The 380-member Philippine Nurses Association in Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia (PNA-ERSA) thanked the Philippine Embassy for having organized the first examination among Filipino nurses in the Kingdom.

“The Philippine Embassy, with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Eastern Region, coordinated with the Philippine Regulation Commission in Manila so that the examination of Filipino nurses could be held late last year,” Mary Jane Tupas, president of the PNA-ERSA, told Arab News yesterday.

The examination was held at the International Philippine School in Al-Khobar (IPSA). Seventy-seven Filipino nurses in the Eastern Province had appeared for the examination, which was held simultaneously in Riyadh, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.

Examinations for architects, accountants and engineers were also held in the Kingdom (Al-Khobar and Riyadh), along with those in UAE and Qatar. Tupas said that the PRC sent delegations to the Kingdom, UAE and Qatar to administer the examinations.

“PRC Commissioner Teresita Manansala headed the delegation to Saudi Arabia,” said Tupas, a Bagong Bayani Awardee. She noted that Labor Attache Adam A. Musa was present at the IPSA during the examination.

Tupas said that the Philippine Professional Organizations (PPOs) in Al-Khobar headed by Rolando Caranto and in Riyadh coordinated with the Philippine Embassy for the examinations in various disciplines.

Tupas added, meanwhile, that the PNA-ERSA will soon start accepting applications for enrollment for a M. Sc. in Nursing degree, wherein the nurses will pursue their course online with the St. Paul's University in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, north of Manila.

“I encourage Filipino nurses in the Eastern Province to snap up the opportunity to earn a master's degree while working in the Kingdom. Not all Filipino nurses working overseas have this opportunity,” she said.

She added that a second batch of 20 members is currently enrolled. The first batch with 20 members will graduate in October, she added.