In line with the pump priming strategies to mitigate the impact of the global financial crisis, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS) Project on 9 February 2009 during the Multi-Sectoral Summit on “Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis” in Malacanan Palace, Manila.

The NARS Program, a Training cum Deployment Program, aims to address the (1) glut in inexperienced nurses and the proliferation of “volunteer nurses” working in hospitals without being paid, but instead, they themselves pay the hospitals to obtain Certificate of work experience; and (2) to promote health of the people and bring the government closer to them.

Unemployed nurses will be mobilized in their hometowns as warriors for wellness to do the three I’s:
-Initiate primary health, school nutrition, maternal health programs, first line diagnosis
-Inform about community water sanitation practices and also do health surveillance
-Immunize children and mothers.

They shall likewise serve as roving nurses for rural schools.

Nurses will be deployed at an average of 5 per town in the 1,000 poorest municipalities, for a six-months tour of duty. Another batch will be deployed for the second half of the year. These nurses will undergo training and development for competency enhancement in accordance with the training program designed by the DOH in collaboration with the PRC-BON. The training program will cover both the clinical and public health functions.

Completion of the training program under NARS program shall be considered as a substitute for the work experience requirement of hospitals and other health facilities, both local and overseas. The Certificate of Completion shall be issued jointly by the DOLE, DOH and PRC.

While on training, nurses will be given a stipend/allowance of P8,000.00 per month. This translates to about P366.00 per day for a forty (40) hours training/workweek. As these nurses are already in their hometowns, transportation expenses will no longer be a problem.

The stipend of P8,000 may be increased if the host LGUs will offer a counterpart of say P2,000. Corporations may chip in by providing shirts, insurance, vitamins, etc., making the program a national enterprise with private equity.

For more information, you can check the NARS website linked below:
NARS Website

AMENDED PRESS RELEASE: DEADLINES IN FILING OF APPLICATIONS (NOV. 29-30, 2009 NURSES LIC. EXAM.)
June 26, 2009

The PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION announces that there is a change in the deadlines of filing of applications for the November 29-30, 2009 (Sunday-Monday) Nurses Licensure Examinations.

The following are the new deadlines of filing of applications:

1. NEW / FIRST TIMERS - OCTOBER 16, 2009

2. REPEATERS - SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

Please take note of the changes.

(orig. signed)
NICOLAS P. LAPEÑA, JR.
Chairman