FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHIILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
2988 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Nursing is one of the top career choices of Filipinos as illustrated by the enrolment in 
2000 at 30,000 and 450,000 in 2007 as reported by the Commission on Higher Education, From 
just 40 schools offering nursing courses in 1970, the country now has 481 schools offering 
nursing courses, In the 1990s, there were 170 schools; in June 2003: 251; in April 2004: 370; in 
June 2005: 441; and in June 2006: 470 schools, The rising enrolment mirrors the rising demand 
for the services of professional nurses in the Philippines and in other countries, 
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, not least of which 
are the low compensation and generally poorer working environment in the country, The ideal 
nurse to patient ratio of 1:4 per shift has yet to be realized in our country, 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, 
Filipino nurses including doctors turned nurses continue to migrate in droves making the 
Philippines one of the top source country of nurses, 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, Deployments continued to h'fOW in 2008, at 12,618; in 
2009: 13,465; and in 2010: 12,082 nurses, Destination countries in 2010 were as follows: Saudi 
Arabia, 8513; Singapore, 722; United Arab Emirates, 473; Libya, 417; Kuwait, 409; United 
Kingdom, 350; United States, 83; and Canada, 58. 
These actual deployment figures were vastly lower than the projected rates of deployment 
by the Department of Labor and Employment, as follows: 16,701 in 2006; 26,324, in 2007; 
35,948 in 2008; 45,572 in 2009; and 55,195 in 2010. 
Thus, the nursing profession had to contend with an expected tapering off of demand for 
nurses on the heels of rising demand for Filipino doctors, The problem was aggravated when 
some individuals and institutions in the nursing education sector were embroiled in the 2006 
licensure examination controversy. The negative effect on Filipino nurses and nursing graduates 
caused the international employers to take a hard second look and impose stringent requirements. 
Similarly, the CHED was forced to target the improvement of the quality of nursing 
education nationwide, It observed declining passing rates: 1970s to 80s: 80-90%; in 1991: below 
81 %; 2001 to 2003: 44-48%; in 2004: 55.9%; in 2005: 40.7%; and, in 2006: 42.42%. Last year, 
the low passing rate in July of 41.4% further declined in December to 35.26 % with 29,711 
passers out of 84,287 examinees. Earlier in May 2010, the CHED recommended the closure of 
147 schools for dismal performance in five successive years. Thereafter, the CHED issued a 


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moratorium on nursing enrolments to stem the oversupply of nursing graduates now at 280,000, 
most of whom are presently unemployed or underemployed. 
Since the enactment of RA 9173 almost a decade ago, these significant events critical to 
the development of nursing practice in the country have emerged. The Philippine Nursing Act of 
2002 must remain responsive to the Filipinos' need for nursing care and to the demand of new 
destination-countries. 
It is therefore imperative that reforms to further develop the nursing profession, increase 
protection for nursing professionals and raise the standard of nursing education be adopted by 
amending the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 or Republic Act No. 9173. This Bill 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. 
The Bill is envisioned 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. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this Bill is earnestly sought. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 
2988 
i' .. ~ 
.. 
r 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING REFORMS TO FURTHER PROTECT AND DEVELOP THE NURSING 
PROFESSION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 
NINETY-ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THREE, 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: 
1 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9173 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
2 
"ARTICLE I 
3 
Title 
4 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine 
5 
Nursing PRACTICE REFORM Act of[2002} 2011." 
6 
7 
SEC. 2. 
Article II of the same Republic Act is also hereby amended to read as 
8 
follows: 
9 
"ARTICLE II 
10 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. -
PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY 
11 
DEMANDS A HIGH LEVEL OF COMPETENCY AMONG FILIPINO 
12 
NURSES. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to GUARANTEE 
13 
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO THE DELIVERY OF BASIC QUALITY HEALTH 
14 
SERVICES THROUGH AN ADEQUATE NURSING PERSONNEL SYSTEM 
15 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE STATE RECOGNIZES NURSES AS 
16 
PRIME MOVERS OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTORS 
17 
TO INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING. 
AS 
18 
SUCH, THE STATE assumeS responsibility for the protection, 
[and] 
1 


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improvement AND DEVELOPMENT of the nursing profession by instituting 
2 
measures that will result in relevant AND QUALITY nursing [education] 
3 
PRACTICE, humane working conditions, better career prospects, and a dignified 
4 
existence for [our] nurses TO ENSURE HIGH LEVEL OF WELLNESS AND 
5 
WELL-BEING. 
