EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) REPUBLIC OF THE PHIILIPPINES ) F irst Regular Session )

SENATE

v : : r, . ;s».

'19 J'JL 30 ?4 '14

Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto

AN ACTIN S T IT U T IN G REFORMS TO FURTHER PROTECT AND DEVELOP THE NURSING PROFESSION, AM EN DING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 9 1 7 3 , OTHERW ISE KNOW N AS THE "P H IL IP P IN E NURSING ACT OF 2 0 0 2 "

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Nursing is one o f the top career choices o f Filipinos. Enrolment In the course

has ballooned from 30,000 in 2010 to about half a million in 2016,1 producing

approximately 200,000 nursing graduates every year2. The number o f schools

offering nursing courses also grew from just 40 in 1970 to more than a hundred at

present. The rising enrolment mirrors the rising demand for the services o f

professional nurses in the Philippines and in other countries. A good number o f

Filipino doctors also took nursing courses to get advantage o f the increasing demand

for nurses overseas.

However, despite the large pool o f nursing graduates, many nursing positions

in public and private health facilities in the country remain unfilled due to many

factors, including among others, the low compensation and generally poorer working

environment in the country. There is a wide disparity between earnings in local

nursing positions against foreign employment. The amount that nurses can earn

1 hUp://www.died.gov.pli/chcdwww/indcx.php/cng/Inronnation/S latislics.2 hUp://nursingcnb.com/ncws-blog/t))c-pliiIippincs-produccs-2()(KH)0-nui'sing-grailua(cs-ycarly/

overseas is about ten times more than what they can earn locally. Thus, Filipino

nurses instead o f working in the country still prefer to seek employment abroad.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported tha t in

2007, nurse deployment at 12,263 was already double that o f 6,410 nurse

deployment in 2000. The number o f newly-hired nurses going abroad continued to

increase from 13,004 in 2009 to 19,551 in 2016, at an average growth rate o f

10.5% per year.3 The top ten destination countries in the last ten years were Saudi

Arabia; Singapore; United Arab Emirates; Libya; Kuwait; United Kingdom; Qatar;

Taiwan; Oman; and Bahrain.4

The problem is further aggravated by some abusive practices inflicted on our

nursing graduates. In the recent past, many o f our nursing graduates were

subjected to pay "training fees" and were forced to "volunteer" by hospitals in

exchange for the necessary "experience" that they need for employment here and

abroad. The hospital experience has become a mandatory prerequisite fo r employers

because o f the undesirable reputation o f most nursing schools in the country and the

quality o f education that they offer.

This reality made local employment unattractive for our nurses resulting in

the d ifficulty o f realizing the ideal nurse to patient ratio o f 1:4 per shift in our

country. For instance, the Philippine General Hospital has a nurse to patient ratio o f

1:15-26 per shift while Davao del Sur has a province-wide ratio o f 1:44-45 per shift.5

This bill intends to address the above-mentioned challenges facing the

nursing profession in the Philippines by amending Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9173 or

the Philippine Nursing Act 2002. I t aims to make the law more responsive in

addressing the developments in the nursing profession which were not yet present

when it was enacted more than a decade ago.

’ http://www.poca.gov.pli/orwslat/com pendiu in/20l5-20l6 pdf. (latest edition).4http://www.poca.gov.plt/stat.s/20l0%20Deployment%20hy%20Occupation.%20Dcslination%20and%20Sex"h2020l0<,n20-%20New%20hires.pdr5 Department o l'Health. Health Faeililics ami Govenimcnt Ilea lih Maii|X)wer. IO'W-2001),

This bill will institute necessary reforms to further develop the nursing

profession, increase protection fo r nursing professionals and raise the standard o f

nursing education in the country. I t proposes to restructure the scope and practice

o f nursing by including specific mandates on certification, specialization and

educational requirements o f nursing graduates; to expand the powers o f the Board

o f Nursing by strengthening its role in decision-making processes; to strengthen the

nursing professionals including the faculty and administration o f nursing schools; to

upgrade the standards in nursing education, practice and guidelines for nursing

career progression; and, to provide a better environment for nursing practice.

These reforms envision to enhance the protection and welfare o f Filipino

nurses to make them responsive to the needs o f their patients and the public and

private health systems, may it be in-country or overseas.

In view of the foregoing, approval o f this Bill is earnestly sought.

//m ksbc

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) F irst Regular Session )

SENATE'19 JIJL30 P4:14

S. No.

Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto

AN ACTIN S T IT U T IN G REFORMS TO FURTHER PROTECT AND DEVELOP THENURSING PROFESSION, AM EN D IN G FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 9 1 7 3 , OTHERW ISE KNOW N AS THE "P H IL IP P IN E N URSING ACT OF 2 0 0 2 "

Be i t enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in Congress assem bled:

1 Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Nursing

2 Practice Reform Act".

3 Sec. 2. Article I I o f Republic Act No. 9173 is hereby amended to read as

4 follows:

5 "ARTICLE II

6 "SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. - PUBLIC HEALTH

7 SAFETY DEMANDS A H IG H LEVEL OF COMPETENCY AMONG

8 F IL IP IN O NURSES. I t is hereby declared the policy o f the State to

9 GUARANTEE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO THE DELIVERY OF BASIC

10 Q U ALITY HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH AN ADEQUATE

11 NURSING PERSONNEL SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

12 THE STATE RECOGNIZES NURSES AS PRIM E MOVERS OF

13 N ATIO N AL DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTORS TO

14 IN TE R N A TIO N A L COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING. AS

15 SUCH, THE STATE assumeS responsibility for the protection, [and ]

16 improvement AND DEVELOPMENT of the nursing profession by

17 instituting measures that will result in relevant AND Q U ALITY nursing

18 [ education] PRACTICE, humane working conditions, better career

1 prospects, and a dignified existence for [o u r] nurses TO ENSURE A

2 H IG H LEVEL OF WELLNESS AND W ELL-BEING .

3 "The State hereby guarantees the delivery o f quality basic

4 health services through an adequate nursing personnel system

5 throughout the country."

