EMPLOYABILITY OF THE NURSING GRADUATES

Abstract

Finding employability nowadays, is as hard as finding needle in a haystack. Many nursing graduates nowadays are noted to have work that is not related to their course in college (Obando & Shisanya, 2013). An Employment Summit of the Commission of Higher Education observed that higher education institutions were producing “graduates who do not match the labor demand” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2010). The present study determined the employability of University of Cebu Lapu-lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) graduates from 2007 to 2013. The relevance of this tracer study plays an important part in the UC-LM College of Nursing programme, to take up action plans for the betterment of the curriculum. The data utilized for this tracer study were gathered through the Graduate Tracer Instrument patterned from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The information from the graduates was gathered through wide dissemination using electronic means during their study at UCLM as requested for records and other pertinent data.There are 69 respondents in the tracer study that was conducted from the graduates of 2007-2013. Majority of the respondents were permanently employed and the reasons for unemployment is because of pursuing advance or future studies. Some just did not look for a job. Most of their employer's line of business is in the health and social work sector. Fifty percent of the respondents had jobs related to the course they took up in college and most of them are locally employed. Sixty seven percent of the graduates claimed that they were able to land a job relevant to the curriculum in college.The competencies that the graduates find useful in their first job are as follows: they believe that communication skills are an important aspect, as well as human relations skills, and critical thinking skills. The graduates claim that they are satisfied and happy with their current employment. The researchers recommend the following: The alumni ofce and the placement office of UCLM shall conduct campus job fairs and pre hiring announcements through bulletin boards and websites. The guidance services must provide the graduates with career opportunities orientation that will help the graduate nurses to secure jobs in health sector and also in other related fields. The university should improve the development of students' skill set necessary for the industry.