6 
The State hereby guarantees the delivery of quality basic health services 
7 
through an adequate nursing personnel system throughout the country. 
8 
SEC. 3. Section 28, Article VI of the same Act is hereby amended and renumbered as 
9 
Section 3 under Article III and succeeding Sections are hereby renumbered accordingly, to read 
10 
as follows: 
11 
"ARTICLE [VI] III 
12 
SCOPE OF Nursing Practice 
13 
SEC. [28] 3. Scope o(Nursing PRACTICE. - A person shall be deemed to be 
14 
practicing nursing within the meaning of this Act when he/she singly or in collaboration 
15 
with another, initiates and performs nursing [services] CARE to individuals, families, 
16 
POPULATION GROUPS and communities in any health care setting. It includes, but 
17 
not limited to, nursing care during conception, labor, delivery, infancy, childhood, 
18 
toddler, preschool, school age, adolescence, adulthood and old age. [As independent 
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practitioners,] Nurses are primarily responsible for the promotion of health and 
20 
prevention of illness. As members of the health team, nurses shall collaborate with other 
21 
health care providers for the PROMOTIVE, PREVENTIVE, curative, [preventive] and 
22 
rehabilitative aspects. of care, restoration of health, alleviation of suffering, and when 
23 
recovery is not possible, towards a peaceful death. IN PERFORMING INDEPENDENT 
24 
AND COLLABORATIVE FUNCTIONS SINGLY OR JOINTLY, it shall be the duty of 
25 
the nurse to: 
26 
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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 
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administration of written prescription for treatment, therapies, oral, topical and 
parenteral medications, internal examination during labor in the absence of 
antenatal bleeding aud delivery[. In case of] AND suturing of perineal laceration 
[special training shall be provided according to protocol established]. 
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) [Establish linkages] COLLABORATE with community resources 
and [coordination] COORDINATE with THE MEMBERS OF the health 
team IN ANY HEALTH CARE SETTING; 
[c] 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; 
[d] E) "XXX; 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 nursmg 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 nphold the 
standards of safe AND QUALITY nursing practice. The nurse is required to 
maintain competence by continual [learning through continuing] professional 
education 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 
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[continuing] 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 read as follows: 
"ARTICLE [III] IV 
Organization of the Board of Nursing 
SEC. [3] 4. Creation and Composition of the Board. - There shaH 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, 
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 YEARS; 
(b) "XXX; 
(c) Be a registered nurse IN THE PHILIPPINES, and holder of a 
CURRENT VALID PRC ID; [and holder of a master's degree in 
nursing, education or other allied medical profession conferred by a 
college or university duly recognized by the government: 
Provided, That the majority of the members of the Board shall be 
holders of a master's degree in nursing: Provided, further, That the 
Chairperson shall be a holder of a master's degree in nursing;] 
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(D)BE A HOLDER OF A MASTER'S DEGREE IN NURSING AND 
OTHER RELATED HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS CONFERRED 
BY AN ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY; 
[d] (E) Have at least ten (10) years of continuous practice of the NURSING 
profession prior to appointment. 
[e] (F) [Not have been convicted of any offense involving moral 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 [for nurses] (PNLE) CONSIDERING THE 
PROCESS AND SYSTEMS OF THE COMMISSION, WHICH 
INCLUDE BUT 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; 
b) Issue, suspend, [or] revoke OR REISSUE certificates of registration for 
the practice of nursing AND ENSURE WIDEST PUBLICATION 
THRU ELECTRONIC AND WRITTEN MEDIA; 
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c) [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 into account the] TOWARDS OPTIMAL health 
[needs] AND THE COMMON GOOD of the nation; 
d) Ensure quality nursing education by examining [the prescribed facilities 
of universities or colleges of nursing or departments of! 
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 [colleges 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; 
e) "XXX; 
f) 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 (I) year from the effectivity of this Act; 
'g) [Recognize nursing specialty organizations in coordination with the 
accredited professional organization] INSTITUTE A NATIONAL 
NURSING CAREER PROGRESSION PROGRAM (NNCPP) FOR 
THE 
CONTINUING 
PROFESSIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT 
OF 
FILIPINO NURSES; 
H) CREATE 
A 
COUNCIL 
FOR 
NURSING 
RECOGNITION, 
ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION THAT WILL ASSIST 
THE BOARD OF NURSING IN: 
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I) 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; 
I) 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 PROFESSIONAL 
REGULATION COMMISSION AS PROMULGATED IN THE 
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT; and 
[h] K) "XXX. 