6 Sec. 3. Section 28, Article VI o f the same Act Is hereby amended and

7 renumbered as Section 3 under Article I I I and succeeding Sections are hereby

8 renumbered accordingly, to read as follows:

9 "ARTICLE [V I] I I I

10 SCOPE OF Nursing Practice

11 "SEC. [2 8 ] 3. Scope o f Nursing PRACTICE. - A person shall be

12 deemed to be practicing nursing within the meaning o f this Act when

13 [ ho/she ] THE PERSON singly or in collaboration w ith another, initiates and

14 performs nursing [services] CARE to individuals, families, POPULATION

15 GROUPS and communities in any health care setting. I t includes, but not

16 limited to, nursing care during conception, labor, delivery, infancy, childhood,

17 toddler, preschool, school age, adolescence, adulthood and old age. [As

18 independent-proeti t ionefS7] Nurses are primarily responsible for the promotion

19 o f health and prevention o f illness. As members o f the health team, nurses

20 shall collaborate w ith other health care providers for the PROM OTIVE,

21 PREVENTIVE, curative, [preveetive] and rehabilitative aspects o f care,

22 restoration o f health, alleviation o f suffering, and when recovery is not

23 possible, towards a peaceful death. IN PERFORMING INDEPENDENT

24 AN D COLLABORATIVE FUNCTIONS SING LY OR JO IN TLY , it shall be the

25 duty o f the nurse to:

26 "(a ) Provide nursing care through the utilization o f the nursing

27 process. BASIC nursing care includes, but not limited to, traditional

28 and innovative approaches, therapeutic use o f self, executing health

29 care techniques and procedures, essential primary health care, comfort

30 measures, health teachings, and administration o f w ritten prescription

31 for treatment, therapies, oral, topical and parenteral medications,

32 internal examination during labor in the absence o f antenatal bleeding

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and de livery[. In cose o f] AND suturing o f perineal laceration [ special

'(B ) PROVIDE ADVANCED NURSING CARE THROUGH

EXPANDED AND SPECIALIZED ROLES W IT H IN THE

PROTOCOL OF ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE.

C ER TIFIC ATIO N BY AN ACCREDITED C ER TIFIC ATIO N BODY

IS REQUIRED;

"[d ](C )[E s ta t)ltGh linkages] COLLABORATE with community

resources and [ coordination] COORDINATE with THE

MEMBERS OF the health team IN ANY HEALTH CARE

SETTING;

" [ €] ( d ) Provide health education to AND COLLABORATE

W IT H individuals, families, POPULATION GROUPS and

communities TO M A IN T A IN , A TTA IN , RESTORE AND

SUSTAIN O PTIM AL HEALTH AND Q U ALITY OF LIFE;

" [d ](E ) x x x ; and

" [e ] (F ) Undertake nursing and health human resource

development training and research, which shall include, but not

limited to, the development of advanceD nursing practice:

"Provided, That this section shall not apply to nursing students

who perform nursing functions under the direct supervision o f a

qualified faculty: Provided, further, That in the practice o f nursing in

all settings, the nurse is [ duty-bound] MANDATED to observe the

Code o f Ethics for Nurses and uphold the standards o f safe AND

Q U ALITY nursing practice. The nurse is required to maintain

competence by continual [ learning through continuing ] professional

DEVELOPMENT AS PRESCRIBED by the

BOARD OF Nursing [ organizat ion]: Provided, finaiiy, That the

program and activity for the [cont inuing ] C O N TIN U AL

PROFESSIONAL [ educat ion] DEVELOPMENT shall be submitted to

and approved by the Board."

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1 Sec. 4. Article I I I o f the same Act is hereby amended to become Article IV to

read as follows:

"ARTICLE [ f f l ] IV

Organization o f the Board o f Nursing

"SEC. [3 ] 4 . Creation and Composition o f the Board. - There

shall be created a Professional Regulatory Board o f Nursing,

hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed o f a chairperson

and six (6) members. They shall be appointed by the President o f the

Republic o f the Phiiippines from among two (2) recommendees, per

vacancy, o f the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), hereinafter

referred to as the Commission, chosen and ranked from a list o f three

(3) nominees, per vacancy, o f the accredited professional organization

o f nurses in the Philippines who possess the qualifications prescribed in

SEC. [4 ] 5 o f this Act."

"SEC. [4 ] 5. Qualifications o f the Chairperson and Members o f

the Board. - The Chairperson and Members o f the Board shall, at the

time o f their appointment, possess the following qualifications:

"(a ) Be a natural born citizen and resident o f the Philippines

FOR THE LAST THREE (3 ) YEARS;

XXX;

Be a registered nurse IN THE P H IL IP P IN E S , and

holder o f a CURRENT V A LID PRC ID ;

"(b )

"(c)

shall be holders o f a m aster's- degree in nursing:

'(D ) BE A HOLDER OF A MASTER'S DEGREE IN NURSING

AND OTHER RELATED HEALTH SCIENCE

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1 PROGRAMS CONFERRED BY AN ACCREDITED

U N IVER SITY ;

' ' [ d ] ( E) Have at least ten (10) years o f continuous practice o f

the NURSING profession prior to appointment; and

turpitode] MUST BE OF PROVEN HONESTY AND

IN TEG R ITY:

"Provided, That the membership to the Board shall represent the

three (3) areas o f nursing, namely: nursing education, nursing service

and community health nursing."

