HOUSE OF RIPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
pare 08 AUG 2016
SC Sa Sacal

RY:

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECISTR (TION UNIT
H. No. 2602 BILLS AND INDE X SZQVICE

Introduced by Representative Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

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. Enrolment in the course has
ballooned from 30,000 in 2010 to about half a million at present, producing 200,000 nursing
graduates every year®. The number of schools offering nursing courses also grew from just 40 in
1970 to 490 at present. The rising enrolment mirrors the rising 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 low compensation 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 eam overseas is about ten times more than what they can earn locally.
Thus, Filipino nurses instead of working in the county 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 19,815
in 2014, at an average growth rate of 10.5% per year.’ 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 Babrain.*

The problem is further aggravated by some abusive practices preying 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

* utp ched gov. ph/chedwww/index php/eng/information/Statistcs.
* hup:/nursingcrib.comnews-blogthe-philipines-produces-200000-nursing-graduates-yealy/

* np: ww: poea.gov.pWVoFwsta/compendiunv2014.péf.
“hp:/www.poea gov phistas/2010%420Deployment9420by94200ccupation, %20Destination®420and%620Sex%4202010%20-

420New?420hires. pdf


prerequisite for employers because of the 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 to the difficulty
in 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 1:15-26 per shift while Davao del Sur
has a province-wide ratio of 1:44-45 per shifts

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
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 more than a decade ago.

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 eamestly

VILMA SANTOS-RECTO

* Department of Health, Health Facilities and Government Health Manpower, 1999-2009.

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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. No. 2602

Introduced by Representative Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

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 of 2016”.

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SEC. 2. Article Il 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 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.”

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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:

CeVaonenwne

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“ARTICLE [VI] IIL
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 and 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](©)[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;

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“[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 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-
bound] 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 [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 [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 become Article IV to read as

follows:

“ARTICLE [Il] 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 YEARS;
“(b) = XXX;
“(@) 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:

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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:)
“(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; and
“{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.”
EC. [6] 7. Term of Office. ~ XXX."
EC. [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;

“(©) [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

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“@)

“@)
“9

“@)

“(H)

standards in the practice of nursing [taking into account the]

TOWARDS OPTIMAL health [needs] AND THE COMMON

GOOD of the nation;

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;

XXX;

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:

[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;

CREATE A COUNCIL FOR NURSING RECOGNITION,

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

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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;

“(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 PRC AS PROMULGATED IN THE
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT; AND

“[h](K) XXX.”

EC. [10] 11. Annual Report. XXX.”

“SEC. [11] 12. Removal or Suspension of Board Members. ~ XXX.”

SEC. 5. Article IV of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
“ARTICLE [IV] V
Examination and Registration

“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] THE APPLICATION MUST BE FILED IMMEDIATELY UPON
GRADUATION OF THE applicant AND must [at the time of filing his/her]
establish to the satisfaction of the Board that:

“(a) XXX;

“(b) XXX;

“(©) [He/she] THE APPLICANT 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

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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 EXAMINATION SHALL BE
BASED ON A COMPETENCY-BASED TEST FRAMEWORK.”

“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%) ot
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] THE EXAMINEE is rated below [sixty percent (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.”

EC. [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 permit 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
Commission [and upon payment of the prescribed fees]:

“(@) 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
Lost Certificates. ~ XXX.
SEC. 6. Articles V and VI of the same Act are hereby amended to read as follows:

“ARTICLE [V] VI

issuance of Revoked Certificates and Replacement of

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

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“B)

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.”

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] (©) Qualifications of [the] Faculty MEMBERS. ~

“(1) BASIC NURSING EDUCATION. A member of the faculty in a college

of nursing teaching professional courses must:

“{(@)] 1A. Be a registered nurse in the Philippines AND A
HOLDER OF A CURRENT VALID PRC ID;

“[(b)] 1.B. Have at least [one (1)] THREE (3) yearS of clinical
practice in a field of specialization;

a) Be a member of good standing in the accredited
professional organization of nurses; and]

“[@]1.C. Be a holder of a 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;

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

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“LE. 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:

“2.4. 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;

“() HAVE AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF CLINICAL
PRACTICE IN A FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION;

“(3) HAVE AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF NURS
EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT.
EXPERIENCE OR THREE (3) YEARS OF
MANAGEMENT IN ANY  HEALTH-RELATED
INSTITUTION;

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“@) 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; AND
“(5) UNDERGO PROGRESSIVE TRAINING FOR DEANS
ACCORDING TO PROGRAM PRESCRIBED BY THE
BOARD.”
{ARTICLE VI}
[Nursing Practice]
“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 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;
(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 MORAL
TURPITUDE.

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“(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 (ICN, 2002)
BASED ON EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM RESEARCH.
ADVANCED PRACTICE OF NURSING REQUIRES
SUBSTANTIAL THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE
SPECIALTY AREA OF NURSING PRACTICE AND

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 (ICN, 1992 AND HAMRIC,
2002). 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 GRADUATE 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.”