SEC. [10]11. Annual Report. - "XXX. 
SEC. [11]12. Removal or Suspension of Board Members. - "XXx. 
SEC. S. 
Article IV of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
ARTICLE [IV] V 
Examination and Registration 
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SEC. [12] 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. [13] 14. Qualifications for Admission to the PHILIPPINE NURSE 
Licensure Examination. - In order to be admitted to the examination for nurses, an 
applicant [must], [at] FROM the time of [filing] hislher GRADUATION MUST 
FILE IMMEDIATELY HISIHER APPLICA TION[,] AND establish to the 
satisfaction of the Board that: 
a) "XXX; 
b) "XXX; 
c) He/she 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. [14]15. Scope of Examination. - The scope of the examination for 
the practice of nursing in the Philippines shall be determined by the Board [. The 
Board shall take] OF NURSING TAKING into consideration the CORE 
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED OF BEGINNING NURSE PRACTITIONERS 
CONSIDERING THE objectives of the nursing curriculum[, the broad 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 EXAMINA nON SHALL BE 
BASED ON A COMPETENCY-BASED TEST FRAMEWORK. 
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"SEC. [15] 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 percent (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 [sixty percent (60%)] SEVENTY PERCENT (70%) 
in any subject must take the examination again but only in the subject or subjects 
where he/she is rated below [sixty percent (60%)] SEVENTY PERCENT (70%). 
In order to pass the succeeding examination, an examinee must obtain a rating of 
at lea~t 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. [16]17. Oath. - "XXX. 
SEC. [17] 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. 
SEC. [18] 19. Fees for Examination and Registration. - Applicants for 
licensure and for registration shall pay the prescribed fees set by THE 
Commission. 
SEC. [19] 20. Automatic Registration of Nurses. -All nurses whose names 
appear at the roster of nurses shall [be automatically or] ipso facto BE registered 
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as nurses AND AS MEMBERS OF THE PRC ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL 
ORGANIZATION (APO) [under this Act] UPON [its] THE effectivity OF THIS 
ACT. 
SEC. [20] 21. Registration by Reciprocity. - "XXX. 
SEC. 
[21] 
22. 
Practice 
Through 
Special/Temporary Permit. 
-A 
special/temporary pennit may be issued [by the Board] to the following persons 
[subject to the approval of! BASED ON QUALIFICATION STANDARDS AS 
DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF NURSING AND APPROVED BY the 
Comm'ission [and upon payment of the prescribed 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] 
(c) 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 .. 
follows: 
Articles V and VI of the same Act are hereby amended to read as 
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ARTICLE [V] 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 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. 
[SEC. 27] (C) Qualifications of [the] Faculty MEMBERS. -
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1. BASIC NURSING EDUCATION. A member of the faculty in a college of 
nursing teaching professional courses must: 
a. Be a registered nurse in the Philippines AND A HOLDER 
OF A CURRENT VALID PRC ID; 
b. Have at least [one (I)] THREE (3) yearS of clinical practice 
in a field of specialization; 
[(c). Be a member of good standing in the accredited professional 
organization of nurses; and] 
[(d)] c. Be a holder ofa 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; 
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. 
[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.] 
2. 
GRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION. A MEMBER OF THE 
FACULTY TEACHING GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL COURSES 
MUST: 
a. FOLLOW PRESCRIPTIONS 
I 
AND 
2 OF BASIC 
NURSING EDUCATION; AND 
b. BE A HOLDER OF A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN 
NURSING, EDUCATION, OR OTHER ALLIED HEALTH 
SCIENCES 
CONFERRED 
BY 
A 
COLLEGE 
OF 
UNIVERSITY 
DULY 
RECOGNIZED 
BY 
THE 
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GOVERNMENT 
OF 
THE 
REPUBLIC 
OF 
THE 
PHILIPPINES: 
PROVIDED, 
FURTHER, 
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 NURSING FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAM CONFERRED 
BY AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN THE 
PHILIPPINES OR ITS EQUIVALENT; 
5) MUST UNDERGO PROGRESSIVE TRAINING FOR DEANS 
ACCORDING TO PROGRAM PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD. 
