RIYADH, 24 October — Filipino nurses in the Central Region will discuss the latest developments about opportunities for nurses during a symposium at the Philippine Embassy here on Friday.
Opening at 8 a.m., the symposium is the main feature of the Filipino Nurses Society in Saudi Arabia's (Filnasa) 2nd anniversary celebration, with "Opportunities and Best Practice" as its theme.
The symposium is part of Filnasa's program to keep its more than 340 members in the region abreast not only of advances in the profession but also of career opportunities all over the world, said Irene C. Roman, a nursing instructor at the Education Training Affairs of the Security Forces Hospital (SFH).
She said that the United States market remains the promising destination for Filipino nurses, with 168,000 positions in hospitals vacant last year and about 1 million job openings needed by 2010.
During the symposium, Dr. Suzanne Robertson-Malt of the nursing education and research faculty of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH & RC), will discuss the "Role of Advanced Practice Nurse in Supporting Evidence Practice."
Amelia Oh, a clinical instructor also of KFSH & RC, will talk about "Changes and Performance Improvement."
"In our daily lives, we may have to face certain changes in order to improve our lives. This principle of change process occurs in the nursing profession. In understanding such process, it leads to the enhancement of our work performance," said Oh.
"I am very thankful to Filnasa for giving me the opportunity to grow professionally through its educational programs," said Norma Jane Cagaanan, an ICU staff nurse of KFSH & RC.
Fernando Urrutia, public relations officer of Filnasa, will present to the members the design of organization's website to be officially launched early next year. Filnasa also issues its own bi-monthly newsletter, Nightingale.
The activity coincides with the Nurses Week in the Philippines, which is celebrated every last week of October.
Founded in March 2000, Filnasa is a foreign chapter of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) and a registered professional group at the Philippine Embassy.
Oliva P. Arcala, Filnasa vice president for the Central Region, said that among the group's other major activities is the facilitation of the license of its members with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
Renewal for such license is required every three years, a hassle for OFW nurses who have little time to spare when they go home on vacation.
"Since last year, we have started renewing our members' PRC license through PNA-Manila just in time before their licenses expire, thus avoiding penalties and suspension on expired licenses. It has been a beneficial program to our members," Arcala added.
Filnasa's current president is Alina N. Articulo. The other officers are: Zenaida V. Flores, executive vice president; Nora Escalante, secretary; Riva Dilla, treasurer for membership; Edna Torricampo, treasurer for licensure accounts; and Ma. Luisa M. Medina, auditor.
The board members are Liberty Lacanlale, Lisa Serrano, Gina Valenzuela, Jose Edsel Manucot, Romeo Madrid, and Cynthia Cabanes.
For further details regarding the symposium, the contact persons are: Articulo at 442-7009, Arcala at 477-4480 ext. 1306/6308, Escalante at 454-4979 ext. 205, Urrutia at 461-3490 or 0534-23531, Serrano at 419-0642, Manuco at 05220-8846, and Medina at 477-7714 ext. 2100.