With the increasing number of nurses in the country and less opportunities to practice their profession, the Guardian Healthcare Providers started hiring Philippine nurses in 2001 through Fil-Overseas Employment Services, Inc., a POEA-licensed agency.

According to Tito Meneses, president of Fil-Overseas Employment Services, Inc., the Filipino nurses will have to undergo some intensive training through a joint program called Registered Nurses Development Program, between Guardian Health-care Providers (USA) and Fil-Overseas Employment Services in cooperation with some accredited hospitals in the country before they are hired to work abroad later.

Meneses said the program aims to provide hospital training to nurses hired by Guardian Health-care ranging from 6 to 18 months depending on level of hospital experience at the start of their training; increase nurses-to-patient ratio thereby improving the quality of healthcare services that the host hospitals can provide the local community; and training fees to training hospitals thereby increasing hospital revenues to be spent on better facilities and equipment.

Guardian Healthcare Providers chief executive officer Joe Owen said this US-based healthcare company was established in 1993 and this provides healthcare professionals to various US hospitals.

“The Guardian Healthcare Providers grew from 150 employees in 2001 to the current 1,200 employees. It has deployed hundreds of Philippine nurses and currently has more than 500 petitions under process for immigrant visas,” Owen said.

Pauline Xavier, vice president for international recruitment, said the hospitals who participated under this program include the Davao Medical Center, which was launched last October 20; the Davao Medical School Foundation on October 17; and Silliman Medical Center of Dumaguete City on June 2007.

Xavier said some additional similar tie-ups with hospitals in other cities in the country are envisioned in 2009.

Owen said nurses who desire to be included in this program should be NCLEX or CGFNS passers, hired by Guardian Healthcare, and passed the admissions screening by the training hospitals.