EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF ene TATED

H. No.

Introduced by Representative Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
INSTITUTING REFORMS TO FURTHER PROTECT AND DEVELOP THE
NURSING PROFESSION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NUMBER 9173, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF
2002”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Nursing is one of the top career choices of Filipinos. Enrolment in the course has
ballooned from 30,000 in 2010 to about half a million in 2016,' producing approximately
200,000 nursing graduates every year”. The number of 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 of professional nurses in the Philippines and in other countries.
‘A good number of Filipino doctors also took nursing courses to get advantage of the

increasing demand for nurses overseas.

However, despite the large pool of 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 overseas is about ten times more than
what they can ear locally. Thus, Filipino nurses instead of working in the country still prefer
to seek employment abroad.

* np eww ched gov phichedwww/index php/eng/Information Stasis
* up: /mrsingerh con/news-blog/the-philippines-produces-200000-nursng-graduates-yearly/


The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported that in 2007,
nurse deployment at 12,263 was already double that of 6,410 nurse deployment in 2000. The
number of newly-hired nurses going abroad continued to increase from 13,004 in 2009 to
19,551 in 2016, at an average growth rate of 10.5% per year.’ 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.’

‘The problem is further aggravated by some abusive practices inflicted on our nursing
graduates. In the recent past, many of 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 for employers because of the undesirable reputation of most nursing
schools in the country and the quality of education that they offer.

This reality made local employment unattractive for our nurses resulting in the
difficulty of realizing the ideal nurse to patient ratio of 1:4 per shift in our country. For
instance, the Philippine General Hospital has a nurse to patient ratio of 1:15-26 per shift
while Davao del Sur has a province-wide ratio of 1:44-45 per shift

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. It 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.

This bill will institute necessary reforms to further develop the nursing profession,
increase protection for nursing professionals and raise the standard of nursing education in
the country. It proposes to restructure the scope and practice of nursing by including specific
mandates on certification, specialization and educational requirements of nursing graduates;
to expand the powers of the Board of Nursing by strengthening its role in decision-making
processes; to strengthen the nursing professionals including the faculty and administration of

> p/w poe. gov plofwstat/compendium/2015-2016 plates edition).

“pe pea. gov phstats/2010%20Deployment9<20by*4200ccupation %<20Destination®<20und®420Sex%4202010%20-
Q0New"20hies pall

* Department of Health, Health Facilites and Government Health Manpower. 1999-2009.

2


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 of Filipino nurses to
make them responsive to the needs of their patients and the public and private health systems,

may it be in-country or overseas.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this Bill is eg

VILMA SANTOS-RECTO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
tf
H.No, 4371

Introduced by Representative Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
INSTITUTING REFORMS TO FURTHER PROTECT AND DEVELOP THE
NURSING PROFESSION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NUMBER 9173, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF
2002”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Nursing Practice
Reform Act”.

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Sec. 2. Article Il of Republic Act No. 9173 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“ARTICLE II

“SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.~ PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY
DEMANDS A HIGH LEVEL OF COMPETENCY AMONG FILIPINO
NURSES. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to GUARANTEE
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO THE DELIVERY OF BASIC QUALITY
HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH AN ADEQUATE NURSING
PERSONNEL SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE
STATE RECOGNIZES NURSES AS PRIME MOVERS OF NATIONAL.
DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTORS TO INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING. AS SUCH, THE STATE
assumeS responsibility for the protection, [and] improvement AND
DEVELOPMENT of the nursing profession by instituting measures that will
result in relevant AND QUALITY nursing [education] PRACTICE, humane
working conditions, better career prospects, and a dignified existence for [out]


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nurses TO ENSURE A HIGH LEVEL OF WELLNESS AND WELL-
BEING.

“The State hereby guarantees the delivery of quality basic health
services through an adequate nursing personnel system throughout the
country.”

