Should there be a nursing board exam retake?

Yes. Only for those who passed.

I am not for it simply because I think cheaters never win. I mean, I also have friends who passed and while I don't doubt that they are clean, I am for it for some deeper reason. It took me a while to craft my own stand on the matter. It was only while I was watching some local show that I realized I haven't really given the issue some thought.

Now why am I for it? Three things: One, we're talking about saving lives here and precisely the reason why we're holding these board exams is to check the qualifications of people with whom we might entrust our lives at some later time. Imagine having to run to an unqualified nurse in the future. Unknowingly, she might be one of the 400 who undeservingly received their licenses. I guess that's a horrible thought- to find out that the person taking care of you doesnt really know what she's doing.

Two, quality, credibility and integrity are three primary issues at stake. We are aware of the global qualifications of the nurses Philippine universities produce. Many of them bow down to Filipinos' way of taking care of people. We are known to be producers of excellent caretakers. To set aside the issue of leakage in the previous board exam is to undermine the value of and compromise the QUALITY, for which we're known. In the same way, to set aside the subject matter is to reduce the credibility both of the nursing institutions (schools and other governing bodies involved) and our very own people. The fact is, we're already known to be dirty players. If they don't know it, at least we, ourselves, do.

To ignore what happened is to admit that cheating is already or is slowly becoming a part of every single aspect of a Filipino's life. It is to say that one day, it might become our way of life. And it's a shame. But it doesn't have to be that way. This is one area that we can be proud of. It would be shameful to allow the country's credible image to be just tainted by the wrongdoings of those unconscientious despicable people. Plus, think about our integrity. What would people make of this unfortunate controversy? At least, if we can't stand up and proudly say that Philippine politics is worth emulating, let this one single area be spared from the embarassment. If we can't be righteous the way we should be, at least, let us be righteous with this one.

Finally, I am for the retake because to let the cheaters escape is to say that what happened was okay. Not necessarily that it's right, but it's okay and that while the controversy is big enough to be investigated, they were still able to escape from punishment. Worse, this is to wave a green flag and say go to more cheating in the future. True it is costly to review again and unimaginable to spend several weeks of sleepless nights just rehashing and refurbishing on procedures and terminologies. But, it is most especially this last reason that pushes me to think a retake is a must. It is painful to be doubted of your capabilities especially when you thought you've already proven yourself. It's even more painful to go through the whole process again, study and spend several month's of your parents' earnings just to pay for a prep course.

I am not for the retake of everyone. That would be costly and plain stupid. Why let those who failed, regardless of whether they had access to the leakage or not, get a second chance? The fact is, they already failed. Maybe they can try again in the future if they think nursing really is their calling or most likely, if it is their way out of poverty but I don't think it is not the right time for them to take the test. The whole point of the retake is to verify whether the people who passed really deserved to pass.

Whether we do the retake or not, someone's bound to get hurt and someone's bound to protest. It's a given. Perhaps the only thing we're fighting for here is principle; and there are some facts we must face:

That cheating is never a course of action, more so a desperate measure.
That proving ourselves worthy of the small card to give us access to the green money is costly, but much sweeter in the end.
and
That sometimes, we also have to suffer for the mistakes of others.

But the scariest and most painful of it all? The retake retains the fact that failing is still a POSSIBILITY, no matter how clean and prepared you come.