"SEC. [5 ] 6. Requirements Upon Qualification as Member o f the

Board o f Nursing. - xxx."

"SEC. [6 ] 7. Term o f Office. - xxx."

"SEC. [7 ] 8. Compensation o f the Board Members. - xxx."

"SEC. [8 ] 9. Administrative Supervision o f the Board, Custodian o f

its Records, Secretariat and Support Services. - xxx."

"SEC. [9 ] 10. Powers and Duties o f the Board. - xxx:

" (a) ENSURE THE PROPER conduct OF the P H IL IP P IN E

NURSE Licensure Examination [ for nurses] (PN LE)

CO N SID ERING THE PROCESS AND SYSTEMS OF

THE C O M M ISSIO N , W H IC H INCLUDE BUT IS NOT

L IM IT E D TO APPLIC ATIO N , TEST DEVELOPMENT,

EXAM IN ATIO N , CORRECTION AND RELEASE OF

RESULTS. THE USE OF APPROPRIATE

TECHNOLOGY /M O D A L IT IE S D UR IN G THE

CONDUCT OF THE PNLE IS ENCOURAGED TO

ENHANCE EFFICIENCY W H ILE UPHO LDING

IN TEG R ITY ;

"(b ) Issue, suspend, [o r ] revoke OR REISSUE certificates o f

registration for the practice o f nursing AND ENSURE

W ID E S T PU BLIC ATIO N THROUGH ELECTRONIC

AN D W R ITTEN M ED IA;

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'(C )

'(d )

'(e )

'( f)

'(g )

[ Monito r] ENFORCE and M O NITOR SAFE AND quality

standards o f nursing practice in the Philippines and

exercise the powers necessary to ensure the maintenance

o f efficient, [e th ica l] ETHICO-MORAL, [and ] technical,

[m ora l] AND professional standards in the practice o f

nursing [ta king- in to -accoun^-the] TOW ARDS O PTIM AL

health [needs] AND THE COMMON GOOD of the

nation;

Ensure quality nursing education by examining [the

AND M O N ITO R IN G HIGHER

EDUCATION IN S T ITU T IO N S (H E I) OFFERING

nursing [education] PROGRAM and those seeking

permission to open nursing courses to ensure that

standards o f nursing education are properly complied with

and maintained at all times. The authority to open and

close [eoHeges o f nursing and/or] nursing education

programs OFFERED BY H EI, shall be vested on the

Commission on Higher Education, ONLY upon the written

AND FAVORABLE recommendation o f the Board;

xxx;

Promulgate a Code o f Ethics THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO

THE NEEDS OF THE NURSING PROFESSION, in

coordination and consultation with the accredited

professional organization o f nurses within one (1) year

from the effectivity o f this Act;

with------the------accredited------professional------organization]

IN STITU TE A N ATIO NAL NURSING CAREER

PROGRESSION PROGRAM (NNCPP) FOR THE

C O N TIN U IN G PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF

F IL IP IN O NURSES;

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1 " (H ) CREATE A COUNCIL FOR NURSING RECO GNITION,

ACCREDITATION AND C ER TIFIC ATIO N THAT W IL L

ASSIST THE BOARD OF NURSING IN :

(1 ) RECOGNIZING ORGANIZED NURSING

GROUPS;

(2 ) SETTING STANDARDS FOR ADVANCED

NURSING PRACTICE, EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND

MANAGEMENT;

(3 ) ACCREDITING SPECIALTY PROGRAMS AND

ADVANCED NURSING PROGRAMS BASED ON

ESTABLISHED MECHANISMS;

(4 ) CREDENTIALING IN D IV ID U A L REGISTERED

NURSES BASED ON ACCEPTED C R ITER IA ;

(5 ) M O N ITO R IN G AND EVALUATION OF

ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE, EDUCATION,

RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE SAFETY

AND Q UALITY OF NURSING PRACTICE IN THE

P H IL IP P IN E S ;

" ( I ) MAKE DECISIONS TO INFLUENCE A U TH O R ITIES /

AGENCIES ON MATTERS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT

NURSES' WELFARE;

" (J ) ENSURE PERFORMANCE OF MANDATED DUTIES

AND FUNCTIONS W ITH THE PR O VIS IO N OF

OPERATIONAL RESOURCES IN C LU D IN G HUMAN

RESOURCE, PHYSICAL SPACE AND BUDGET TO

ENSURE THE C O N FID E N TIA LITY AND SANCTITY OF

TH E IR FUNCTIONS AS PROVIDED THROUGH THE

ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE PRC AS PROMULGATED

IN THE GENERAL APPRO PRIATIO NS ACT; AND

'[h ] (K ) XXX."

"SEC. [ iO ] 11, Annual Report. - xxx."

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"SEC. [ H ] 12. Removal o r Suspension o f Board Members. -

XXX.

Sec. 5. Article IV o f the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"ARTICLE [IV ] V

Examination and Registration

"SEC. [1 2 ] 13. P H IL IP P IN E NURSE Licensure Examination. -

All applicants for license to practice nursing shall be required to pass a

w ritten examination, which shall be given by the Board in such places

and dates as may be designated by the Commission: Provided, That it

shall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as

the "PRC Modernization Act o f 2000."

