Employability of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Graduates in the Healthcare Industry

Abstract

Education has been the pillar of every man's dream and life aspirations. It shapes society in terms of social, cultural, economic, and fundamental development. It is vital that the curriculum be strengthened so that it would uphold and augment livelihood and job opportunities for nursing graduates. This study aimed to trace the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates for S.Y. 2014-2017. The findings served as the basis for a program-level intervention plan. This study utilized a descriptive design using simple random sampling with the use of a standardized Graduate Tracer Study survey tool designed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).This study utilized the descriptive survey research design.

There were one hundred fourteen (114) randomly selected graduates of the BSN degree  who served as respondents. Statistical treatment utilized simple percentages and ranking. Out of 114 respondents of the nursing graduates of the University of Cebu College of Nursing for S.Y. 2014-2017, the majority of the alumni were female nursing students who passed the Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination [PNLE]; professionals from Region VII, lived in the city, presently employed with a regular status working locally. The respondents took the undergraduate (BSN) course because of job opportunities abroad and a strong passion for the profession. The reason for some unemployed nursing graduates was the absence of opportunities. The company's line of business where the respondents are currently employed belongs to the health and social work sector. Salaries and benefits were the main reasons respondents accepted jobs and, at the same time, stayed in them. It was also the same motivation that the respondents were changing jobs. Most nursing graduates stated that their first job was related to their course, and they got the job details via recommendations from other people. The length of stay of the mainstream of the respondents in their jobs is from a year to less than three years. The job level position was rank-and-file. The initial monthly earnings for the first and current job were between Php10,000.00 and less than Php15,000.00. Self-motivation was the soft skills learned by the majority of the nursing graduates. Experience, on the other hand, was the hard skill that was learned by the respondents, with mathematical ability as the lowest. The popular nursing competency learned and applied by the nursing graduates in their jobs was health and quality nursing care. The respondents also agreed that the nursing competencies learned in college were relevant to their current job.