NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHTTLIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

No. 3998

H. B. No.

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

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. Approximately, 80,000
nurses graduate every year and the number of schools offering nursing courses
grew from just forty in 1970 to more than a hundred at present. This mirrors the
high 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 lowscompensation 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 earn locally. Thus, Filipino
nurses instead of working in the country still prefer to seek employment abroad.


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.! During the pandemic, the exodus of Filipino nurses especially to
foreign countries has worsened by 25%, meaning 25% more Filipino nurses opted to
render their services abroad. 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.2

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
4:15-26 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 of 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 almost two decades ago.

destin” e2OSEY AUNT 2

“Dgparunem oF Lcaldh Heals Fails sid Gover

Ialth Masprower 1909-2000

2


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 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 earnestly sought.


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. No, _ 3598

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

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”.

Sec. 2. Article II 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


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prospects, and a dignified existence for [our] 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 [¥4] IE
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


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and delivery[-#n-case-ef] AND suturing of perineal laceration [speciat
raining shall be pr orc hed];

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

IS REQUIRED;

“[b](C)[Establishinkeges] COLLABORATE with community
resources and [eeerdinatien] 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;

“[](E) x0cx; 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 of a
qualified faculty: Provided, further, That in the practice of nursing in
all settings, the nurse is [duty-beund] 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 [learring—threugh-eontinuing] professional
[edtieation-to-be-provided] DEVELOPMENT AS PRESCRIBED by the
BOARD OF Nursing [organization]: Provided, finally, That the
program and activity for the [continuing] CONTINUAL
PROFESSIONAL [education] DEVELOPMENT shall be submitted to
and approved by the Board.”



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

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

“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 Philippines from among two (2) recommendees, per
vacancy, of the Professional Regulation 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:

“(a) Be a natural born citizen and resident of the Philippines

FOR THE LAST THREE (3) YEARS;

“(b) 0;

*(©) Be a registered nurse IN THE PHILIPPINES, and

holder of a CURRENT VALID PRC ID; [and-holder-ofa

Sf ‘ 5 ies
™(D) BE A HOLDER OF A MASTER'S DEGREE IN NURSING
AND OTHER RELATED HEALTH SCIENCE


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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

“[e](F) [Not-have-been-convicted-ef any_effense invelving-morat

turpitude] MUST BE OF PROVEN HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY:

"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:

“(a@) ENSURE THE PROPER conduct OF the PHILIPPINE

NURSE Licensure Examination [fer—ntirses] (PNLE)
CONSIDERING THE PROCESS AND SYSTEMS OF
THE COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDES 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, [er] revoke OR REISSUE certificates of
registration for the practice of nursing AND ENSURE
WIDEST PUBLICATION THROUGH ELECTRONIC
AND WRITTEN MEDIA;


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“©

“a

xO)
“é

“@)

[Meriter] 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, [ard] technical,
[merat] AND professional standards in the practice of
nursing [teking-inte-account-the] TOWARDS OPTIMAL
health [needs] AND THE COMMON GOOD of the
nation;

Ensure quality nursing education by examining [the
sbed-faclities-of universiti _—
departments—of] AND MONITORING HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEI) OFFERING
nursing [edueation] 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 [eeteges—ef—nursing—and/er] 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;

200

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;
[ e-ntursing specialty

INSTITUTE A NATIONAL NURSING CAREER
PROGRESSION PROGRAM (NNCPP) FOR THE
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF
FILIPINO NURSES;


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™(H) CREATE A COUNCIL FOR NURSING RECOGNITION,

“MD

“@)

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;

(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;

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

TRICK) xxx.”
“SEC. [46] 11. Annual Report. — xxx."


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“SEC. [44] 12. Removal or Suspension of Board Members. —
xx,”

Sec. 5. Article IV of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
ARTICLE [EV] 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 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, [aA] THE APPLICATION
MUST BE FILED IMMEDIATELY UPON GRADUATION OF THE
applicant AND must [at-the-time—of-filing—histher] establish to the
satisfaction of the Board that:

“(@) 005

™(B) 200%;

“(c) [He/she] THE APPLICANT is a holder of a Bachelor['s
Begree-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 [-—Hhe—Beard-shalt-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



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ef-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 examination, an
examinee must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five
percent (75%) with a rating of not below [sixty-pereent60%)]
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 [sixty-percent-460%)] SEVENTY PERCENT (70%) in
any subject must take the examination again but only in the subject or
subjects where [he/she] THE EXAMINE 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. — xx."

“SEC. 7] 18. Issuance of Certificate of
Registration/Professional License and Professional Identification Card. —
A certificate of 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.’


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“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-autermaticalty-or]
ipso facto BE registered as nurses AND AS MEMBERS OF THE PRC
ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION (APO) [under-this
Act] UPON [its] THE effectivity OF THIS ACT.”

“SEC. [28] 21. Registration by Reciprocity. ~ xxx."

“SEC. [24] 22. Practice Through Special/Temporary Permit. - &
special/temporary permit may be issued [bythe—Beard] to the
following persons [subjeet—te—the—appreval—of] BASED ON
QUALIFICATION STANDARDS AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD
OF NURSING AND APPROVED BY the Commission [and—-uper
payment-efthe-preseribed-fees]:

(a) 00,

“(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 [empieyed]

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,


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

“SEC. [24] 25. Re-jssuance 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 [Pregram]. - 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 [shal] 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
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.