"SEC. [1 2 ] 14. Qualifications fo r Admission to the

P H IL IP P IN E NURSE Licensure Examination. - In order to be

admitted to the examination for nurses, [a n ] THE APPLIC ATIO N

MUST BE FILED IM M E D IA TE LY UPON GRADUATION OF THE

applicant AND must [a t- thc t ime -o f- f i ltng-h ts /h e r] establish to the

satisfaction o f the Board that:

"(a) xxx;

"(b ) xxx;

"(c ) [H c/shc] THE APPLICANT is a holder o f a Bachelor['-s

Dcgree- In ] OF SCIENCE IN NURSING DEGREE from a

college or university that complies w ith the standards o f

nursing education duly recognized by the proper government

agency."

"SEC. [1 4 ] 15. Scope o f Examination. - The scope o f the

examination for the practice o f nursing in the Philippines shall be

determined by the Board [ . The Board - shal l - take ] OF N URSING

TA K IN G into consideration the CORE COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

OF B E G IN N IN G NURSE PRACTITIONERS CO N SID ERING THE

objectives o f the nursing curriculum [, the brood areas o f nursing, and

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1 IN RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF THE SOCIETY

AND THE DEMANDS OF INDUSTRY.

THE P H IL IP P IN E NURSE LICENSURE EXAM IN ATIO N SHALL BE

BASED ON A COMPETENCY-BASED TEST FRAM EW ORK."

"SEC. [ iS ] 16. Ratings. - In order to pass the examination, an

examinee must obtain a general average o f at least seventy-five

percent (75% ) with a rating o f not below [s ixty percent (60% )]

SEVENTY PERCENT (7 0 % ) in any subject. An examinee who obtains

an average rating o f seventy-five percent (75% ) or higher but gets a

rating below [s ixty percent (60% )] SEVENTY PERCENT (7 0 % ) in

any subject must take the examination again but only in the subject or

subjects where [ he/she ] THE EXAMINEE is rated below [ sixty-percent

(6 0 % )] SEVENTY PERCENT (7 0 % ) . In order to pass the succeeding

examination, an examinee must obtain a rating o f at least seventy-five

percent (75% ) in the subject or subjects repeated. AN EXAMINEE

SHALL BE G IVEN A CHANCE TO REPEAT THE PNLE W IT H A

M A X IM U M OF THREE (3 ) EXAM IN ATIO N S."

"SEC. [ i 6 ] 17. Oath. - xxx."

"SEC. [1-7] 18. Issuance o f Certificate o f

Registration/Professional License and Professional Identification Card. -

A certificate o f registration/professional license as a nurse shall be

issued to an applicant who passes the examination upon payment o f

the prescribed fees. Every certificate o f registration/professional license

shall show the full name of the registrant, the serial number, the

signature o f the Chairperson o f the Commission and o f the Members o f

the Board[7]. THE CERTIFICATE SHALL BEAR THE LOGO OF THE

BOARD OF NURSING and the official seal o f the Commission.

"A professional identification card, duly signed by the

Chairperson o f the Commission, bearing the date o f registration, license

number, and the date o f issuance and expiration thereof shall likewise

be issued to every registrant upon payment o f the required fees."

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1 "SEC. [1 8 ] 19. Fees fo r Examination and Registration. -

Applicants for licensure and for registration shall pay the prescribed

fees set by THE Commission."

"SEC. [1 9 ] 20. Automatic Registration o f Nurses. - All nurses

whose names appear at the roster o f nurses shall [ be automatically o r]

ipso facto BE registered as nurses AND AS MEMBERS OF THE PRC

ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL O R G AN IZATIO N (APO ) [u nder-tbts

Aet] UPON [its ] THE effectivity OF TH IS ACT."

"SEC. [2 0 ] 21. Registration by Reciprocity. - xxx."

"SEC. [2 1 ] 22. Practice Through Speciai/Temporary Perm it - A

special/temporary permit may be issued [ by t h e -Board ] to the

following persons [subject— to— tbe— approval— o f] BASED ON

Q U A LIF IC A T IO N STANDARDS AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD

OF NURSING AND APPROVED BY the Commission

"(a) xxx;

"(b ) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states on medical

mission whose services shall be free in a particular hospital,

center or clinic; and

"(c) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states [ employed ]

ENGAGED by schools/colleges o f nursing as exchange

professors in a branch or specialty o f nu rs ing [f] AND IN

EMERGENCY SITU ATIO N S OF GROSS DISASTERS

AND C ALAM ITIES :

"Provided, however, That the special/temporary permit shall be

effective only for the duration o f the project, medical mission or

[ employm ent] ENGAGEMENT contract."

"SEC. [2 2 ] 23. Non-registration and Non-issuance o f Certificates

o f Registration/Professionai License o r Speciai/Temporary Perm it -

xxx."

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1 "SEC. [2 3 ] 24. Revocation and suspension o f Certificate o f

2 Registration/Professionai License and Canceiiation o f

3 Speciai/Temporary Perm it - xxx."

4 "SEC. [2 4 ] 25 . Re-issuance o f Revoked Certificates and

5 Replacement o f Lost Certificates. - xxx."

6 Sec. 6. Articles V and VI of the same Act are hereby amended to read

7 as follows:

8 "ARTICLE [V] V I

9 Nursing Education

10 "SEC. [2 5 ] 26 . Nursing Education [Program ]. - NURSING

11 EDUCATION IS THE FORMAL LEARNING AND T R A IN IN G IN THE

12 SCIENCE AND ART OF NURSING PROVIDED BY HIGHER

13 EDUCATION IN S T IT U T IO N S DULY ACCREDITED BY THE CHED.

14 " (A ) B A S IC N U R S IN G EDUCATIO N PROGRAM. - The

15 BASIC nursing education program [sbaH] IS A

16 COMPETENCY-BASED CURRICULUM W H IC H W IL L

17 provide sound general and professional foundation for [the

18 praetiee— of] nursing SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO

19 IM PLEM ENT THE NECESSARY SAFE Q U ALITY

20 NURSING PRACTICE. A D M IS S IO N TO THE

21 BACCALAUREATE NURSING PROGRAM SHALL

22 REQUIRE PASSING A N ATIO N AL NURSING

23 A D M IS S IO N TEST (N N AT).

24 The learning experiences shall adhere strictly to specific

25 requirements embodied in the prescribed curriculum as

26 promulgated by the Commission on Higher Education's

27 policies and standards o f nursing education."

