse with men.

By looking at the changes in the vagina, the researchers found physiological evidence of the G-spot. This study is under review at the Journal of Sexual Medicine, Goldstein said.

The G-spot is named after Dr. Ernst Grafenberg, a gynecologist known for his research on female genitalia. He described this pleasure zone of the vagina in a 1950 paper.

The 1982 book "The G Spot: And Other Discoveries About Human Sexuality" made the term "G-spot" popular.

A small study by Italian researchers in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2008 found that women who were able to achieve vaginal orgasms had thicker tissue between the vagina and the urethra, where the G-spot is said to reside.

A minority of women say they ejaculate when they have a G-spot orgasm. Some sex researchers say this fluid comes from a gland that's near the G-spot area.

Men have G-spots too

Men also have a G-spot of sorts, below the scrotum and above the anus, Goldstein said, although it has not gotten as much attention as the more mysterious female G-spot.

Experts agree that the idea of the G-spot has put pressure on both women and their male partners to find some kind of hidden treasure that leads to orgasm from the penis alone.

"Initially, it was a good concept, because who wouldn't like the idea of 'push a button and get the best orgasm ever?' " Burri said.

But those women who can't orgasm from vaginal intercourse may feel inadequate, and knowing that the G-spot may not exist can take some pressure off.

Women should explore their bodies, find out what they like, and communicate that information to their partners, Herbenick said.

"Whether you call it your G-spot or the front wall of your vagina, or if you make up a silly name for it ... at the end of the day, it's what you like and how your body works," she said. (Elizabeth landau/ CNN)

Japan hiring qualified Filipino nurses, caregivers

Japan is currently hiring qualified Filipino nurses and caregivers, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said, citing a report from a Japanese agency.

Filipino nurses interested in working in Japan must have Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees, board licenses, and at least three years experience, the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services (Jicwels) said.

In the meantime, Jicwels is also facilitating the application of Filipino caregivers to Japan.

Applicants need to be a graduate of any four-year course, a certified caregiver by the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) or a graduate of a nursing school with no board license.

Qualified applicants for both positions are also required to secure the following documents, which include a:

* Detailed resume
* Diploma
* Transcript of records
* PRC License
* Employment Certificates
* Valid TESDA Certificate
* Original and photocopy of first page of valid passport
* One 2x2 picture


Applicants from Cebu and Davao can submit the documents at their respective POEA regional offices. - GMANews.TV

Pinoy nurses fill vacancies in specialised areas in UK hospitals

by Rose Eclarinal,
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, London | 11/21/2009 11:33 AM


SALISBURY, England - The United Kingdom nursing work force is ageing and British nurses are leaving the country to work in the United States and in recent years, in Australia.

These are some of the contributing factors for the shortage of qualified nurses in the UK both in the National Health Service or NHS and the private sector.

The UK faces the so-called graying of the population of the nursing work force and the younger ones are not interested in the nursing profession because they have more options for jobs that offer better pay and working condition. Those who leave the county to work elsewhere are driven by better pay and living conditions.

This is not the first time the UK has to deal with this problem. In the past, it has also turned to foreign nurses to do the job its peoples have pushed aside and snubbed.

Pinoy nurses for export

While the UK is in need of more nurses, the Philippines continues to produce nurses for export. Philippines is one of the biggest suppliers of overseas nurses to the UK, trailing behind is India, Britain’s former colony. UK’s overseas recruitment of nurses was criticized by the Brits because it is said to be designed as a short-term solution although it has helped the UK health sector manage the crisis.

The Salisbury District Hospital in Salisbury also turned to overseas recruitment to fill the vacancies in the hospital. Recently, it recruited some 17 OR (operating room) or theatre nurses from the Philippines.

“In the past two years our experience advertising for theatre nurses nationally and in Europe had very little success. Our reliance on agency nurses was high. We have now filled our vacancies in theatres, however we do have to look to the future and plan the workforce. There are a number of retirements in the next five years and recruitment will continue. Having established the current workforce we intend to recruit in this country and Europe,” said Colette Martindale, Surgical Directorate of Salisbury District Hospital.

She said there is no plan for another trip to the Philippines, however, that could also change. She also added that there is no preference over Filipino nurses but they chose to go to the Philippines this year because they knew ‘there was a reliable field of candidates.’

“There are still a high number of unemployed nurses in the Philippines. We have recruited from there in the past and we know the quality of work is good and the retention rate is good,” she added.

Nurses in specialized areas

Outside of any particular specialties, nursing has been removed from the ‘shortage occupation list’ by the UK Home Office. This means that employers with band 5 and 6 nursing posts have to prove that the vacancies could not be filled by nurses who are residents or nationals of the UK or of countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).

Salisbury District Hospital has advertised the vacancies for 2 years but there were no takers from the UK and from EEA.

The gold mine that the UK has found in the Philippines in early 2000 is still an attractive source to this date, providing work force for the UK health sector.

The 17 nurses that filled the vacancies at the Salisbury District Hospital have now started the Overseas Nursing Program. Nurses who were trained outside the EEA are required to pass the program and be registered at the Nursing and Midwifery Council or NMC.

“We have to undergo the classes and we have two days study at City College London. Nagpupunta sila dito. Para talagang school. Para ma-meet namin yun standards of nursing dito. At saka may different laws here as compared sa Pilipinas. Ang dami ditong laws na nagpo-protect sa patients so kailangan naming malaman yun,” said 24 -year- old Cathleen Lagtapon.

A pittance of a salary back home

Nursing work in the UK has always been attractive to Pinoy nurses because of the significant increase in their salary once they work in the UK.