Sec. 3. Section 28, Article VI of the same Act is hereby amended and renumbered as

Section 3 under Article III and succeeding Sections are hereby renumbered accordingly, to
read as follows:

“ARTICLE [M4] I
SCOPE OF Nursing Practice

“SEC. [28] 3. Scope of Nursing PRACTICE. — A person shall be deemed to
be practicing nursing within the meaning of this Act when [he/she] THE PERSON
singly or in collaboration with another, initiates and performs nursing [services]
CARE to individuals, families, POPULATION GROUPS and communities in any
health care setting. It includes, but not limited to, nursing care during conception,
labor, delivery, infancy, childhood, toddler, preschool, school age, adolescence,
adulthood and old age. [As—independent—practitioners;] Nurses are primarily
responsible for the promotion of health and prevention of illness. As members of the
health team, nurses shall collaborate with other health care providers for the
PROMOTIVE, PREVENTIVE, curative, [preventive] and rehabilitative aspects of
care, restoration of health, alleviation of suffering, and when recovery is not possible,
towards a peaceful death. IN PERFORMING INDEPENDENT AND
COLLABORATIVE FUNCTIONS SINGLY OR JOINTLY, it shall be the duty of
the nurse to:

“(a) Provide nursing care through the utilization of the nursing process.

BASIC nursing care includes, but not limited to, traditional and innovative

approaches, therapeutic use of self, executing health care techniques and

procedures, essential primary health care, comfort measures, health teachings,

and administration of written prescription for treatment, therapies, oral, topical

and parenteral medications, internal examination during labor in the absence

of antenatal bleeding and delivery[—tn-case-ef] AND suturing of perineal

laceration [special—training—shall—be—provided—aecording—to—protecel

established: |;


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“(B) PROVIDE ADVANCED NURSING CARE THROUGH
EXPANDED AND SPECIALIZED ROLES WITHIN THE
PROTOCOL OF ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE.
CERTIFICATION BY AN ACCREDITED CERTIFICATION BODY

1S REQUIRED;

“[b](C)[Establish—tinkages] COLLABORATE with community
resources and [eoerdination] COORDINATE with THE
MEMBERS OF the health team IN ANY HEALTH CARE
SETTING;

“[e(D) Provide health education to AND COLLABORATE WITH
individuals, families, POPULATION GROUPS and communities
TO MAINTAIN, ATTAIN, RESTORE AND SUSTAIN
OPTIMAL HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE;

“[4]() xxx; and

“[el(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 of a qualified faculty:
Provided, further, That in the practice of nursing in all settings, the nurse is
[duty-bound] MANDATED to observe the Code of Ethics for Nurses and
uphold the standards of safe AND QUALITY nursing practice. The nurse is
required to maintain competence by continual [learning-through-continuing]
professional [edueation—to—be—provided] DEVELOPMENT AS
PRESCRIBED by the [accredited professional —organization—or—any
recognized_professional] BOARD OF Nursing [organization]: Provided,
finally, That the program and activity for the [eontinuing] CONTINUAL
PROFESSIONAL [education] DEVELOPMENT shall be submitted to and
approved by the Board.”

Sec. 4. Article III of the same Act is hereby amended to become Article IV to read as

follows:

“ARTICLE [#4] IV
Organization of the Board of Nursing


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“SEC. [3] 4. Creation and Composition of the Board. — There shall be
created a Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing, hereinafter referred to as
the Board, to be composed of a chairperson and six (6) members. ‘They shall
be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Phi
two (2) recommendees, per vacancy, of the Professional Regulation

nes from among

Commission (PRC), hereinafter referred to as the Commission, chosen and
ranked from a list of three (3) nominees, per vacancy, of the accredited
professional organization of nurses in the Philippines who possess the
qualifications prescribed in SEC. [4] 5 of this Act.”
“SEC. [4] 5. Qualifications of the Chairperson and Members of the
Board. — The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall, at the time of their
appointment, possess the following qualifications:
“(@) Be a natural born citizen and resident of the Philippines FOR
THE LAST THREE (3) YEARS;

“(b) 0G

“(©) Be a registered nurse IN THE PHILIPPINES, and holder of a
CURRENT VALID PRC ID; [and-holder- of a- master’s degree

“(D) BE A HOLDER OF A MASTER'S DEGREE IN NURSING
AND OTHER RELATED HEALTH SCIENCE
PROGRAMS CONFERRED BY AN ACCREDITED
UNIVERSITY;

“[4](E) Have at least ten (10) years of continuous practice of the
NURSING profession prior to appointment; and

“[el(F) [Not-have-been—convieted-ofany_offense—involving moral
turpitude] MUST BE OF PROVEN HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY:


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“Provided, That the membership to the Board shall represent the three

(3) areas of nursing, namely: nursing education, nursing service and

community health nursing.”

“SEC. [5] 6. Requirements Upon Qualification as Member of the Board
of Nursing. — xxx.”