28 " (B ) GRADUATE N U R SIN G EDUCATIO N PROGRAM. -

29 THE GRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM

30 BU ILD S ON THE EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS OF A

31 REGISTERED NURSE TOW ARDS MASTERY,

32 EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE,

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1 RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. IT INCLUDES A

MASTER'S DEGREE AND DOCTORATE DEGREE IN

NURSING FOUNDED ON S C IE N TIF IC BODY OF

KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE.

GRADUATE AND POST-GRADUATE NURSING

PROGRAMS SHALL BE OFFERED ONLY BY LEVEL

THREE (3 ) ACCREDITED HIGHER EDUCATION

IN S T IT U T IO N S BASED ON RELEVANT CHED

PO LIC IES AND GUIDELINES.

(C ) Qualifications o f [ th e ] Faculty MEMBERS. -

'( 1 ) B A S IC N U R SIN G EDUCATION. A member o f the faculty in

a college of nursing teaching professional courses must:

" [ ( ^ 1 - A . Be a registered nurse in the Philippines AND A

HOLDER OF A CURRENT V A L ID PRC ID ;

" [ ( ^ l . B . Have at least [© ne -(T )] THREE (3 ) yearS o f

clinical practice in a field o f specialization;

■[(c )-- Bo- a member o f good -standing in the accredited

" [ (4 ) ] l.C . Be a holder o f a master's degree in nursing,

education, or other allied health sciences conferred by

a college o f university duly recognized by the

Government o f the Republic o f the Philippines;

" l . D . UNDERGO TEACHER T R A IN IN G FOR

NURSING EDUCATION PRIOR TO TEACHING

EMPLOYMENT; AND

l.E . UNDERGO C LIN IC A L SKILLS COMPETENCY

ENHANCEMENT EVERY TW O (2 ) YEARS, AS

PRESCRIBED AND ACCREDITED BY THE BOARD.

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1 " (2 ) GRADUATE N U R SIN G EDUCATION. A MEMBER

OF THE FACULTY TEACHING GRADUATE

PROFESSIONAL COURSES MUST:

" 2 .A. FOLLOW PRESCRIPTIONS 1 AND 2 OF

BASIC NURSING EDUCATION; AND

"2 .B . BE A HOLDER OF A DOCTORAL DEGREE

IN NURSING, EDUCATION, OR OTHER ALLIED

HEALTH SCIENCES CONFERRED BY A COLLEGE

OR U NIVER SITY DULY RECOGNIZED BY THE

GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE

P H IL IP P IN E S :

PROVIDED, THAT HIGHER EDUCATION

IN S T IT U T IO N S OFFERING BOTH BASIC AND

GRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

SHALL BE GIVEN THREE (3 ) YEARS W IT H IN

W H IC H TO COMPLY W IT H Q U A LIF IC A TIO N

REQUIREMENTS OF FACULTY MEMBERS FROM

THE EFFECTIVITY OF TH IS ACT.

'(D ) Q U A LIF IC A T IO N S OF THE DEAN. - THE DEAN OF A

COLLEGE OF NURSING MUST:

" (1 ) BE A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE P H IL IP P IN E S

AND A HOLDER OF A CURRENT V A L ID PRC ID ;

" ( 2 ) HAVE AT LEAST THREE (3 ) YEARS OF C LIN IC A L

PRACTICE IN A FIELD OF S P EC IALIZATIO N ;

" (3 ) HAVE AT LEAST THREE (3 ) YEARS OF NURSING

EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

EXPERIENCE OR THREE (3 ) YEARS OF

MANAGEMENT IN ANY HEALTH-RELATED

IN S T IT U T IO N ;

" (4 ) BE A HOLDER OF A MASTER'S DEGREE IN

NURSING FOR BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM

AND PREFERABLY A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN

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1 NURSING FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAM

CONFERRED BY AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR

U N IVER SITY IN THE P H IL IP P IN E S OR ITS

EQUIVALENT; AND

'( 5 ) UNDERGO PROGRESSIVE T R A IN IN G FOR

DEANS ACCORDING TO PROGRAM PRESCRIBED

BY THE BOARD."

^11 vJI wll I I ULUUvJ J

"SEC. 27 . N U R S IN G SERVICE. - NURSING SERVICES INCLUDE,

BUT ARE NOT L IM IT E D TO, NURSING CARE PROVIDED TO

IN D IV ID U A L , FAM ILY OR GROUP IN ANY HEALTH CARE

SETTING SUCH AS HOSPITALS, PUBLIC HEALTH

IN S T IT U T IO N S OR CO M M U NITIES, C LIN IC S AND OTHERS BY

A REGISTERED NURSE. THE NURSE SHALL POSSESS THE CORE

COMPETENCIES PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD OF NURSING.

NURSING SERVICE INCLUDES THE PR O VIS IO N OF

SPECIALIZED, EXPANDED AND ADVANCED PRACTICE

SERVICES AS WELL AS NURSING MANAGEMENT.

