They wake up before sunrise, clock in for 12-hour shifts, and go home with aching feet and hearts heavier than their paychecks. This isn’t just the reality of licensed nurses—it’s also the untold story of nursing students across the Philippines.

In a country known for exporting world-class nurses, it’s ironic—and heartbreaking—that the path to becoming one is lined with exhaustion, sacrifice, and unpaid labor. A powerful article from Rappler brings to light the everyday grind of Filipino nurses, painting a picture that nursing students know all too well.

“Pagod na, gutom pa, walang bayad.”

A quote that perfectly sums up the clinical duty experience of many student nurses.

Every day, thousands of them report to hospitals as part of their internship requirements—working 8 to 12-hour shifts without pay, while still having to shoulder transport, food, and uniform expenses. They carry out real responsibilities: checking vital signs, preparing charts, even assisting in emergency cases.

Yet, they do it all not as paid healthcare workers, but as students trying to pass a subject.

The Systemic Irony

According to the Rappler piece, even licensed nurses working in government hospitals may only earn as low as ₱8,000 to ₱9,000 per month—a far cry from the ₱30,000 entry-level salary promised under Philippine laws. For nursing students, it's worse: zero pay despite handling responsibilities that, at times, blur the line between learning and labor.

The situation is so dire that some hospitals have become reliant on the unpaid workforce of student interns, especially during critical shortages. And with the pandemic exposing even more cracks in the healthcare system, this issue can no longer be swept under the rug.

Why This Matters on Labor Day

Labor Day is a time to celebrate the working class—the builders, the servers, the healers. But it should also be a moment to recognize the future workforce—nursing students—who are already laboring without compensation.

They are not just students, they are future frontliners learning the hard way what it means to serve. Their clinical duties are essential, their time valuable, and their sacrifices real. It’s time they received the recognition—and protection—they deserve.

A Call for Awareness and Reform

As we mark another Labor Day, let this be more than a celebration. Let it be a reminder that even those not yet fully in the workforce are already carrying the weight of it.

To nursing students: we see you. We honor you.

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Published: May 1, 2025 | Labor Day Special