on the qui vive - on the alert; watchful

PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION SCHEDULE OF LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS FOR YEAR 2012

2012-01-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

PRC EXAM SCHEDULE for 2012

Getting nervous already?
Feel free to leave your comments :)

Nursing Review Center, To enroll or not to enroll?

2012-01-13T03:30:00.000-08:00

I had these dilemmas exactly one year ago.

Will I enroll in a Nursing Review Center?

If I will, what Review Center will I choose?

What is the Best Review Center?

Which has the highest number of passers?

Having free review opportunities from two Nursing Review Centers would have been an offer I can't refuse (may i borrow Don Vito Corleone's line) or maybe it would at least make my
decision easier to make, anyway I only had two NRCs (Nursing Review Centers) to choose from. That could have been an easy feat but I wasn't just taking into consideration the free review that I can get, I was also thinking of the quality of review. After all, this review might make or break my Nursing Licensure Exam.

Eventually, It was time to decide. I thought...
If I chose to not enroll - and I failed the freaking NLE, I would drown in an ocean of regret.
But If I chose not to enroll - and I passed, that would be a great achievement
(not really, just something to brag about ^_^).

What was my decision?
I enrolled, because I didn't want to risk my chances. There might be information in the RC (Review Center) that would contribute to my self-review.
Anyway, It was for free, so why not?

After the review analysis

I think that somehow enrolling in a review center isn't all good as students expect it to be. Like everything else, there are advantages and disadvantages. I know students think that NRC's would be their passports into achieving their licenses (as some review centers claim), but for me? not really.

Read Further to know about my review center experience, my opinion on why should you or shouldn't you enroll in a RC and some great advantages and disadvantages of enrolling in a RC.

Should I enroll in a Review Center?

You should.

You should enroll in a Review Center if you happen to be aware of your own laziness. I am not saying that review centers are for lazy persons, what I'm saying is that review centers may help lazy persons to study more. This is puzzling you may think, but of course I'll tell you why..

IF YOU NEED TO BE PUSHED AND SQUEEZED TO STUDY, GO ENROLL. SOME review centers are capable of pushing people to their fullest capabilities. They make/squeeze you study more by monitoring your progress. These review centers use different strategies to encourage students.

Some NRCs post review test results online or on bulletin boards at the review venue, some even project the results every after test for everyone to see. Clearly, you don't want people to see and talk about a very low review test result beside your name (that represents your whole brood) online or on a bulletin board.
These Review centers also give recognition certificates or even trophies to the top scorers of review tests which boost the self-esteem of students. This is actually good for ambitious students (Of course you wanna bring home to your mom all the certificates and trophies, that is if you are competitive).

Some Review Centers give rewards to top scorers. Rewards, such as cash or gadgets, are very motivating bribes to students. Positive Reinforcement!

If you are the type of person who loves wandering around, gallivanting and going out, go ahead enroll!!! Not everyone can bear staying at ~~jail/~~home for 2-3 months while staring and sleeping with books. If you deprive yourself of your usual routine you may not be able to concentrate on your self-review because you will always be anxious about your chances of ~~escaping/~~wandering and gallivanting.

If you dislike reading massive books (1000 pages or more) you may like the review setting in the NRC. The NRCs usually give shortcuts and gists of particular topics (but honestly I'd rather know the whole pathophysiology/[how it got there] rather than just the gist).

An NRC can give you information you have never heard of during your entire College life.
I've never heard of entreprenurse, RN Heals and NARS until I enrolled in a NRC.
They can also give you a trend of what topics are popular in the NLE these past few years, they either researched about the trend extensively or they're just guessing.

You shouldn't.

Some, especially big review centers with countless branches here and there are not regulated very well.
Often, the quality of the review is compromised. I've experienced this first hand.

Forgotten Promises - Most review centers are named after it's own popular founder. I know that these are the people who you expect to teach you throughout the review or in a certain topic.
Take it from me, in three months I only saw this acclaimed lecturer once or twice. He also didn't teach us a particular topic CONTRARY to what the NRC told us that he would.
Now I realized that their names are for marketing purposes only. They make believe that this certain acclaimed lecturer will teach you, to convince you to enroll, but in my own experience and to our dismay he didn't. I am not only pertaining to one RC, this also happens to other RCs, just so you know.