[ARTICLE VI 
[Nursing Practice 1 
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 
13 


1 
HOSPITALS, PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS OR COMMUNITIES, 
2 
CLINICS AND OTHERS BY A REGISTERED NURSE. THE NURSE SHALL 
3 
POSSESS THE CORE COMPETENCIES PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD OF 
4 
NURSING. 
NURSING 
SERVICE 
INCLUDES 
THE 
PROVISION 
OF 
5 
SPECIALIZED, EXPANDED AND ADVANCED PRACTICE SERVICES AS 
6 
WELL AS NURSING MANAGEMENT. 
7 
(A) 
BEGINNING 
NURSE 
PRACTITIONER. 
-
BEGINNING 
NURSE 
8 
PRACTITIONER PROVIDES FOR SAFE AND QUALITY CARE TO AN 
9 
INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY OR GROUP THAT IS INDEPENDENT OR 
10 
PROVIDED AS PART OF A TEAM BY A NURSE OR A GROUP OF 
11 
NURSES WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ASSESS, PLAN, IMPLEMENT AND 
12 
EVALUATE CARE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS BASED ON EVIDENCE 
13 
DERIVED FROM RESEARCH. 
14 
A BEGINNING NURSE PRACTITIONER MUST HAVE THE 
15 
FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 
16 
1) BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING GRADUATE 
17 
2) REGISTERED NURSE WITH CURRENT PRC ID 
18 
3) MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL 
19 
ORGANIZATION (APO) 
20 
4) MUST NOT BE CONVICTED OF ANY MORAL TURPITUDE 
21 
(B) 
ADVANCED 
NURSE 
PRACTITIONER. 
-
ADVANCED 
NURSE 
22 
PRACTITIONER IS A REGISTERED NURSE WHO HAS ACQUIRED 
23 
EXPERT KNOWLEDGE BASE, COMPLEX DECISION-MAKING SKILLS 
24 
AND CLINICAL COMPETENCIES FOR EXPANDED PRACTICE (lCN, 2002) 
25 
BASED ON EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM RESEARCH. ADVANCED 
26 
PRACTICE OF NURSING REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL THEORETICAL 
27 
KNOWLEDGE IN THE SPECIALTY AREA OF NURSING PRACTICE AND 
28 
PROFICIENT CLINICAL UTILIZATION OF THIS KNOWLEDGE IN 
29 
IMPLEMENTING INDEPENDENT AND INTERDEPENDENT NURSING 
14 


•• 
1 
INTERVENTIONS. 
SPECIALTIES 
CAN 
BE 
DIFFERENTIATED 
IN 
2 
DIFFERENT 
CATEGORIES: 
ACCORDING 
TO 
FUNCTIONS, 
3 
DISEASE/PATHOLOGY, SYSTEMS, AGE, SEX, ACUITY, SETTINGS, 
4 
TECHNOLOGY/THERAPIES. 
THIS 
PRACTICE 
INCLUDES 
THE 
5 
ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT LEGITIMIZE 
6 
ROLE AUTONOMY WITHIN SPECIFIC AREAS OF PRACTICE (ICN, 1992 
7 
AND HAMRIC, 2002). A MASTERS DEGREE IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY 
8 
LEVEL. THIS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THOSE WHO ARE IN 
9 
EDUCATION, MANAGEMENT AND CLINICAL PRACTICE. 
10 
AN ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER MUST HAVE THE 
11 
FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS IN ADDITION TO THE 
12 
REQUIREMENTS OF A BEGINNING NURSE PRACTITIONER: 
13 
I) RELEVANT 
MASTERS 
DEGREE 
GRADUATE 
FROM 
A 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
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 
19 
SPECIALTY ORGANIZATION. 
20 
[SEC. 
29] 
(C) 
[Qualification 
of 
a} 
NURSING 
SERVICE 
21 
[Administrators}MANAGER. - A [person] NURSING SERVICE MANAGER IS 
22 
A PRACTITIONER occupying supervisory or managerial positions requiring 
23 
LEADERSHIP AND knowledge of nursing [must:] MANAGEMENT. 
