Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8166

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The nursing profession has always been vital to a country’s healthcare
system: Nurses have always been at the forefront of change especially when it
comes to public health and are known to always advocate for the patients. Nurses
provide a wide range of care for an every growing and constantly changing society.
This said, it is only proper to give our nurses every opportunity to develop and
deepen their knowledge and skills.

The Philippines is well known for the quality of nurses that it produces. Aside
from the natural tendency of Filipinos to be compassionate, caring, and attentive,
it cannot be denied that Filipino nurses are generally skilled and competent, so
much so that other countries hire Filipino nurses to reinforce their healthcare
workforce.

In fact, Filipino nurses employed in different hospitals by other countries
such as the United States of America, United Kingdom and other European
countries were given recognition not only in their competence but their
extraordinary valor in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. While others refuse
to thread on dangerous situation brought by COVID-19, Filipino nurses are ready,
able, and willing to confront whatever challenges facing them even at the risk of
their own personal safety.


In this regard and to enable them remain competitive amidst the growing
supply of nurses worldwide and retain our stellar global reputation in the said
industry, this bill seeks to propose the institution of an Advanced Nursing
Education Program consisting of a Master's Degree and a Post-Doctoral Degree
for Filipino nurses.

While we acknowledge the reality that many Filipino nurses seek
employment abroad because they see such as a greener pasture, it is the vision
of this bill to bring back our nurses in the Philippines by presenting them a wider
range of decent career opportunities locally after obtaining their master’s and post-
doctoral degrees. The advanced education program will be designed to prepare
our nurses for careers in science and research, in the academe or in essential and
relevant positions in the government with the ultimate aim of using and utilizing
their acquired knowledge and experience for the benefit of the Filipino people
especially those who belong to the marginalized sectors such as women, children,
persons with disabilities, indigenous people, and the urban and rural poor, among
others.

The adoption, therefore, of this congressional measure is hereby earnestly
sought.

Oeil aes?


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BillNo,__ 8166

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT (RA) NO. 9173, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002,
PROVIDING FOR AN ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION
PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Advanced Nursing
Education Act of 2020”.

Sec. 2 Statement of Policy. \t shall be the policy of the State to uphold, maintain,
and further hone the integrity and excellence of the nursing profession by instituting
an Advanced Nursing Education Program and other related measures that will
result in better career opportunities, humane working conditions, and a more
dignified practice of profession for our nurses, with the ultimate objective of
ensuring that such development redounds to the benefit of the Filipino people.

Sec. 3. Section 25 of RA 9173, also known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002
is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 25. Nursing Education Program — Nursing education refers
to the formal learning and training in the science of nursing
provided by colleges, universities, and other higher educational
institutions duly recognized and accredited by the Commission


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on Higher Education (CHED). The science of nursing includes
the functions and duties in the physical care of patients, and a
combination of different disciplines that both accelerate the
patient's return to health and wellness, and normalcy of life, and
help maintain it.

The Nursing Education in the Philippines shall consist of
basic and advanced programs whereby the former is completed
through a four-year undergraduate degree and the latter, through
a master’s degree and a post-doctoral degree. The
aforementioned levels of education in Nursing shall be
instituted, managed, and/or implemented pursuant to republic
Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the CHED Law.”

Sec. 4. A new Section 26 shall be inserted after the amended Section 25 of RA
9173, to read thus:

“Sec. 26. Basic Nursing Education - The Basic Nursing
Education Program shall consist of no less than four (4) years of
undergraduate studies that will equip students with the
necessary knowledge, skills, and overall competency for entry-
level nursing practice of reputable quality.

Admission to the basic program for Nursing shall require
a passing score in a National Nursing Admission Test (NNAT), as
set by the Commission on Higher Education.

The curriculum for basic nursing education should
include community integration and immersion focusing on the
marginalized sectors such as women, children, the elderly,
persons with disabilities, the urban and rural poor, indigenous
people, among other vulnerable groups of persons.”

Sec. 5. Anew Section 27 shall be inserted after the new Section 26, to read as:

“Sec. 27. Advanced Nursing Education — There shall be an
Advance Nursing Education Program in the form of a Master’s as
well as of a Post-Doctoral Degree in Nursing.

The Advanced Nursing Education program shall provide
advanced theoretical knowledge, assessment skills, role and
leadership development, advanced clinical practi in a selected
specialization, and the opportunity to critique and apply nursing
theory and research as a scientific base for nursing practice. The
advanced nursing education curricula shall include core courses



such as health assessment, health promotion, community/public
health, health economics and policy, theory and ethics, as well as
research. Specialty, leadership, and elective courses shall also be
integrated gradually in their curriculum.

The PhD program shall prepare the post-graduate student
to develop and conduct scientific research that advances the
theoretical foundation of nursing practice and healthcare delivery,
with particular focus on public or community health. The program
shall be designed to prepare nurses for careers in science and
research, in the academe or in essential and relevant roles in
government with the ultimate aim of using and utilizing such
knowledge for the benefit of the Filipino people especially those
who belong to the marginalized sectors such as women, children,
the elderly, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, and the
urban and rural poor, among others.

Sec. 6. Section 26 of RA 9173 shall be renumbered as Section 28.

Sec. 7. Section 27 shall be renumbered as Section 28, and shall be amended as
follows:

SEC. 27 28. Qualifications of the Faculty.

(1) In the Basic/Undergraduate Education Program for Nursing,
the faculty member must:

(a) be a registered nurse in the Philippines;
(b) have at least one (1) year of clinical practice in a field of
specialization;

(c) be a member of good standing in the accredited
professional organization of nurses; and

(d) be a holder of a master’s degree in nursing, education,
or other allied medical and health sciences conferred by a
college or university duly recognized by the Government of
the Republic of the Philippines.

In addition to the aforementioned qualifications, the
dean of a college must have a master’s degree in nursing.
He/she must have at least five (5) years of experience in
nursing.


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(2) In the Advanced/Graduate Education Program for Nursing,
the faculty member must:
(a) possess all the qualifications mentioned in paragraph (1)
of this Section.

(b) be a holder of a doctoral degree in nursing conferred by
a college, university, or higher educational institution duly
recognized by the Government of the Republic of the
Philippines.

Sec. 8. Section 28 of RA 9173 is hereby renumbered as Section 30, and all
succeeding Sections of this Act shall be renumbered accordingly.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The Professional Regulatory
Commission (PRC) in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) shall promulgate and approve the necessary rules and regulations to carry
out the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity. The IRR shall
be published in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. In the event that any provision of this Act shall be
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions unaffected thereby shall
remain valid and subsisting.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
tules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved.