Dr Jerip Susil
KUCHING: Failure to sit for or pass the qualifying exam with the Malaysian Nursing Board (MNB), and poor English language proficiency could account for 8,000 nursing graduates in Malaysia being unemployed.
Public Health Assistant Minister Dr Jerip Susil said the government was aware of the issue, especially when unemployment meant decades of debts for many graduates.
“Our concerns now are that jobless nurses are facing the burden of repaying study loans, which will affect the loaners and parents who sent their children for further studies in the hope they will have a secure future,” he said when met at his office recently.
Dr Jerip said nursing students were required to sit for the qualifying exams with MNB before they could register and practise nursing.
“Colleges that possess the licence to train nurses should ensure that their programmes are tied up with the MNB which is strict with the standard and qualification of nursing graduates,” he said, adding that it was important that graduates adapt to real life situations.
Nursing students were normally trained in a non-hospital environment equipped with artificial wards, clinics and dummies, Dr Jerip elaborated.
“Hence placing students on practical and attachment with hospitals is important for them to gain hands-on experience and skill,” he emphasised.
The Bengoh assemblyman called on all private colleges to offer a comprehensive and quality nursing course that could meet the demand of the government and private sectors.
He pointed out that I-Systems College, which he declared open, had made it compulsory for nursing students to sit for the board’s exams, without which they would not graduate.
“I am pleased with I-Systems College as their nursing course is tied up with the MNB. I am happy to note that the college has recorded 100 per cent passes with all graduate nurses interviewed by private hospitals for employment,” he said.
Dr Jerip said he would visit all the colleges offering nursing courses to look into their curriculum and setup as well as ensure qualifying exams were with the MNB.
Besides qualifying exams, poor proficiency in English among graduates could be another factor contributing to their unemployment, he reckoned.
“English is still the main language used in the medical field, especially in communication in private clinics and hospitals. But I realise that many youngsters with poor command of English could possibly fail in interviews,” he said.
Strengthening the command of English is an important aspect of nurse training which is why higher institutions make it compulsory for students to take the English subject, he added.
Asked if the ministry was responsible for monitoring and supervising nursing courses, Dr Jerip replied that the licence was approved by the federal side.
He observed that 98 per cent of nursing students came from native communities and rural areas such as Ulu Baram and Ulu Rejang. It could be that urban people were reluctant to do night shifts and youngsters felt it was not conducive for them.
“However, rural people are ready to commit to a career with significant expectations. They think there aren’t many avenues of employment for them. Another reason could be the potential to migrate.”
Malaysia, apart from the Philippines, is one of the significant countries in Asia which exports nurses to countries like Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand, he pointed out.
“Malaysians are well known for their good command of languages like English and Bahasa Melayu, so Malaysian nurses are in demand especially in the Middle East,” he said.
“But they must have the skills and proper training in Malaysia and master the English language. When the opportunities arises, they could seek employment overseas.”
Jerip noted that work migration could leave Malaysia suffering from a shortage of qualified nurses.
“In the past, there was an influx of government doctors resigning and leaving to work overseas and also to migrate, especially to Australia where there is a shortage of doctors and nurses,” he said.
Back home, the shift from government to private sector is apparent.
In Malaysia, the ratio of doctors to general population is 1:500 in urban areas and 1:2,000 in rural areas.
“We are improving and part of the government’s effort is to reduce this disparity as Malaysia has a small population of doctors,” he added.