EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

7265

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Filipino nurses are world-renowned for their skill, inherent compassion, and eagerness
to provide care. The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) estimates more than
13,000 health care professionals, mostly nurses and nursing assistants, leave the country
every year.

Despite the skill and knowledge of Filipino nurses, it cannot be denied that nursing
education in the country needs improvement. The education programs employed by our local
nursing educational institutions seem to focus merely on producing graduates without taking
into account future educational opportunities for nurses for further education and advanced
programs.

‘Advanced nursing education programs can provide our nurses with an additional
advantage and greater opportunities, whether here or abroad. They can have access to
education that can lead to leadership roles, specialization in specific practice areas, and
recognition in the fields of research and advanced nursing education

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ



EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
7265

House Bill No.

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Advanced Nursing Education Act’

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to assume
responsibility for the protection and improvement of the nursing profession by instituting
measures that will result in relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, better
career prospects and a dignified existence for our nurses.

SEC 3. Section 25 of Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise known as the Philippine Nursing Act
of 2002 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 25. [Nursing Education Program. — The nursing education
program shall provide sound general and professional foundation
for the practice of nursing.

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 }

NURSING EDUCATION. - NURSING EDUCATION SHALL
REFER TO THE FORMAL LEARNING AND TRAINING IN THE
SCIENCE AND ART OF NURSING PROVIDED BY HIGHER
EDUCATIONAL 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 foliows:
“SEC 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 BE 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
MASTERY, EXPERTISE, AND LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE,
RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION. SUCH PROGRAMS SHALL
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
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 STANDARDS 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, to read as follows:
SEC. [27] 28. Qualifications of the Faculty. — [A member of the
faculty in a college of nursing teaching professional courses must:

(a) Be a registered nurse in the Philippines;

(b) Have at least one (1) year 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 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.]

(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 COMPLY WITH 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 Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days after the effectivity of
this Act, the Board and the Professional Regulatory Commission, in coordination with the
Commission on Higher Education and other concerned government agencies, shall formulate
such 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 in any newspaper of general
circulation.

SEC 9. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be deciared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting

SEC 10. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and
other executive issuances which are not consistent with or contrary to the provisions of this,
Act are hereby repealed or amended.

SEC 11. Effectivity clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
pubiication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,