" (A ) B E G IN N IN G NURSE PRACTITIONER. - B E G IN N IN G

NURSE PRACTITIONER PROVIDES FOR SAFE AND

Q U ALITY CARE TO AN IN D IV ID U A L , FAM ILY OR

GROUP THAT IS INDEPENDENT OR PROVIDED AS

PART OF A TEAM BY A NURSE OR A GROUP OF

NURSES W HO W IL L BE ABLE TO ASSESS, PLAN,

IM PLEM ENT AND EVALUATE CARE PROVIDED TO

CLIENTS BASED ON EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM

RESEARCH.

A B EG IN N IN G NURSE PRACTITIONER MUST HAVE THE

FO LLO W ING M IN IM U M Q U ALIF IC A TIO N S:

(1 ) BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

GRADUATE;

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1 (2 ) REGISTERED NURSE W IT H CURRENT PRC

ID ;

(3 ) MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE ACCREDITED

PROFESSIONAL O R G AN IZATIO N (A P O ); AND

(4 ) MUST NOT BE CONVICTED OF ANY CRIM E

OF MORAL TURPITUDE.

" (B ) ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER. - ADVANCED

NURSE PRACTITIONER IS A REGISTERED NURSE W HO

HAS ACQUIRED EXPERT KNOWLEDGE BASE, COMPLEX

D E C IS IO N -M A K IN G SKILLS AND C L IN IC A L

COMPETENCIES FOR EXPANDED PRACTICE BASED ON

EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM RESEARCH. ADVANCED

PRACTICE OF NURSING REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL

THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE SPECIALTY AREA

OF NURSING PRACTICE AND PRO FICIENT C LIN IC A L

U T IL IZ A T IO N OF T H IS KNOWLEDGE IN

IM PLEM EN TIN G INDEPENDENT AND

INTERDEPENDENT NURSING IN TER VEN TIO NS.

SPECIALTIES CAN BE DIFFERENTIATED IN DIFFERENT

CATEGORIES: ACCORDING TO FUNCTIONS,

DISEASE/PATHOLOGY, SYSTEMS, AGE, SEX, ACUITY,

SETTINGS, TECHNOLOGY/THERAPIES. TH IS

PRACTICE INCLUDES THE A C Q U IS IT IO N OF NEW

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT LE G IT IM IZ E ROLE

AUTONOMY W IT H IN SPECIFIC AREAS OF PRACTICE. A

MASTERS DEGREE IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY LEVEL.

T H IS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT L IM IT E D TO THOSE W HO

ARE IN EDUCATION, MANAGEMENT AND C LIN IC A L

PRACTICE.

AN ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER MUST HAVE

THE FOLLOW ING M IN IM U M Q U A LIF IC A TIO N S IN

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1 A D D IT IO N TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF A B E G IN N IN G

NURSE PRACTITIONER:

(1 ) RELEVANT MASTERS DEGREE FROM A

RECOGNIZED UNIVERSITY-BASED PROGRAM;

(2 ) MUST BE CERTIFIED BASED ON THE BOARD OF

NURSING PROTOCOL; AND

(3 ) MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE ACCREDITED

PROFESSIONAL O R G R AN IZATIO N (APO ) AND

THE CORRESPONDING SPECIALTY

O R G A N IZ A T IO N ."

" [ SEC.- -29] (C ) [ ^ m c jt io n o f- a] N U R S IN G SERVICE

[A dm inistrators] MANAGER. - A [person] NURSING

SERVICE MANAGER IS A PRACTITIONER occupying

supervisory or managerial positions requiring LEADERSHIP

AND knowledge o f nursing [m os t:] MANAGEMENT.

'( 1 ) THE FIRST LEVEL MANAGER IS

RESPONSIBLE DIRECTLY W IT H THE

PHYSICAL SET-UP OF THE U N IT , STRUCTURE

AND OTHER HUMAN RESOURCES FOR

HEALTH;

'( 2 ) THE M ID D LE LEVEL MANAGER IS

RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OR

SECTION HAND LIN G MORE THAN ONE (1 ) OR

TW O (2 ) UNITS, TAKES CARE OF THE

F IN AN C IAL, LOG ISTIC , OPERATIONAL

FUNCTIONS AND OTHERS; AND

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1 " ( 3 ) THE TOP LEVEL MANAGER OVERSEES THAT

ALL NURSING U NITS IN TERMS OF THE

F IN A N C IA L, HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH

IN C LU D IN G THE NURSES, NURSING

ASSISTANTS/ADJUNCTS AND OTHERS.

"A NURSING SERVICE MANAGER MUST HAVE THE

FO LLOW ING M IN IM U M Q U ALIF IC A TIO N S IN A D D IT IO N

TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF A B EG IN N IN G NURSE

PRACTITIO NER:

" (1 ) FOR FIRST LEVEL M ANAGERIAL PO SITIO N

IN NURSING, EIGHTEEN (1 8 ) U N ITS OF

NURSING MANAGEMENT AND C LIN IC A L

SUBJECTS IN MASTER OF ARTS IN

N U R SIN G /M ASTER OF SCIENCE IN

NURSING AND AT LEAST THREE (3 ) YEARS

OF C LIN IC A L W ORK EXPERIENCE;

" (2 ) FOR M IDDLE LEVEL M ANAGERIAL PO SITIO N

IN NURSING, COMPLETED ALL ACADEMIC

REQUIREMENTS IN MASTER OF ARTS IN

N U R SIN G /M ASTER OF SCIENCE IN

NURSING AND AT LEAST THREE (3 ) YEARS

OF C LIN IC A L AND TW O (2 ) YEARS OF

MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE;