“SEC. [6] 7. Term of Office. — xxx.”

“SEC. [7] 8. Compensation of the Board Members. — xxx.”

“SEC.[8] 9. Administrative Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its

Records, Secretariat and Support Services. —xxx.”
“SEC. [9] 10. Powers and Duties of the Board. — xxx:

“@

“(b)

a)

“@

ENSURE THE PROPER conduct OF the PHILIPPINE
NURSE Licensure Examination [fer—nurses]_ (PNLE)
CONSIDERING THE PROCESS AND SYSTEMS OF THE
COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDE BUT IS NOT
LIMITED TO APPLICATION, TEST DEVELOPMENT,
EXAMINATION, CORRECTION AND RELEASE OF
RESULTS. THE USE OF — APPROPRIATE
TECHNOLOGY/MODALITIES DURING THE
CONDUCT OF THE PNLE IS ENCOURAGED TO
ENHANCE EFFICIENCY WHILE UPHOLDING
INTEGRITY;
Issue, suspend, for] revoke OR REISSUE certificates of
registration for the practice of nursing AND ENSURE
WIDEST PUBLICATION THROUGH ELECTRONIC
AND WRITTEN MEDIA;
[Monitor] ENFORCE and MONITOR SAFE AND quality
standards of nursing practice in the Philippines and exercise the
powers necessary to ensure the maintenance of efficient,
[ethical] ETHICO-MORAL, [and] technical, [moral] AND
professional standards in the practice of nursing [taking—inte
aceountthe] TOWARDS OPTIMAL health [needs] AND
THE COMMON GOOD of the nation;
Ensure quality nursing education by examining [the-preseribed
eed — Ae

5


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“@)
“oO

“@)

“(H)

ef] AND MONITORING HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS (HEI) OFFERING nursing [education]
PROGRAM and those seeking permission to open nursing
courses to ensure that standards of nursing education are
properly complied with and maintained at all times. The
authority to open and close [eolleges-of-nursing-and/or] nursing
education programs OFFERED BY HEI, shall be vested on the
Commission on Higher Education, ONLY upon the written
AND FAVORABLE recommendation of the Board;

XXX;

Promulgate a Code of Ethics THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO
THE NEEDS OF THE NURSING PROFESSION, in
coordination and consultation with the accredited professional
organization of nurses within one (1) year from the effectivity of
this Act;

the—acoredited—professional—organization] INSTITUTE A
NATIONAL NURSING CAREER PROGRESSION
PROGRAM (NNCPP) FOR THE CONTINUING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF FILIPINO
NURSES;

CREATE A COUNCIL FOR NURSING RECOGNITION,
ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION THAT WILL
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;


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(4) CREDENTIALING INDIVIDUAL REGISTERED
NURSES BASED ON ACCEPTED CRITERIA;

(5) MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF
ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE, EDUCATION,
RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE SAFETY
AND QUALITY OF NURSING PRACTICE IN THE
PHILIPPINES;

“() MAKE DECISIONS TO INFLUENCE AUTHORITIES /
AGENCIES ON MATTERS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT
NURSES’ WELFARE;

“(J) ENSURE PERFORMANCE OF MANDATED DUTIES
AND FUNCTIONS WITH THE PROVISION OF
OPERATIONAL RESOURCES INCLUDING HUMAN
RESOURCE, PHYSICAL SPACE AND BUDGET TO
ENSURE THE CONFIDENTIALITY AND SANCTITY OF
THEIR FUNCTIONS AS PROVIDED THROUGH THE
ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE PRC AS PROMULGATED
IN THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT; AND

“[RI(K) xxx.”

“SEC. [10] 11. Annual Report. ~ xxx.”

“SEC. [14] 12. Removal or Suspension of Board Members. — xxx.”

. Article IV of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
“ARTICLE [FY] V
Examination and Registration

“SEC. [42] 13. PHILIPPINE NURSE Licensure Examination. - All

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

g

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
of 2000.”

“SEC. [43] 14. Qualifications for Admission to the PHILIPPINE
NURSE Licensure Examination. — In order to be admitted to the examination
for nurses, [an] THE APPLICATION MUST BE FILED IMMEDIATELY


UPON GRADUATION OF THE applicant AND must [at-the-time-of fiting
his/her] establish to the satisfaction of the Board that:

“(a) xxx;

“(b) xxx;

“(¢) [He/she] THE APPLICANT is a holder of a Bachelor{‘s-Degree
in] OF SCIENCE IN NURSING DEGREE from a college or
university that complies with the standards of nursing education
duly recognized by the proper government agency.”