24 
[(a) Be a registered nurse in the Philippines; 
25 
(b) Have at least two (2) years experience in general nursing service 
26 
administration; 
27 
(c) Possess a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with at least nine 
28 
(9) units in management and administration courses at the graduate level; and] 
15 


1 
1) THE FIRST LEVEL MANAGER IS RESPONSIBLE DIRECTLY WITH 
2 
THE PHYSICAL SET-UP OF THE UNIT, STRUCTURE AND OTHER 
3 
HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH. 
4 
2) THE MIDDLE LEVEL MANAGER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 
5 
DEPARTMENT OR SECTION HANDLING MORE THAN ONE (1) OR 
6 
TWO (2) UNITS, TAKES CARE OF THE FINANCIAL, LOGISTIC, 
7 
OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS AND OTHERS. 
8 
3) THE TOP LEVEL MANAGER OVERSEES THAT ALL NURSING 
9 
UNITS IN TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL, HUMAN RESOURCES FOR 
10 
HEALTH (NOT JUST OF THE NURSES BUT INCLUDING THE 
11 
NURSING ASSISTANTS/ADJUNCTS) AND OTHERS. 
12 
A NURSING SERVICE MANAGER MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING 
13 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENTS 
14 
OF A BEGINNING NURSE PRACTITIONER: 
15 
a) FOR FIRST LEVEL MANAGERIAL POSITION IN NURSING, 
16 
EIGHTEEN (18) UNITS OF NURSING MANAGEMENT AND 
17 
CLINICAL SUBJECTS IN MASTER OF ARTS IN NURSING/MASTER 
18 
OF SCIENCE IN NURSING AND AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF 
19 
CLINICAL WORK EXPERIENCE. 
20 
b) FOR MIDDLE LEVEL MANAGERIAL POSITION IN NURSING, 
21 
COMPLETED ALL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS IN MASTER OF 
22 
ARTS IN NURSING/MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING AND AT 
23 
LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF CLINICAL AND TWO (2) YEARS OF 
24 
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE. 
25 
c) FOR TOP 
LEVEL MANAGERIAL POSITION IN 
NURSING, 
26 
MASTERS DEGREE IN NURSING OR HEALTH MANAGEMENT-
27 
RELATED SCIENCES AND AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF 
28 
CLINICAL 
AND 
THREE 
(3) 
YEARS 
OF 
MANAGEMENT 
29 
EXPERIENCE. 
16 


1 
2 
d) MUST be a member of good standing of the accredited professional 
organization 
[of 
nurses] 
AND 
RELEVANT 
NURSING 
3 
ORGANIZATIONS: 
4 
[Provided, That a person occupying the position of chief nurse or director of 
5 
nursing service shall, in addition to the foregoing qualifications, possess: 
6 
1. 
At least five (5) years of experience in a supervisory or managerial 
7 
position in nursing; and 
8 
2. 
A master's degree major in nursing; 
9 
Provided further, That for primary hospitals, the maximum academic 
10 
qualifications and experiences for a chief nurSe shall be as specified in 
11 
subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section: Provided furthermore, That for chief 
12 
nurses in the public health nursing shall be given priority. Provided, even further, 
13 
That for chief nurses in military hospitals, priority to those who have finished a 
14 
master's degree in nursing and the completion of the General Staff Course (GSC): 
15 
Provided finally, That those occupying such positions before the effectivity of this 
16 
Act shall be given a period of five (5) years within which to qualify.] 
17 
PROVIDED, THAT THE ABOVE QUALIFICATIONS SHALL APPLY TO 
18 
ALL 
NURSES 
OCCUPYING 
SUPERVISORY 
OR 
MANAGERIAL 
19 
POSITIONS ACROSS ALL HEALTH FACILITIES SUCH AS, BUT NOT 
20 
LIMITED TO PRIMARY OR MILITARY HEALTH FACILITIES, FOR TOP 
21 
LEVEL MANAGERIAL POSITION OF FIRST AND SECOND LEVELS, AS 
22 
WELL AS MEDICAL CENTERS NATIONWIDE. 
23 
SEC. 28. NURSE-PATIENT RATIO, -THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE 
24 
HOSPITALS ARE HEREBY MANDATED TO MAINTAIN THE STANDARD 
25 
NURSE-PATIENT RATIO SET BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: 
26 
• 
IN HOSPITALS BASED ON ACUITY AND AUTHORIZED BED 
27 
CAPACITY (ABC); 
28 
• 
IN COMMUNITY BASED ON NEED, POPULATION AND 
29 
GEOGRAPHY; 
17 


1 
• 
IN OCCUPATIONAL OR SCHOOL SETTINGS BASED ON 
2 
RELEVANT LEGAL INSTRUMENTS (AO, EO, RA). 