" (3 ) FOR TOP LEVEL M ANAGERIAL PO SITIO N IN

NURSING, MASTERS DEGREE IN NURSING

OR HEALTH MANAGEMENT-RELATED

SCIENCES AND AT LEAST THREE (3 ) YEARS

OF C LIN IC A L AND THREE (3 ) YEARS OF

MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE; AND

" [d ] ( 4 ) MUST be a member o f good standing o f the

accredited professional organization [ o f nurses]

AND RELEVANT NURSING O R G AN IZATIO NS:

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1

^TT-A^east five (5) years

^ - A master s

academic qualif ications and experiences for a chie f nurse shaH

be as specified in subseet eas (a), (b) and (c) o f th is-sectiom

-pablic health

General Staff Course (GSC):— Provided f inally, That those

"PROVIDED, THAT THE ABOVE Q U A LIF IC A TIO N S SHALL

APPLY TO ALL NURSES OCCUPYING SUPERVISORY OR

M ANAGERIAL PO SITIO NS ACROSS ALL HEALTH

F A C IL IT IE S SUCH AS, BUT NOT L IM IT E D TO PR IM AR Y

OR M IL IT A R Y HEALTH FAC IL IT IES , FOR TOP LEVEL

M ANAG ERIAL PO SITIO N OF FIRST AND SECOND LEVELS,

AS W ELL AS M EDICAL CENTERS N A T IO N W ID E ."

"SEC. 28. NUR SE-PATIEN T RATIO . -T H E GOVERNMENT AND

PRIVATE HOSPITALS ARE HEREBY MANDATED TO M A IN T A IN

THE STANDARD NURSE-PATIENT RATIO SET BY THE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH:

" (A ) IN HOSPITALS BASED ON ACUITY AND

AUTHORIZED BED CAPACITY (ABC );

" (B ) IN CO M M UNITY BASED ON NEED, POPULATION

AND GEOGRAPHY; AND

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1 " (C ) IN OCCUPATIONAL OR SCHOOL SETTINGS BASED

ON RELEVANT LEGAL INSTRUMENTS.

"SEC. [2 6 ] 29. Requirement fo r Inactive Nurses Returning to Practice.

- Nurses [wl30 have no ^a e tive ly--practiced - the-p ro fesston ] ARE

DEEMED TO BE IN AC TIVE W HEN:

" (A ) THEY ARE NOT U T IL IZ IN G NURSING

COMPETENCIES AS DEFINED IN THE SCOPE OF

NURSING PRACTICE FOR FIVE (5 ) CONSECUTIVE

YEARS;

" (B ) THERE IS NON-RENEW AL OF PRC ID FOR FIVE (5 )

YEARS; AND

"(C ) THEY DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF FIVE (5 ) YEARS OF

CONTINUOUS NURSING PRACTICE.

"IN A C T IV E NURSES are required to undergo one (1) month o f

didactic training and three (3) months o f practicum. The Board ON AN

EXISTIN G CAPACITY shall accredit hospitals AND HEALTH CARE

AGENCIES to conduct the said training program."

Sec. 7. Article V II o f the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"ARTICLE VII

[H ealth ] HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH (H R H )

Production, Utilization and Development

"SEC. 30. Studies fo r Nursing Manpower Needs, Production,

Utilization and Development - The Board in coordination w ith [the

accredited professional organizat-ten] RELEVANT NURSING AND

OTHER GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES shall

initiate, undertake and conduct studies on health human resources

production, utilization and development. THE BOARD SHALL

L IK E W IS E ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE IM PLEM EN TATIO N OF HRH

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR NURSES AND OTHER

RELATED PERSONNEL TO ATTAIN A H IG H LY M OTIVATED AND

PRODUCTIVE NURSING PERSONNEL SYSTEM AND

W ORKFORCE."

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1 "SEC. 31. [Comprehensive ] NA TIONAL

CAREER PROGRESSION P ro g ra m (NNCPP). - THERE SHALL BE

AN IN S T IT U T IO N A L IZ E D N ATIO N AL NURSING CAREER

PROGRESSION PROGRAM (NNCPP) AS PRESCRIBED IN

ARTICLE IV , SEC. 10, LETTER G & H. IN THE

IM PLEM EN TATIO N OF THE NNCPP, THE BOARD SHALL

COORDINATE W IT H THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

OTHER RELEVANT GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE AGENCIES.

"W ithin ninety (90) days from the effectivity o f this Act, the

Board, in coordination with the accredited professional organization,

recognized specialty organizations and the Department o f Health is

hereby mandated to formulate and develop a comprehensive nursing

specialty program that would upgrade the level o f skill and competence

o f specialty nurse clinicians in the country, such as but not limited to

the areas o f critical care, oncology, renal and such other areas as may

be determined by the Board[7]:

"PROVIDED, THAT ANY REGISTERED NURSE, BEFORE

BEING ALLOW ED TO W ORK IN SPECIALTY AREAS TO

PERFORM BEYOND GENERALIST FUNCTION OR HAVE

SPECIFIC SPECIALTIES, MUST F IN IS H THE FORMAL

EDUCATION AND T R A IN IN G TOW ARDS S P E C IA LIZA TIO N ,

POSSESS RECOGNIZED ADVANCED PRACTICE COMPETENCIES

AND MUST BE CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD TO BE AN ADVANCED

PRACTICE NURSE AND MUST BE A MEMBER OF A RELEVANT

AND ACCREDITED NURSING SPECIALTY O R G A N IZA TIO N :

PRO VIDED, FURTHER, THAT NURSING SPECIALTY

O R G AN IZATIO N S W IT H ADVANCED PRACTICE SHALL BE

RECOGNIZED AND CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD, IN

C O O R D IN ATIO N W ITH THE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL

O R G AN IZATIO N .