“SEC. [44] 15. Scope of Examination. ~ The scope of the examination
for the practice of nursing in the Philippines shall be determined by the Board |:
‘Fhe-Board-shall-take] OF NURSING TAKING into consideration the CORE
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED OF BEGINNING NURSE
PRACTITIONERS CONSIDERING THE objectives of the nursing
curriculum|,—the-bread~areas—of-nursing,—and-other-related-disciplines—and
‘competencies_in-determining_the-subjects-of-examinations] IN RESPONSE
TO THE NEEDS OF THE SOCIETY AND THE DEMANDS OF
INDUSTRY.

THE PHILIPPINE NURSE LICENSURE EXAMINATION SHALL BE
BASED ON A COMPETENCY-BASED TEST FRAMEWORK.”
“SEC. [45] 16. Ratings. — In order to pass the exami

tion, an examinee
must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) with a
rating of not below [sixty-pereent-{60%)] SEVENTY PERCENT (70%) in
any subject. An examinee who obtains an average rating of seventy-five
percent (75%) or higher but gets a rating below [sixtypereent(60%)]
SEVENTY PERCENT (70%) in any subject must take the examination again
but only in the subject or subjects where [he/she] THE EXAMINEE is rated
below [sixty-pereent-60%)] SEVENTY PERCENT (70%). In order to pass
the succeeding examination, an examinee must obtain a rating of at least
seventy-five percent (75%) in the subject or subjects repeated. AN
EXAMINEE SHALL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO REPEAT THE PNLE
WITH A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) EXAMINATIONS.”

“SEC. [46] 17. Oath, — xxx.”

“SEC. [47] 18. Issuance of Certificate of Registration/Professional
License and Professional Identification Card. -A certificate of

8


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registration/professional license as a nurse shall be issued to an applicant who
passes the examination upon payment of the prescribed fees. Every certificate
of registration/professional license shall show the full name of the registrant,
the serial number, the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission and of
the Members of the Board[;]. THE CERTIFICATE SHALL BEAR THE
LOGO OF THE BOARD OF NURSING and the official seal of the
Commission.

“A professional identification card, duly signed by the Chairperson of
the Commission, bearing the date of registration, license number, and the date
of issuance and expiration thereof shall likewise be issued to every registrant
upon payment of the required fees.”

“SEC. [48] 19. Fees for Examination and Registration. — Applicants for
licensure and for registration shall pay the prescribed fees set by THE
Commission.”

“SEC. [49] 20, Automatic Registration of Nurses. — All nurses whose
names appear at the roster of nurses shall [be-automatieally-oF] ipso facto BE
registered as nurses AND AS MEMBERS OF THE PRC ACCREDITED
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION (APO) [uader-thisAet] UPON [its]
THE effectivity OF THIS ACT.”

“SEC. [20] 21. Registration by Reciprocity. — xxx.”

“SEC. [24] 22. Practice Through Special/Temporary Permit. — A
special/temporary permit may be issued [by-the-Board] to the following
persons [subjectto—the—approval_ef] BASED ON QUALIFICATION
STANDARDS AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF NURSING AND.
APPROVED BY the Commission [and-upon-payment-of the-preseribed fees]:

(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

“(©) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states [employed]

ENGAGED by schools/colleges of nursing as exchange
professors in a branch or specialty of nursing[;] AND IN
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OF GROSS DISASTERS AND
CALAMITIES:


“Provided, however, That the special/temporary permit shall be
effective only for the duration of the project, medical mission or [employment]
ENGAGEMENT contract.”

“SEC. [22] 23. Non-registration and Non-issuance of Certificates of
Registration/Professional License or Special/Temporary Permit. — xxx.”

“SEC. [23] 24. Revocation and suspension of Certificate of
Registration/Professional License and Cancellation of Special/Temporary
Permit. — xxx.”

“SEC. [24] 25. Re-issuance of Revoked Certificates and Replacement of
Lost Certificates, — xxx.”

