EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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SENATE 
S. B. No.
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v^y«Oflicf o(Uic
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JUL11 
P 4 -05
RECEIVED li,.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT 9173 OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002, PROVIDING FOR AN 
ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is known as the top exporter of nurses in the world. Filipino 
nurses are world-renowned for their skill, inherent compassion, and eagerness to 
provide care for their fellow people. The success of our nurses has brought recognition 
of our skill and qualities as a nation. Further, there has never been any doubt as 
regards the contribution Filipino nurses have made for the benefit of our economy.
It must be noted, however, that despite the perception of having a burgeoning 
and successful local nursing industry, there are aspects of the profession which remain 
to have great room for improvement. Nursing education is one such area.
The education programs employed by our local nursing educational institutions, 
at times, appear to be too short-sighted and focused on churning out batches of 
graduates for immediate forays abroad in search of opportunities. Too much emphasis 
has been placed in producing nursing degree-holders, that the opportunity to further 
educate our nurses in advanced programs has been overlooked.
Advanced nursing education programs have the capacity to further catapult our 
nurses to realize greater opportunities through the opening up of leadership roles.
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specialization in specific practice areas, and recognition in the fields of research and 
advanced nursing education. Given the immense number of nursing degree holders 
produced in this country, the development of advanced nursing programs shall benefit 
not only our nurses, but also the educational institutions who shall cater to a 
potentially large demand for advanced nursing education.
By introducing a new dimension to the local nursing education program and 
opening a whole new aspect of nursing education not previously tapped, we can 
elevate our status further to be recognized as a producer of leaders, experts, and 
authorities in the field of nursing.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is hereby earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOP
LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
3 9
- 
.
U'
i;l i;i,' 
1 tfctnrp
' i n  
P4:05
■
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT 9173 OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002, PROVIDING FOR AN 
ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Advanced Nursing
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Education Act of 2019".
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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assume responsibility for the protection and improvement of the nursing profession
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by instituting measures that will result in relevant nursing education, humane working
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conditions, better career prospects and a dignified existence for our nurses.
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Sec. 3. Section 25 of Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise known as the Philippine
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Nursing Act of 2002 is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Section 25. [Nursing Education Program.— The nursing education
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program shall provide sound general and professional foundation for
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the practice of nursing. The learning experiences shall adhere strictly
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to specific requirements embodied in the proscribed curriculum as
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promulgated by the Commissioo on Higher Educotion's policies and
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standards of nursing education.] NURSING EDUCATION. -
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NURSING EDUCATION SHALL REFER TO THE FORMAL
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LEARNING AND TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE AND ART OF
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NURSING 
PROVIDED 
BY 
HIGHER 
EDUCATIONAL


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INSTITUTIONS DULY RECOGNIZED AND ACCREDITED BY 
THE CHED.
THERE SHALL BE STANDARD BASIC AND GRADUATE 
PROGRAMS FOR NURSING EDUCATION WHICH SHALL BE 
ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7722, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CHED LAW".
Sec. 4. A new Section 26 is hereby inserted after Section 25 of RA 9173, to 
read as follows:
"SECTION 26. BASIC AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS FOR 
NURSING EDUCATION. -  THERE SHALL BE A BASIC 
PROGRAM 
FOR 
NURSING 
EDUCATION 
WHICH 
SHALL 
PROVIDE 
SOUND 
LIBERAL 
AND 
PROFESSIONAL 
EDUCATION, AND SHALL EQUIP BASIC NURSING STUDENTS 
WITH THE NECESSARY COMPETENCIES FOR ENTRY-LEVEL 
SAFE AND QUALITY NURSING PRACTICE. THE CURRICULUM 
AND RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCES SHOULD INCLUDE 
COMMUNITY 
INTEGRATION 
AND 
IMMERSION 
TO 
ENCOURAGE MORE GRADUATES TO WORK IN A COMMUNITY 
SETTING. 
ADMISSION TO THE BASIC PROGRAM FOR 
NURSING 
EDUCATION 
SHALL 
REQUIRE 
PASSING 
A 
NATIONAL NURSING ADMISSION TEST (NNAT). 
THE 
CURRICULUM AND THE RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCES 
MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL NURSING 
CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS TO PROMULGATED BY THE 
BOARD AND IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE POLICIES, 
STANDARDS, AND GUIDELINES OF THE CHED.
THERE SHALL ALSO BE A GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR 
NURSING 
EDUCATION 
WHICH 
SHALL 
BE 
A 
POST 
BACCALAUREATE NURSING PROGRAM, WHICH BUILDS ON 
THE EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS OF A NURSE TOWARDS