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1 "The beneficiaries o f this program are obliged to serve in any

Philippine hospital for a period o f at least two (2) years o f continuous

service."

"SEC. 32. [Salary] COMPENSATION. - In order to enhance

the general welfare, commitment to service and professionalism of

nurses, the minimum base pay of nurses working in the public AND

PRIVATE health and HEALTH-RELATED institutions shall BE IN

ACCORDANCE W IT H PR EVAILIN G SALARY STANDARDS SET BY

LAW FOR PROFESSIONALS AND SHALL not be lower than salary

the "Compeosatierv-and- Q assifieatten—AeT-of -1989-t] FOLLOW ING

THE PR O VIS IO N S OF THE SALARY STAN D AR D IZATIO N LAW :

[ Provided, That for nurses-

PROVIDED, THAT ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES IN

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED

IN S T IT U T IO N S SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A D D IT IO N A L

REM UNERATION. GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT

F IN A N C IA L IN S T IT U T IO N S SHALL PROVIDE A M ECHANISM

FOR REIMBURSEMENTS FOR SPECIALTY AND ADVANCED

PRACTICE NURSING SERVICES BASED ON Q U A LIF IC A TIO N S

PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD ADHERING TO THE N ATIO N AL

NURSING CAREER PROGRESSION PROGRAM (N NC PP). IN

A D D IT IO N , NURSING PROFESSIONAL FEES MAY BE EXACTED

DIRECTLY FROM THE CLIENTELE AND PATIENTS W IT H IN THE

PR O VIS IO N S OF ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING OR

COLLABORATIVELY W IT H EXPERT NURSES."

"SEC. 33. Funding fo r the [ Comprehensive] DEVELOPMENT

OF THE N ATIO N AL Nursing [Specialty] CAREER PROGRESSION

PROGRAM (N N C PP) A N D TR AIN IN G . - The annual financial

requirement needed to

IM PLEM EN T THE

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1 NNCPP IN THE T R A IN IN G OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE

NURSES FOR CO NTINUAL LIFE-LONG LEARNING shall be

[ chargeable against] SOURCED FROM:

" (A ) ONE PERCENT ( 1 % ) OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS SPECIFIED

UNDER THE ANNUAL GENERAL APPR O PR IATIO N S

ACT; [a ffd ]

"(B) TEN PERCENT (1 0 % ) OF the income of the Philippine

Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine

Amusement and Games Corporation which [shall equally

share in the costs and] shall be released to the

Department o f Health subject to accounting and auditing

procedures: Provided, That the Department o f Health

shall set the criteria for the availment o f this program;

AND

"(C ) TW ENTY PERCENT (2 0 % ) OF THE PROFESSIONAL

REGULATION C O M M ISSIO N S INCOME FROM THE

REGULATION OF THE NURSING PROFESSION."

"SEC. 34. Incentives and Benefits. -

-hospitals-end—the—accredited

profcssierval— ©rganizatien] TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE AS

PROVIDED BY LAW, A MECHANISM shall BE establishED BY THE

BOARD OF NURSING TO PROVIDE [a n ] incentives and benefits

[ system—in the form of free hospita l care for nurses and their

staf^dard- nurse-patienh-ratio-set-by the -Oepartment o f Health .] FOR

NURSES IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTORS."

Sec. 8. Article V III o f the same Act is hereby amended to read as

follows:

"ARTICLE V III

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1 Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions

"SEC. 35. Prohibitions in the Practice o f Nursing. - A fine o f not

less than [F ifty thousand pesos - (PSOtOQ&tOO)] ONE HUNDRED

THOUSAND PESOS (P lO O ,0 0 0 .0 0 ) nor more than [Q ne-hondred

thotisand—pesos—IPiGOrOOOrOO)] THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND

PESOS (P 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0 ) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year

nor more than six (6) years, or both, upon the discretion o f the court,

shall be imposed upon THE FOLLOW ING C LASSIFICATIO N OF

OFFENSES:

" (A ) V IO LA TIO N S AG AINST CODE OF ETHICS AND

PUBLIC MORALS;

" (B ) V IO LA TIO N S AGAINST PROFESSIONAL

STANDARDS;

" (C ) V IO LA TIO N S AG AINST H U M A N /P A T IE N T 'S

RIGHTS; AND

" (D ) OTHER OFFENSES."

t/i ttirtrTTCtrrj

£(4^—w ithout a cer tif icate of regi

license, or an

[ (h ) who gives any fa lse evidence to the Board- in order to obtain -a

certificate— ef—rcgistration/profcssicmal— license,— a— professional

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1

— appends— B.S.N./R;N.— (Bachelof— ef— Seiencc -m

nursingr ]

ef nurses and the incentives and benefite

[ (d) any person o r-tde chle f-exeeu tive o fficer o f a ju r id ical entity viotat-in§

Sec. 9. Im plem enting Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety days (90) a fter

the effectivity o f this Act, the Board and the Commission, in coordination w ith the

accredited professional organization, the Department o f Health, the Department o f

Budget and Management and other government agencies concerned, shall formulate

rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions o f this Act. The

implementing rules and regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette or

newspaper o f general circulation.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision o f this Act or

any part thereof shall be held unconstitutional and invalid, the other parts or

provisions o f this Act, which are not affected thereby, shall remain in full force and

effect.

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1 Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or

2 parts thereof inconsistent w ith any o f the provisions o f this Act are hereby repealed,

3 amended or modified accordingly.

4 Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

5 its publication in at least two (2) newspapers o f general circulation or in the Official

6 Gazette.

Approved,

//m ksbc