3 
SEC. [26] 29. Requirement for Inactive Nurses Returning to Practice. - Nurses 
4 
[who have not actively practiced the profession] ARE DEEMED TO BE 
5 
INACTIVE WHEN: 
6 
1) THEY ARE NOT UTILIZING NURSING COMPETENCIES AS 
7 
DEFINED IN THE SCOPE OF NURSING PRACTICE for five (5) 
8 
consecutive years. 
9 
2) THERE IS NON-RENEWAL OF PRC ID FOR FrVE (5) YEARS. 
10 
3) THEY DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF FrVE (5) YEARS 
OF 
11 
CONTINUOUS NURSING PRACTICE. 
12 
.INACTIVE NURSES are required to undergo one (1) month of didactic 
13 
training and three (3) months of practicum. ONLY the Board shall accredit 
14 
hospitals AND HEALTH CARE AGENCIES to conduct the said training 
15 
program. 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
SEC. 7. 
Article VII ofthe 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, 
21 
Utilization and Development. - The Board in coordination with [the accredited 
22 
professional 
organization] 
RELEVANT 
NURSING 
AND 
OTHER 
23 
GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES shall initiate, 
24 
undertake and conduct studies on health human resources production, utilization 
25 
and development. 
THE BOARD SHALL LIKEWISE ENSURE THE 
26 
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF HRH DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES 
27 
FOR NURSES AND OTHER RELATED PERSONNEL TO ATTAIN A 
28 
HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND PRODUCTIVE NURSING PERSONNEL 
29 
SYSTEM AND WORKFORCE." 
18 


oI-
l 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
• 
"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 
maybe determined by the Board[.J: 
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. 
19 


1 
"SEC. 32. [Salary] COMPENSATION. - In order to enhance the general 
2 
welfare, commitment to service and professionalism of nurses, the minimum base 
3 
pay of nurses working in the public AND PRIVATE health and HEALTH-
4 
RELATED institutions shall BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PREVAILING 
5 
SALARY STANDARDS SET BY LAW FOR PROFESSIONALS AND SHALL 
6 
not be lower than salary grade 15 [prescribed under Republic Act No. 6758, 
7 
otherwise known as the "Compensation and Classification Act of 1989":] 
8 
FOLLOWING THE PROVISIONS OF THE SALARY STANDARDIZATION 
9 
LAW: [Provided, That for nurses working in local government units, adjustment 
10 
to their salaries shall be in accordance with Sec. 10 of the said law.] PROVIDED, 
11 
FURTHER, THAT ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES IN PUBLIC AND 
12 
PRIVATE HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED INSTITUTIONS SHALL BE 
13 
ENTITLED TO ADDITIONAL REMUNERATION. GOVERNMENT AND 
14 
NON-GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SHALL PROVIDE 
15 
MECHANISM 
FOR 
REIMBURSEMENTS 
FOR 
SPECIALTY 
AND 
16 
ADVANCED 
PRACTICE 
NURSING 
SERVICES 
BASED 
ON 
17 
QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD ADHERING TO THE 
18 
NATIONAL NURSING CAREER PROGRESSION PROGRAM (NNCPP). IN 
19 
ADDITION, NURSING PROFESSIONAL FEES MAY BE EXACTED 
20 
DIRECTLY FROM THE CLIENTELE AND PATIENTS WITHIN THE 
21 
PROVISIONS 
OF 
ADVANCED 
PRACTICE 
NURSING 
OR 
22 
COLLABORATIVELY WITH EXPERT NURSES." 