“That’s one of the reasons I took up nursing because I wanted to work outside of the country. I really want to experience the hi-tech operations to further my career as an OR nurse,” said Lagtapon.

She was working as an OR nurse in Bacolod City earning a salary of P9,000 a month. As a nurse in training in the UK, she would receive a salary of 18,000 pounds annually or around P122,000 per month. Once registered with the NMC, there will be an increase of up to £5,000 in her annual salary.

Raising three children and working for a government hospital in the Philippines, Reynaldo Boy decided it was time to go where the grass was greener.

“Kasi nung una okay naman ang work ko sa Pilipinas. Since nasa government naman ako, ayos naman ang suweldo. Then later, nag high school na anak ko, I began to think na parang kulang ang kikitain ko dun,” he said.

With so many nurses in the Philippines seeking employment abroad, he considers himself lucky. He said however that as a father, there are trade-offs. He now has to get used to the long distance parenting set-up he has conceived for him and his children.

“Hindi ko na sila mababantayan dun. [Pero] yun naman talaga ang purpose nung pumunta ako dito to give them a better life. Pag nakapag-ipon ako, pwede kong makuha sila. Kung di ko man makuha, yung naipon ko, pwede kong ipadala sa kanila para sa studies nila-- to give them a better future, para makapag -aral sila, maging good citizen din some day,” he added.

Work ethics and family values are just some of the qualities that endear Pinoys to their British employers.

‘Compassionate, caring and hard working’

“I have found the Filipino nurses to be caring, compassionate, intelligent and hard working. They treat patients with respect and kindness. They have strong family values and they are driven to protect and provide for their families. Once adapted into the culture and way of life in a UK hospital they are encouraged to develop and become leaders in the future,” said Colette Martindale.

For Lagtapon and Boy, the opportunity to work abroad, to further their career as nursing professionals and provide a better future for their families are now happening. They are very grateful for this chance and the fact that unlike many others who came here, they didn’t even pay an exorbitant amount. They said their dream to work in the UK only cost them P15,000 for fees. But whatever social cost the nurses have to contend with in the future, for now they are happy.

“I want to keep pinching myself kung nandito talaga ako,” said Lagtapon.

How Sweet It Is?

By Claire Suddath – Tue Oct 20, 2:20 pm ET
TIME

Too much sugar will make you fat, but too much artificial sweetener will ... do what exactly? Kill you? Make you thinner? Or have absolutely no effect at all? This week marks the 40th anniversary of the Food and Drug Administration's decision to ban cyclamate, the first artificial sweetener prohibited in the U.S., and yet scientists still haven't reached a consensus about how safe (or harmful) artificial sweeteners may be. Shouldn't we have figured this out by now? (See the top 10 bad beverage ideas.)

The first artificial sweetener, saccharin, was discovered in 1879 when Constantin Fahlberg, a Johns Hopkins University scientist working on coal-tar derivatives, noticed a substance on his hands and arms that tasted sweet. No one knows why Fahlberg decided to lick an unknown substance off his body, but it's a good thing he did. Despite an early attempt to ban the substance in 1911 - skeptical scientists said it was an "adulterant" that changed the makeup of food - saccharin grew in popularity, and was used to sweeten foods during sugar rationings in World Wars I and II. Though it is about 300 times sweeter than sugar and has zero calories, saccharin leaves an unpleasant metallic aftertaste. So when cyclamate came on the market in 1951, food and beverage companies jumped at the chance to sweeten their products with something that tasted more natural. By 1968, Americans were consuming more than 17 million pounds of the calorie-free substance a year in snack foods, canned fruit and soft drinks like Tab and Diet Pepsi. (See nine kid foods to avoid.)

But in the late 1960s, studies began linking cyclamate to cancer. One noted that chicken embryos injected with the chemical developed extreme deformities, leading scientists to wonder if unborn humans could be similarly damaged by their cola-drinking mothers. Another study linked the sweetener to malignant bladder tumors in rats. Because a 1958 congressional amendment required the FDA to ban any food additive shown to cause cancer in humans or animals, on Oct. 18, 1969, the government ordered cyclamate removed from all food products. (See the 10 worst fast-food meals.)

Saccharin became mired in controversy in 1977, when a study indicated that the substance might contribute to cancer in rats. An FDA move to ban the chemical failed, though products containing saccharin were required to carry warning labels. In 2000, the chemical was officially removed from the Federal Government's list of suspected carcinogens. (Read TIME's 1974 article on cyclamate and saccharin.)

In 1981, the synthetic compound aspartame was approved for use, and it capitalized on saccharin's bad publicity by becoming the leading additive in diet colas. In 1995 and 1996, misinformation about aspartame that linked the chemical to everything from multiple sclerosis to Gulf War syndrome was widely disseminated on the Internet. While aspartame does adversely effect some people - including those who are unable to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine - it has been tested more than 200 times, and each test has confirmed that your Diet Coke is safe to drink. Nor have any health risks been detected in more than 100 clinical tests of sucralose, a chemically altered sugar molecule found in food, drinks, chewing gum and Splenda.

The fear-mongering and misinformation plaguing the faux-sweetener market seems to be rooted in a common misconception. No evidence indicates that sweeteners cause obesity; people with weight problems simply tend to eat more of it. While recent studies have suggested a possible link between artificial sweeteners and obesity, a direct link between additives and weight gain has yet to be found. The general consensus in the scientific community is that saccharin, aspartame and sucralose are harmless when consumed in moderation. And while cyclamate is still banned in the U.S., many other countries still allow it; it can even be found in the Canadian version of Sweet'n Low. Low-calorie additives won't make you thinner or curb your appetite. But they help unsweetened food taste better without harming you. And that's sweet enough.