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

follows:

“ARTICLE [¥] VI
Nursing Education
“SEC. [25] 26. Nursing Education [Program]. NURSING EDUCATION IS
THE FORMAL LEARNING AND TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE AND
ART OF NURSING PROVIDED BY HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS DULY ACCREDITED BY THE CHED.
“(A) BASIC NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM. ~ The BASIC
nursing education program [shall] IS A COMPETENCY-
BASED CURRICULUM WHICH WILL provide sound
general and professional foundation for [the-practice-of] nursing
SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE
NECESSARY SAFE QUALITY NURSING PRACTICE.
ADMISSION TO THE BACCALAUREATE NURSING
PROGRAM SHALL REQUIRE PASSING A NATIONAL
NURSING ADMISSION TEST (NNAT).
The learning experiences shall adhere strictly to specific
requirements embodied in the prescribed curriculum as
promulgated by the Commission on Higher Education's policies
and standards of nursing education.”
“(B) GRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM. ~ THE
GRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM
BUILDS ON THE EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS OF A
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REGISTERED NURSE TOWARDS MASTERY,
EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE,
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. IT INCLUDES A
MASTER’S DEGREE AND DOCTORATE DEGREE IN
NURSING FOUNDED ON SCIENTIFIC BODY OF
KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE.

GRADUATE AND POST-GRADUATE NURSING
PROGRAMS SHALL BE OFFERED ONLY BY LEVEL
THREE (3) ACCREDITED HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS BASED ON RELEVANT CHED
POLICIES AND GUIDELINES.

“[SEE-27] (C) Qualifications of [the] Faculty MEMBERS. ~
“(1) BASIC NURSING EDUCATION. A member of the faculty in a

college of nursing teaching professional courses must:
“[@)H1.A. Be a registered nurse in the Philippines AND A
HOLDER OF A CURRENT VALID PRC ID;

“[@)H.B. Have at least [one-(}] THREE (3) year of clinical

practice in a field of specialization;

“organization of nurses: and]

“[@] LC. Be a holder of a master’s degree in nursing,
education, or other allied health sciences conferred by a
college of university duly recognized by the Government of
the Republic of the Philippines;

“1D. UNDERGO TEACHER TRAINING FOR
NURSING EDUCATION PRIOR TO TEACHING
EMPLOYMENT; AND

“LE. UNDERGO CLINICAL SKILLS
COMPETENCY ENHANCEMENT EVERY TWO (2)
YEARS, AS PRESCRIBED AND ACCREDITED BY
THE BOARD.

“[In-addition to—the—aforementioned—quatifications_the—dean—ofa
5 9 ing HelS!

& A atsciiaaton' ine”
i


“(2) GRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION. A MEMBER OF
THE FACULTY TEACHING GRADUATE
PROFESSIONAL COURSES MUST:

“2.4. 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 UNIVERSITY DULY RECOGNIZED BY THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES:

PROVIDED, THAT HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS OFFERING BOTH BASIC AND
GRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
SHALL BE GIVEN THREE (3) YEARS WITHIN
WHICH TO COMPLY WITH QUALIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS OF FACULTY MEMBERS FROM
THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT.

“(D) QUALIFICATIONS OF THE DEAN. - THE DEAN OF A

COLLEGE OF NURSING MUST:

“(1) BE A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE PHILIPPINES
AND A HOLDER OF A CURRENT VALID PRC ID;

“(Q) HAVE AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF CLINICAL
PRACTICE IN A FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION;

“(3) HAVE AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF NURSING
EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
EXPERIENCE OR THREE (3) YEARS OF
MANAGEMENT IN ANY HEALTH-RELATED
INSTITUTION;

“(4) BE A HOLDER OF A MASTER’S DEGREE IN
NURSING FOR BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM
AND PREFERABLY A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN
NURSING FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAM
CONFERRED BY AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR

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UNIVERSITY IN THE PHILIPPINES OR ITS
EQUIVALENT; AND
“(5) UNDERGO PROGRESSIVE TRAINING FOR DEANS
ACCORDING TO PROGRAM PRESCRIBED BY
THE BOARD.”
[ARTICLE M4]
[Nursing Practice]
“SEC. 27. NURSING SERVICE. —- NURSING SERVICES INCLUDE,
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, NURSING CARE PROVIDED TO
INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY OR GROUP IN ANY HEALTH CARE
SETTING SUCH AS HOSPITALS, PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS
OR COMMUNITIES, CLINICS AND OTHERS BY A REGISTERED
NURSE. THE NURSE SHALL POSSESS THE CORE
COMPETENCIES PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD OF NURSING.
NURSING SERVICE INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF
SPECIALIZED, EXPANDED AND ADVANCED PRACTICE
SERVICES AS WELL AS NURSING MANAGEMENT.