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to
MASTERY, EXPERTISE, AND LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE, 
RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION. SUCH PROGRAMS WILL 
DEVELOP HIGHLY SPECIALIZED SKILLS 
NEEDED 
FOR 
NURSING PRACTICE IN THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF ADVANCED 
NURSING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO; ADVANCED 
PRACTICE 
NURSING, 
AMBULATORY 
CARE 
NURSING, 
CRITICAL CARE NURSING, PALLIATIVE CARE NURSING, 
REHABILITATION NURSING, AND OTHER SPECIALIZED 
FIELDS OF ADVANCED NURSING. IT SHALL INCLUDE A 
MASTER S DEGREE AND DOCTORATE DEGREE IN NURSING 
FOUNDED ON THE PHILOSOPHIES, AND THE SCIENTIFIC 
BODY 
OF 
KNOWLEDGE 
AND 
PRACTICE. 
GRADUATE 
PROGRAM FOR NURSING EDUCATION SHALL BE OFFERED 
ONLY 
IN 
HIGHER 
EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS 
AS 
PRESCRIBED 
BY 
THE 
PREVAILING 
CHED 
POLICIES, 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION.
THE 
FACULTY-TO-STUDENT 
RATIO 
MUST 
BE 
IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD TO BE DETERMINED 
AND PRESCRIBED BY THE CHED ."
Sec. 5. Section 26 of RA 9173 is hereby renumbered to Section 27. 
Sec. 6. Section 27 of RA 9173 is hereby renumbered and amended, 
read as follows:
"Section 2[7]8. Qualifications o f the Faculty. — [A member of the 
faculty in a college of nursing teaching professional courses must:
(a) Bg a registered nurse in-the Philippines;
(b) Have at least one ( l) - ycar of clinical practice in a field of 
specialization;
(€> Be a member of good standing in the accredited professional 
organization of nurses; and
(d) Be a holder of a master's degreo in nursing, education, or other 
allied medical and health sciGnccs confer-fod by a college or university


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duly recognized by the Government of the Republic of the Phitippincs. 
Ift-addition to the oforementioned qualificotions, the doon of a college 
must hovG Q master's dogroo in nursing. Hc/Ghc muGt have at least 
five (5) ycors of cxpcricncG in nursing.]
(1) BASIC PROGRAM FOR NURSING EDUCATION. - A 
MEMBER OF THE FACULTY IN A COLLEGE OF NURSING 
TEACHING PROFESSIONAL COURSES:
(A) MUST BE A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE PHILIPPINES 
AND HOLDER OF A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION 
AND A CURRENT PROFESSIONAL IDENTIFICATION 
CARD ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION;
(B) MUST HAVE AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF NURSING 
PRACTICE;
(C) MUST BE A HOLDER OF A MASTER'S DEGREE IN 
NURSING, 
CONFERRED 
BY A 
UNIVERSITY 
DULY 
RECOGNIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES; AND
(D) MUST HAVE THE APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATE OF 
NURSING PROFICIENCY, OR ITS EQUIVALENT, TO BE 
ISSUED BY THE BOARD OF NURSING.
(2) GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR NURSING EDUCATION. - A 
MEMBER 
OF 
THE 
FACULTY 
TEACHING 
GRADUATE 
PROFESSIONAL COURSES:
(A) MUST FOLLOW PARAGRAPHS (A) AND (B) ABOVE ON 
BASIC NURSING EDUCATION; AND
(B) MUST BE A HOLDER OF A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN 
NURSING 
CONFERRED 
BY 
A 
UNIVERSITY 
DULY 
RECOGNIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES."
Sec. 7. Section 28 of RA 9173 is hereby renumbered as Section 29, and all 
succeeding sections of the same Act are hereby renumbered accordingly.
Sec. 8. Implementing Guidelines. — Within thirty (30) days after the effectivity


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of this Act, the Board and the Professional Regulatory Commission, in coordination
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with the Commission on Higher Education and other concerned government agencies,
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shall formulate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this
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Act. The implementing rules and regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette
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or in any newspaper of general circulation.
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be declared
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invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected thereby shall remain valid
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and subsisting.
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Sec 10. Repealing Clause. — Ail other laws, decrees, executive orders,
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proclamations and other executive issuances, which are not consistent with or contrary
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to the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or amended.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its complete publication in the Official Gazzette or in a newspaper of general
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circulation.
Approved,