Very Late lecturers - I had a cousin (who took the test the same time I did) who enrolled in another review center. Since their venue was much smaller than ours, the chairs were fewer. She had to go to the RC as early as 6AM to get the best seats. Their classes start at 7am or 8am but the lecturers arrive at 10am or even later, a great waste of time for a student, (when you are reviewing for a mind-blowing and life-changing test like this every minute counts).

Questionable quality of the review - Another concern I have is the total quality of the review. I had a lecturer who interchanged classifications of psychiatric drugs, SHE IS A DOCTOR. She wasn't even aware of the mistake she did, this was towards the end of the review. I was very frustrated and disappointed because she has been known to be a "not so good" lecturer and she proved her reputation as such once again. Our class had almost 250 students, there was a sudden facial expression of confusion in the venue. Students were looking at each other knowing that the doctor made a big mistake. What made me very sad was when I saw some students copying this classification mistake into their notes. I wanted to tell them to check first because there was something very wrong but at that time I didn't want them to say that I'm nagmamarunong.

What's the real score? - Lecturers have personalized answers. Some review test questions were repeated in tests but were handled by different lecturers. Some have their own answers that they have chosen to defend, the problem is THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ANSWERS!
Whenever that awkward situation happened there was a gentle uproar in the room.
When students asked them why do they have a different answer from other lecturers with the same exact questions, they always say " I'll look into that" but never answers or never at least give a reassuring answer.
Maybe that is forgivable sometimes, no one is perfect anyway as they say. But what if it happens all the time? It tends to be more of a confusion.
More importantly the student loses confidence in the lecturer and the NRC.

Inconsistent Correct Answers - but what really bothered me was when I found out that some of the review test questions they gave us were from several books, (that's not the bothering part) that's not really surprising - copy paste of questions is a norm but what's surprising are the wrong answers (they forget to copy the correct answers from sources). Lucky for me I have three books from which they copied some of their review test questions but lo and behold I was surprised that they didn't know the answer, oh they were providing their own answers, but their answers were definitely wrong (according to the book).
I had these books open in my table while they were discussing the questions in it, they copied the questions and choices word per word but when it comes to the correct answer it was a FAIL.
I had proof, I have the original book which contains the correct answer. This did not happen only once or twice but several times. I thought at that time that the NRC was just sending anyone to lecture for us without even taking into consideration the quality of review.

Only you can weigh the PROs and CONs of enrolling or not enrolling in a NRC.

If you decide to enroll in a NRC, make it as your ally, but do not depend on it 100%.

If you decide not to, then monitor, reward and motivate yourself.

Act as if you have your own NRC, the only difference is you are your own student.

ONLY GOD CAN GIVE US OUR LICENSE, NO ONE ELSE. NEVER FORGET TO STUDY, ASK AND PRAY. ^_^

Feel free to comment and share your own NRC experience. ^_^

List of Medical Schools in the Philippines

2012-01-08T18:41:00.000-08:00

Before choosing the best Medical School for you, you must have a list to choose from.

Finding a list of Medical Schools in the Philippines can be very tedious especially when you don't know where to start or where to find the list in the first place.

I have encountered this problem the past few months, I didn't know where the schools were or even their contact numbers. So I tried searching the internet like you did (yes I know you did) but I FOUND NO LIST! I thought everything was supposed to be in the internet.

I tried going to the websites of all the popular Medical Schools in the Philippines but sometimes their websites are not even working.

How do I contact these schools?

Because of my frustration I decided to type them down here for the future generation. Go ahead, look for your future school.

P.S. If in anyway this list helped you in your search for your medical school please COMMENT and let me know, I'd appreciate it.

You can also bookmark my blog for future references.