“(A) BEGINNING NURSE PRACTITIONER. - BEGINNING
NURSE PRACTITIONER PROVIDES FOR SAFE AND
QUALITY CARE TO AN INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY OR
GROUP THAT IS INDEPENDENT OR PROVIDED AS PART
OF A TEAM BY A NURSE OR A GROUP OF NURSES WHO
WILL BE ABLE TO ASSESS, PLAN, IMPLEMENT AND
EVALUATE CARE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS BASED ON
EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM RESEARCH.

A BEGINNING NURSE PRACTITIONER MUST HAVE THE
FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(1) BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
GRADUATE;
(2) REGISTERED NURSE WITH CURRENT PRC ID;
(3) MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE ACCREDITED
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION (APO); AND


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(4) MUST NOT BE CONVICTED OF ANY CRIME
OF MORAL TURPITUDE.

“(B) ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER. — ADVANCED

NURSE PRACTITIONER IS A REGISTERED NURSE WHO
HAS ACQUIRED EXPERT KNOWLEDGE BASE,
COMPLEX DECISION-MAKING SKILLS AND CLINICAL
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 PROFICIENT CLINICAL
UTILIZATION OF THIS KNOWLEDGE IN
IMPLEMENTING INDEPENDENT AND.
INTERDEPENDENT = NURSING _— INTERVENTIONS.
SPECIALTIES CAN BE DIFFERENTIATED IN DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES: ACCORDING TO FUNCTIONS,
DISEASE/PATHOLOGY, SYSTEMS, AGE, SEX, ACUITY,
SETTINGS, TECHNOLOGY/THERAPIES. THIS PRACTICE
INCLUDES THE ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE
AND SKILLS THAT LEGITIMIZE ROLE AUTONOMY
WITHIN SPECIFIC AREAS OF PRACTICE. A MASTERS
DEGREE IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY LEVEL. THIS
INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THOSE WHO ARE
IN EDUCATION, MANAGEMENT AND CLINICAL
PRACTICE.
AN ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER MUST HAVE
THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS IN
ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF A BEGINNING
NURSE PRACTITIONER:

(1) RELEVANT MASTERS DEGREE FROM A

RECOGNIZED UNIVERSITY-BASED PROGRAM;
(2) MUST BE CERTIFIED BASED ON THE BOARD OF
NURSING PROTOCOL; AND

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(3) MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE ACCREDITED
PROFESSIONAL ORGRANIZATION (APO) AND
THE CORRESPONDING SPECIALTY
ORGANIZATION.”
“[SEC—29] (C) [Qualifieation—of—a] NURSING SERVICE
[Administrators] MANAGER. ~ A |persen] NURSING SERVICE
MANAGER IS A PRACTITIONER occupying supervisory or
managerial positions requiring LEADERSHIP AND knowledge of
nursing [mast] MANAGEMENT.

“(1) THE FIRST LEVEL MANAGER IS RESPONSIBLE
DIRECTLY WITH THE PHYSICAL SET-UP OF
THE UNIT, STRUCTURE AND OTHER HUMAN
RESOURCES FOR HEALTH;

“@) THE MIDDLE LEVEL MANAGER IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OR
SECTION HANDLING MORE THAN ONE (1) OR
TWO (2) UNITS, TAKES CARE OF THE
FINANCIAL, LOGISTIC, OPERATIONAL.
FUNCTIONS AND OTHERS; AND

“@) THE TOP LEVEL MANAGER OVERSEES THAT
ALL NURSING UNITS IN TERMS OF THE
FINANCIAL, HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH
INCLUDING THE NURSES, — NURSING
ASSISTANTS/ADJUNCTS AND OTHERS.