*[SE€-27] (C) Qualifications of [the] Faculty MEMBERS. —
“(1) BASIC NURSING EDUCATION. K 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;

“[(5}+1.B. Have at least [ene—4)] THREE (3) yearS of

clinical practice in a field of specialization;

“£fe}-Be—a—member—ef_geed—standing—in—the—aceredited

professional organization oF nursesand]

“[fd)] 1.C. Be a holder of a master’s 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;

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

.E. | UNDERGO CLINICAL SKILLS COMPETENCY

ENHANCEMENT EVERY TWO (2) YEARS, AS

PRESCRIBED AND ACCREDITED BY THE BOARD.



"(2) GRADUATE NURSING 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 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;

™(2) 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


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NURSING FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAM

CONFERRED BY AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR

UNIVERSITY IN THE PHILIPPINES OR ITS

EQUIVALENT; AND

"(5) UNDERGO PROGRESSIVE TRAINING FOR
DEANS ACCORDING TO A _ PROGRAM
PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD.”
[AR Het]
[Nursing Practice]

“SEC. 27. NURSING SERVICE. — NURSING SERVICES INCLUDE,
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, NURSING CARE PROVIDED TO AN
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;


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a1

(2) REGISTERED NURSE WITH CURRENT PRC
ID;

(3) MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE ACCREDITED
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION (APO); AND

(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

(3) MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE ACCREDITED
PROFESSIONAL ORGRANIZATION (APO) AND
THE CORRESPONDING SPECIALTY
ORGANIZATION.”

“[SEG—29] (C) [Quatfcation—ef—a] NURSING SERVICE
[Administrators]. MANAGER. - A [person] NURSING
SERVICE MANAGER IS A PRACTITIONER occupying
supervisory or managerial positions requiring LEADERSHIP
AND knowledge of nursing [mtust:] MANAGEMENT.

“[(a) -Be-a-registered-nurse-in-the Philippines; }

“£{b} Have-at east twe-{2}-years-experience_in-general
administration-courses at the graduate tevel-and]”

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

“(2) 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


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“(3) THE TOP LEVEL MANAGER OVERSEES 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:
“(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;
“(3) 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
“[d](4) MUST be a member of good standing of the
accredited professional organization [ef—nurses]
AND RELEVANT NURSING ORGANIZATIONS:


be-given-a period ef five (5)-years-within-which-te-qualify-]”
“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 AND
AUTHORIZED BED CAPACITY (ABC);
*“(B) IN COMMUNITY, BASED ON NEED, POPULATION
AND GEOGRAPHY; AND


™(C) IN OCCUPATIONAL OR SCHOOL SETTINGS, BASED
ON RELEVANT LEGAL INSTRUMENTS.
“SEC. [26] 29. Requirement for Inactive Nurses Returning to Practice.
— Nurses [whe—have—net—aetively_practiced the—prefessien] 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
*(C) 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 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 VII
[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—professionat-erganizatien] 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 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.”


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“SEC. 31. [Gomprehensive] 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, PARAGRAPHS 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
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 [preseribed-under Republic Act Ne--6758; otherwise known-as
the“ pensatien—and—Classi ion —Aet-ef 4989] FOLLOWING
THE PROVISIONS OF THE SALARY STANDARDIZATION LAW:
[Previded,—Fhat—for—nurses—werking in teeat_gevernment—units;

. . ith See-40-0f
said4aw:] 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
DIRECTLY FROM THE CLIENTELE AND PATIENTS WITHIN THE
PROVISIONS OF ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING OR
COLLABORATIVELY WITH EXPERT NURSES.”

“SEC. 33. Funding for the [€erprehensive] DEVELOPMENT
OF THE NATIONAL Nursing [Speciatty] CAREER PROGRESSION
PROGRAM (NNCPP) AND TRAINING. — The annual financial
requirement needed to [trair-atieast ten-pereent 40%) ofthe nursing

staff—of-the—perticipating government hespital] IMPLEMENT THE

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NNCPP IN THE TRAINING OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE
NURSES FOR CONTINUAL 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 APPROPRIATIONS
ACT; [and]

“(B) TEN PERCENT (10%) OF the income of the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine
Amusement and Gaming 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. - [Fre-Beard-of Nursing 4h

professional—erganization] TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE AS
PROVIDED BY LAW, A MECHANISM shall BE establishED BY THE

BOARD OF NURSING TO PROVIDE [an] incentiveS and benefitS

[systenrin—theform—of tree—hospital-care for nurses and. their

dependents;—scholarship—grants—and_other_non-cash benefits The

NURSES IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTORS.”
Sec. 8. Article VIII of the same Act is hereby amended to read as

follows:

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30
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“ARTICLE VIII
Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions

“SEC. 35. Prohibitions in the Practice of Nursing. — A fine of not
less than [Fifty—theusand—peses—{P50,000-00}] ONE HUNDRED
THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00) nor more than [One—hundred
thousand—peses—(P100,000.08)] 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.”



£(6}—-whe—appernds—B-S-N-- RA —{ Bachelor —_ef—_Seienee—in-
ina/Reat saa .
fame -witheut-having_been-conferred-said-degree-or_registration;

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.

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1 Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
2. parts thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of 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 of general circulation or in the Officia/
6 Gazette.

Approved,

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