AMA College of Medicine
5486 South Superhighway cor. Gen. Tinio Street
Bangkal, Makati City
Tel. Nos. (02) 751-7131 & 889-8822

Angeles Univ. Foundation-College of Medicine
2009 Angeles City
Tel. No. (045) 625-2809

Ateneo De Zamboanga Univ.-School of Medicine
La Purisima St, 7000 Zamboanga City
Tel Nos. (062) 991-0870 & 993-1699

ATENEO DE MANILA UNIV.-SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND
PUBLIC HEALTH
Don Eugenio Lopez Sr. Medical Complex
Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City 1605
Tel. Nos. (02) 706-3085 to 87 Loc. 3004 & 635-9804

BAGUIO CENTRAL UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
No. 18 Lower P. Burgos St. Baguio City
Tel. Nos. (074) 446-5302, 442-4949 & 444-9247

BICOL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE-AGO
MEDICAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION
4500 Legaspi City
Tel. Nos. (052) 481-1155 & 482-1144

CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
3500 Tuguegarao, Cagayan
Tel. No. (078) 844-4119

CEBU DOCTORS UNIVERSITY
6000 Cebu City
Tel. No. (032) 253.4919

CEBU INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
Cebu City
Tel. Nos. (032) 253-7412 to 13

CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIV.-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Jaro, Iloilo City
Tel. (033) 329.1971 loc 1081/1048

DAVAO MEDICAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION
Medical School Drive, Bajada, 8000 Davao City
Tel. Nos (082) 226-3157, 226-2627 & 226-2344

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
4114 Bagong Bayan, Dasmariñas, Cavite
Tel. Nos. (046) 416.5484, 481.8000 loc 1319

EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila
Tel. No. 521-2710 loc 5521

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY-DR. NICANOR REYES
MEDICAL FOUNDATION
Regalado Ave. cor. Dalos St. Fairview, Quezon City
Tel. Nos. 938-4851 & 938-4884

ILOILO DOCTORS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
5000 Iloilo City
Tel. No. (033) 336.0775, 336.9550
.
LYCEUM NORTHWESTERN-DR. FRANCISCO Q. DUQUE
MEDICAL FOUNDATION
2400 Dagupan city
Tel. No. (075) 515.8128 (Registrar)

MANILA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY-FILEMON TANCHOCO
SR. MEDICAL FOUNDATION
1400 Caloocan City
Tel. Nos. 367-2249, 367-2031 & 38 loc 216

MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
9200 Tibanga, Iligan City
Tel. Nos. (063) 221.3835

OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIV.-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
120 McArthur Highway, 1405 Valenzuela, M. Manila

PAMANTASAN NG LUNSOD NG MAYNILA-COLLEGE OF
MEDICINE
1002 Intramuros, Manila
Tel. No. 527-9067

REMEDIOS T. ROMUALDEZ MEDICAL SCHOOL
FOUNDATION-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
6500 Tacloban City
Tel. Nos. (053) 327-5355 & 327-5506

SAN BEDA COLLEGE-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Mendiola Street, Legarda, Manila
Tel. Nos. 735-6011 & 735-6015 loc 4116

ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
2600 Baguio City
Tel. Nos. (074) 442-3043 & 442-2793

ST. LUKE’S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE-WILLIAM QUASHA
MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
Sta. Ignacia Street, 1102 Quezon City
Tel. No. 727-5549

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL
Angelo King Allied Medical Science Center
SUMOFI Compd., Aldecoa Road, Dumaguete City
Tel. Nos. (035) 422.6002 loc 599, 422.5895

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Matias Aznar Medical Foundation
6000 Cebu City
Tel. No. (032) 255-6469

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST-RAMON MAGSAYSAY
MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER
Aurora Boulevard, 1105 Quezon City
Tel. No. 713-3302

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES-COLLEGE OF
MEDICINE
Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Tel. Nos. (077) 722-2810, 722.7198

UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL HELP RIZAL-JONELTA
FOUNDATION SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Alabang-Zapote Road, Las Piñas City
Tel. Nos. 871-0639 loc 172 & 873.4938

UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL HELP SYSTEM-COLLEGE OF
MEDICINE
Dr. Jose G. Tamayo Medical University
4024 Sto. Nino, Biñan, Laguna
Tel. No. (049) 511.9051

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
1008 España, Manila
Tel. No. 406.1611 loc 8239

UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
La Salle Ave., Bacolod City
Tel. Nos. (034) 435-2582 (TF) 434-1063

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-COLLEGE OF
MEDICINE
Health Sciences Center
547 Pedro Gil Street, 1004 Metro Manila
Tel. No. 526-4170