23 
"SEC. 33. Funding for the [Comprehensive] DEVELOPMENT OF THE 
24 
NATIONAL Nursing [Specialty] CAREER PROGRESSION PROGRAM (NNepp) 
25 
AND TRAINING. - The annual financial requirement needed to [train at least ten 
26 
percent (10%) of the nursing staff of the participating government hospital] 
27 
IMPLEMENT THE NNCPP IN THE TRAINING OF GOVERNMENT AND 
28 
PRIVATE NURSES FOR CONTINUAL LIFE-LONG LEARNING shall be 
29 
[chargeable against] SOURCED FROM: 
20 


, 
.-
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
A. TEN PERCENT (10%) 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. - [The Board of Nursing in coordination 
with the Department of Health and other concerned government agencies, 
associating of hospitals and the accredited professional organization] TO THE 
EXTENT POSSIBLE AS PROVIDED BY LAW, A MECHANISM shall BE 
establishED BY THE BOARD OF NURSING TO PROVIDE [an] incentiveS and 
benefitS [system in the form of free hospital care for nurses and their dependents, 
scholarship grants and other non-cash benefits. The government and private 
hospitals are hereby mandated to maintain the standard nurse-patient ratio set by 
the Department of Health.] FOR NURSES IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND 
PRIVATE SECTORS. 
SEC. 8. 
Article VIII ofthe same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"ARTICLE VIII 
Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions 
SEC. 35. 
Prohibitions in the Practice of Nursing. - A fine of not less 
than [Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00)] ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
(P100,000.00) nor more than [One hundred thousand pesos (PIOO,OOO.OO)] 
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not 
21 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
less than one (I) year nor more than six (6) years, or both, upon the discretion of 
the court, shall be imposed upon THE FOLLOWING CLASSIFICATION OF 
OFFENSES: 
1) VIOLATIONS AGAINST CODE OF ETHICS AND PUBLIC 
MORALS; 
2) VIOLATIONS AGAINST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS; 
3) VIOLATIONS AGAINST HUMAN/PATIENT'S RIGHTS; AND 
4) OTHER OFFENSES 
[(a) any person practicing nursing in the Philippines within the meaning of this Act: 
'(1) without a certificate of registration/professional license and professional 
identification card or special temporary pennit or without having been declared 
exempt from examination in accordance with the provision of this Act; or 
(2) who uses as hislher own certificate of registration/professional license and 
professional identification card or special temporary pennit of another; or 
(3) who uses an invalid certificate of registration/professional license, a 
suspended or revoked certificate of registration/professional license, or an expired or 
cancelled special/temporary pennits; or 
(4) who gives any false evidence to the Board in order to obtain a certificate of 
registration/professional license, a professional identification card or special pennit; 
or 
(5) who falsely poses or advertises as a registered and licensed nurse or uses any 
other means that tend to convey the impression that he/she is a registered and licensed 
nurse; or 
(6) who appends B.S.N.lR.N. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Registered Nurse) 
or any similar appendage to hislher name without having been conferred said degree 
or registration; or 
(7) who, as a registered and licensed nurse, abets or assists the illegal practice of a 
person who is not lawfully qualified to practice nursing. 
22 


• 
" 
... 
1 
2 
:\ 
(b) any person or the chief executive officer of a judicial entity who undertakes in-
service educational programs or who conducts review classes for both local and foreign 
examination without permit/clearance from the Board and the Commission; or 
4 
5 
6 
(c) any person or employer of nurses who violate the minimum base pay of nurses 
and the incentives and benefits that should be accorded them as specified in Sections 32 
and 34; or 
7 
8 
(d) any person or the chief executive officer of a juridical entity violating any 
provision of this Act and its rules and regulations.] 
9 
10 
11 
12 
SEC. 9. 
Article IX ofthe same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
ARTICLE IX 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 36. Enforcement of this Act. - "XXX. 
13 
SEC. 37. Appropriations. - "XXX. 
14 
SEC. 38. Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety days (90) after the 
15 
effectivity of this Act, the Board and the Commission, in coordination with the 
16 
accredited professional organization AND OTHER NURSING PROFESSIONAL 
17 
ORGANIZATIONS, the Department of Health, the Department of Budget and 
18 
Management and other concerned government agencies, shall formulate rules and 
19 
regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. The implementing 
20 
rules and regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette or newspaper of 
21 
general circulation. 
22 
SEC. 39. Separability Clause. - "XXX. 
23 
SEC. 40. Repealing Clause. 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9173, OTHERWISE 
24 
KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002" IS HEREBY AMENDED. 
25 
All other laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances, rules and regulations and parts 
26 
thereof which are inconsistent with THE AMENDATORY PROVISIONS OF this Act 
27 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
23 


1 
SEC. 41. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
2 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) national newspapers of general 
3 
circulation [in the Philippines]. 
4 
Approved, 
24