“A NURSING SERVICE MANAGER MUST HAVE THE
FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS IN ADDITION
TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF A BEGINNING NURSE
PRACTITIONER:

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“(1) FOR FIRST LEVEL MANAGERIAL POSITION IN
NURSING, EIGHTEEN (18) UNITS OF NURSING
MANAGEMENT AND CLINICAL SUBJECTS IN
MASTER OF ARTS IN NURSING/MASTER OF
SCIENCE IN NURSING AND AT LEAST THREE
(3) YEARS OF CLINICAL WORK EXPERIENCE;

“@2) FOR MIDDLE LEVEL MANAGERIAL POSITION
IN NURSING, COMPLETED ALL ACADEMIC
REQUIREMENTS IN MASTER OF ARTS IN
NURSING/MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
AND AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF
CLINICAL AND TWO (2) YEARS OF
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE;

“@) FOR TOP LEVEL MANAGERIAL POSITION IN
NURSING, MASTERS DEGREE IN NURSING OR
HEALTH MANAGEMENT-RELATED SCIENCES
AND AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF
CLINICAL AND THREE (3) YEARS OF
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE; AND

“[a|(4) MUST be a member of good standing of the
accredited professional organization [f-nurses]| AND
RELEVANT NURSING ORGANIZATIONS:

[Provided Ph f a ;



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the campleten et the Gener Matt Couese (OSC 4 Prowided finally
a r i" ‘a menor
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“PROVIDED, THAT THE ABOVE QUALIFICATIONS SHALL
APPLY TO ALL NURSES OCCUPYING SUPERVISORY OR
MANAGERIAL POSITIONS ACROSS ALL HEALTH
FACILITIES SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO PRIMARY OR
MILITARY HEALTH FACILITIES, FOR TOP LEVEL
MANAGERIAL POSITION OF FIRST AND SECOND LEVELS,
AS WELL AS MEDICAL CENTERS NATIONWIDE.”
“SEC. 28. NURSE-PATIENT RATIO. -THE GOVERNMENT AND
PRIVATE HOSPITALS ARE HEREBY MANDATED TO MAINTAIN
THE STANDARD NURSE-PATIENT RATIO SET BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH:
“(A) IN HOSPITALS BASED ON  ACUITY
AUTHORIZED BED CAPACITY (ABC);
“(B) IN COMMUNITY BASED ON NEED, POPULATION
AND GEOGRAPHY; AND
“(©)_ IN OCCUPATIONAL OR SCHOOL SETTINGS BASED
ON RELEVANT LEGAL INSTRUMENTS.
“SEC. [26] 29. Requirement for Inactive Nurses Returning to Practice. —
Nurses [whe-have-not actively practiced the profession] ARE DEEMED TO
BE INACTIVE WHEN:
“(A) THEY ARE NOT UTILIZING NURSING
COMPETENCIES AS DEFINED IN THE SCOPE OF
NURSING PRACTICE FOR FIVE (5) CONSECUTIVE
YEARS;
“(B) THERE IS NON-RENEWAL OF PRC ID FOR FIVE (5)
YEARS; AND
“(©) THEY DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF FIVE (5) YEARS OF
CONTINUOUS NURSING PRACTICE.
“INACTIVE NURSES are required to undergo one (1) month of didactic
training and three (3) months of practicum. The Board ON AN EXISTING

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CAPACITY shall accredit hospitals AND HEALTH CARE AGENCIES to
conduct the said training program.”
Sec. 7. Article VII of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
“ARTICLE VIL
[Health] HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH (HRH) Production,
Utilization and Development

“SEC. 30. Studies for Nursing Manpower Needs, Production,
Utilization and Development. — The Board in coordination with [the-aceredited
professional—organization] RELEVANT NURSING AND OTHER
GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES shall initiat

undertake and conduct studies on health human resources production,
utilization and development. THE BOARD SHALL LIKEWISE ENSURE
THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF HRH DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIES FOR NURSES AND OTHER RELATED PERSONNEL
TO ATTAIN A HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND PRODUCTIVE
NURSING PERSONNEL SYSTEM AND WORKFORCE.”

“SEC. 31. [Comprehensive] NATIONAL Nursing [Specialty]
CAREER PROGRESSION Program (NNCPP). - THERE SHALL BE AN
INSTITUTIONALIZED NATIONAL ~—- NURSING — CAREER
PROGRESSION PROGRAM (NNCPP) AS PRESCRIBED IN ARTICLE
IV, SEC. 10, LETTER G & H. IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NNCPP, THE BOARD SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OTHER RELEVANT
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE AGENCIES.

“Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in
coordination with the accredited professional organization, recognized
specialty organizations and the Department of Health is hereby mandated to
formulate and develop a comprehensive nursing specialty program that would

upgrade the level of skill and competence of specialty nurse clinicians in the
country, such as but not limited to the areas of critical care, oncology, renal
and such other areas as may be determined by the Board[;]:

“PROVIDED, THAT ANY REGISTERED NURSE, BEFORE
BEING ALLOWED TO WORK IN SPECIALTY AREAS TO
PERFORM BEYOND GENERALIST FUNCTION OR HAVE

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SPECIFIC SPECIALTIES, MUST FINISH THE FORMAL
EDUCATION AND TRAINING TOWARDS SPECIALIZATION,
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 ORGANIZATION:
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT NURSING — SPECIALTY
ORGANIZATIONS WITH ADVANCED PRACTICE SHALL BE
RECOGNIZED AND CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD, IN
COORDINATION WITH THE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION.
“The beneficiaries of this program are obliged to serve in any
Philippine hospital for a period of at least two (2) years of 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 WITH
PREVAILING SALARY STANDARDS SET BY LAW FOR
PROFESSIONALS AND SHALL not be lower than salary grade 15
Ipreseribed—under—Republio—ActNo—6758,—otherwise—know the
“Compensation—and—Classifieation—Aetof 1989%:] FOLLOWING THE
PROVISIONS OF THE SALARY STANDARDIZATION LAW:
[Provided Fhot- ae as
. : ‘ eae 2 idler
PROVIDED, THAT ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES IN PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED INSTITUTIONS
SHALL BE ENTITLED TO ADDITIONAL REMUNERATION.
GOVERNMENT AND  NON-GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS SHALL PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR
REIMBURSEMENTS FOR SPECIALTY AND ADVANCED
PRACTICE NURSING SERVICES BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS
PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD ADHERING TO THE NATIONAL
NURSING CAREER PROGRESSION PROGRAM (NNCPP). IN
ADDITION, NURSING PROFESSIONAL FEES MAY BE EXACTED
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DIRECTLY FROM THE CLIENTELE AND PATIENTS WITHIN THE
PROVISIONS OF ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING OR
COLLABORATIVELY WITH EXPERT NURSES.”
“SEC. 33. Funding for the [Comprehensive] DEVELOPMENT OF
THE NATIONAL Nursing [Specialty] CAREER PROGRESSION
PROGRAM (NNCPP) AND TRAINING. — The annual financial requirement
needed to [train—atleast-tenpercent{10%4}- of the nursing —stafiof the
participating-government-hospital] IMPLEMENT THE NNCPP IN THE
TRAINING OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE NURSES FOR
CONTINUAL LIFE-LONG LEARNING ‘shall be [ehargeable—against]
SOURCED FROM:
“(A) ONE PERCENT (1%) OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS SPECIFIED
UNDER THE ANNUAL GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS
ACT; [and]
“(B) TEN PERCENT (10%) 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 of Health subject to
accounting and auditing procedures: Provided, That the
Department of Health shall set the criteria for the availment of
this program; AND
“(C) TWENTY PERCENT (20%) OF THE PROFESSIONAL
REGULATION COMMISSION'S INCOME FROM THE
REGULATION OF THE NURSING PROFESSION.”
“SEC. 34, Incentives and Benefits. — [Fhe-Board—of-Nursing—in
TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE AS PROVIDED BY LAW, A
MECHANISM shall BE establishED BY THE BOARD OF NURSING TO
PROVIDE [aa] incentiveS and benefits [system-in-the-form-of free-hospital
; A
benefits —The_government_and_private_hospitals—are—hereby_mandatedto

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FOR NURSES IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTORS.”
Sec. 8. Article VIII of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
“ARTICLE VII
Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions
“SEC. 35. Prohibitions in the Practice of Nursing. — A fine of not less
than [Fifythousand-peses-(P50,000.00)] ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
PESOS (P100,000.00) nor more than [One—hundred—thousand—peses
(P400,000.00)] THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00) or
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years, or
both, upon the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon THE
FOLLOWING CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENSES:
“(A) VIOLATIONS AGAINST CODE OF ETHICS AND
PUBLIC MORALS;
“(B) VIOLATIONS AGAINST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS;
“(C) VIOLATIONS AGAINST HUMAN/PATIENT’S RIGHTS;
AND
“(D) OTHER OFFENSES.”

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Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety days (90) after the
effectivity of this Act, the Board and the Commission, in coordination with the accredited
professional organization, the Department of Health, the Department of Budget and
Management and other government agencies concerned, shall formulate rules and regulations
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations
shall be published in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act or any part
thereof shall be held unconstitutional and invalid, the other parts or provisions of this Act,
which are not affected thereby, shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,

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