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-SCHOOL OF HEALTH
SCIENCE
6501 Palo, Leyte
Tel. No. (053) 321-3114

UNIVERSITY OF THE VISAYAS-GULLAS COLLEGE OF
MEDICINE
Mandaue City
Tel. No. (032) 346-4224

VIRGEN MILAGROSA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONCOLLEGE OF MEDICINE
2420 San Carlos City, Pangasinan
Tel. No. (075) 955-5438, 532-2380 loc 280

WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIV.-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
5000 Iloilo City
Tel. No. (033) 320-0881

XAVIER UNIV.-DR. JOSE P. RIZAL COLL. OF MEDICINE
9000 Cagayan de Oro City
Tel. Nos. (08822) 858-3116 & 722-677 loc 1103 & 04

If you are a first or second year student who is taking a pre-med course or who is planning to take the NMAT, please read my tips for you on my next blog entry. See you!

How to pass and get ready for Philippine Nursing Licensure Exam

2012-01-04T04:23:00.000-08:00

You probably are a Nursing Student or a Nursing Grad who is very eager to get ready for the biggest fight of your life, THE NURSING LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS!

I know you want to prepare for it! that is why you landed on my blog right?
I know, I know. I can feel your pressure, been there.

I have some strategies on how to motivate myself and I hope these will help you too as they have helped me get an 85% rating on the NLE.

THESE were MY MOTIVATIONS

Some people are expecting me to fail and some will rejoice if I do. I won't allow that! Yes you read it right! I know you can relate with me when I say that once you decide to take the NLE the whole barangay, subdivision or village will know it in seconds, the information will spread like fire! And when the results come out they'll be the first in searching for your name in the newspapers or internet.When you pass they're the first to know (that's good) but when you fail they'll also be the first to know (that's bad) ISN'T THAT ENOUGH PRESSURE ALREADY? Name it, (some not all) neighbors, relatives or friends will one way or another wish us to fail for so many possible reasons. Let's face it, It's popular here in the Philippines, CRAB MENTALITY! But don't let it consume you, pressure is good but too much of it is bad. Use it as your motivation! Whenever I was tired of reviewing for the NLE (I took and passed it last JULY 2011) I often tell myself "pag bumagsak ka pagtatawanan ka nila" that made me read more and more.

This is not just for me but also for my family. How much did your parents spent to send you to Nursing School? 500,000 pesos for fees, how about allowances? This was one of my motivations, MONEY spent for Nursing School. I always think that I can let myself fail once in a while, but my family? I would never fail them. Just think of the hard work and sacrifices your mom or dad or whoever financed you to finish school, think of them and their happiness if you ever pass the NLE.

I will go through this stressful review and NLE only once in a lifetime! tell yourself that you will only take this test once, imagine the physical financial psychological and emotional stress you go through three months of review you don't want to go through that again. think positive, you are a "first taker".

God will never leave me in this battle I started praying for the board exams when I was in second year college. Why? why was I praying so hard so early? Because no matter how tough my brain cells are, I know it is only God who can decide my fate on the NLE. So go ahead pray NOW! then believe, believe that God will never let you down on this Battle.

You can write your own motivations or copy mine, choose what works for you. Mine definitely worked for me because all of these are my REAL feelings, anxieties and thoughts. God never left me in that battle. This is my proof :)

I blurred some of the info, I'm human I also need some privacy. :)

Next time I'll blog about Review Centers why they can or can't help you.

Have a great day ahead!

TOP PERFORMING SCHOOLS OF JULY 2 and 3 2011, Nursing Licensure Examinations

2011-08-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

Passing rates of all the Nursing Schools in the Philippines are also included.

Once again, Universities from Visayas proved that they are definitely forces to reckon with when it comes to the NLE.

University of the Philippines-Manila also had 100% passing rate maintaining it's unbeatable reputation and Nursing Licensure Exams domination. (which is expected every exam)

100%
Cebu Normal University
West Visayas State University
University of the Philippines Manila

Top performing schools of July 2011 Nursing Board Exam

2011-08-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

The results of the JULY 2011 Nursing Licensure Examinations
NLE Results July 2011