“[SEC. 29] (C) [Qualification of af NURSING SERVICE

[Administrators|MANAGER, — A [person] NURSING SERVICE

MANAGER IS A_ PRACTITIONER occupying supervisory or

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managerial positions requiring LEADERSHIP AND knowledge of
nursing [must:] MANAGEMENT.
“[(a) Be a registered nurse in the Philippines:]

“[(b) Have at least two (2) years experience in general nursing

service administration;]

“[(©) Possess a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with at
least nine (9) units in management and administration
courses at the graduate level; and)”

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

“@) 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

“(3) THE TOP LEVEL MANAGER OVERSEES THAT ALL
NURSING UNITS IN TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL,
HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH (NOT JUST OF
THE NURSES BUT INCLUDING THE NURSING
ASSISTANTS/ADJUNCTS) AND OTHERS.

“A NURSING SERVICE MANAGER MUST HAVE THE
FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS IN ADDITION TO
THE REQUIREMENTS OF A_ BEGINN! 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

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1 AND TWO (2) YEARS OF MANAGEMENT
2 EXPERIENCE;

3 “(3) FOR TOP LEVEL MANAGERIAL POSITION IN
4 NURSING, MASTERS DEGREE IN NURSING OR
5 HEALTH MANAGEMENT-RELATED SCIENCES
6 AND AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF CLINICAL.
7 AND THREE (3) YEARS OF MANAGEMENT
8 EXPERIENCE; AND

9 “{d](4) MUST be a member of good standing of the accredited
10 professional organization [of nurses] AND RELEVANT
1 NURSING ORGANIZATION:

2 “[Provided, That a person occupying the position of chief nurse or director
13 of nursing service shall, in addition to the foregoing qualifications,
14 possess:

15 1. At least five (5) years of experience in a supervisory or
16 managerial position in nursing; and

v7 2. A master’s degree major in nursing;

18 Provided further, That for primary hospitals, the maximum academic
19 qualifications and experiences for a chief nurse shall be as specified in
20 subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section: Provided furthermore, That for
21 chief nurses in the public health nursing shall be given priority. Provided,
2 even further, That for chief nurses in military hospitals, priority to those
23 who have finished a master’s degree in nursing and the completion of the
24 General Staff Course (GSC): Provided finally, That those occupying such
25 positions before the effectivity of this Act shall be given a period of five
26 (5) years within which to qualify.]”

27 “PROVIDED, THAT THE ABOVE QUALIFICATIONS SHALL
28 APPLY TO ALL NURSES OCCUPYING SUPERVISORY OR
29 MANAGERIAL POSITIONS ACROSS ALL HEALTH FACILITIES
30 SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO PRIMARY OR MILITARY
31 HEALTH FACILITIES, FOR TOP LEVEL MANAGERIAL
32 POSITION OF FIRST AND SECOND LEVELS, AS WELL AS
33 MEDICAL CENTERS NATIONWIDE.”

34 “SEC. 28. NURSE-PATIENT RATIO. -THE GOVERNMENT AND
35 PRIVATE HOSPITALS ARE HEREBY MANDATED TO MAINTAIN
36 THE STANDARD NURSE-PATIENT RATIO SET BY THE
37 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH:

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“(A)

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
[who have not actively practiced the profession] ARE DEEMED TO BE
INACTIVE WHEN:
“(A) THEY ARE NOT UTILIZING NURSING COMPETENCIES
AS DEFINED IN THE SCOPE OF NURS! 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. ONLY the Board 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 accredited
professional organization) 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.

“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,

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eC emrnaunerwone

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
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 [prescribed under Republic Act No.

6758, otherwise known as the
FOLLOWING THE PROVISIONS OF THE SALARY
STANDARDIZATION LAW: [Provided, That for nurses working in local

‘ompensation and Classification Act of 1989”:]

government units, adjustment to their salaries shall be in accordance with See. 10
of the said law.] PROVIDED, THAT ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES IN
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED

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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 NURSE
EC. 33. Funding for the [Comprehensive] DEVELOPMENT OF THE
NATIONAL Nursing [Specialty] CAREER PROGRESSION PROGRAM
(NNCPP) AND TRAINING. ~ The annual financial requirement needed to [train

at least ten percent (10%) of the nursing staff of the participating government
hospital] IMPLEMENT THE 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 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

“(©) 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, association 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 benefit [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

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1 ratio set by the Department of Health] FOR NURSES IN BOTH

2 GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTORS.”

3 SEC. 8. Article VIII of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

4 “ARTICLE VIIL

5 Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions

6 “SEC. 35. Prohibitions in the Practice of Nursing. — A fine of not less

7 than [Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00)] ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND

8 PESOS (P100,000.00) nor more than [One hundred thousand pesos

9 (P100,000.00)] THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00) or

10 imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years, or both,

cen upon the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon THE FOLLOWING

2 CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENSES:

3B (A) VIOLATIONS AGAINST CODE OF ETHICS AND PUBLIC

14 MORALS;

15 “(B) VIOLATIONS AGAINST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS;

16 “(C) VIOLATIONS AGAINST HUMAN/PATIENT’S RIGHTS;

7 AND

18 “(D) OTHER OFFENSES.”

19 (a) any person practicing nursing in the Philippines within the meaning of this Act:]
20 [(1) without a certificate of registration/professional license and professional
21 identification card or special temporary permit or without having been
2 declared exempt from examination in accordance with the provision of this
23 Act; or]
24 [(2) who uses as his/her own certificate of registration/professional license and
25 professional identification card or special temporary permit of another; or]
26 [@) who uses an invalid certificate of registration/professional license, a
7 suspended or revoked certificate of registration/professional license, or an
28 expired or cancelled special/temporary permits; or]
29 [(4) who gives any false evidence to the Board in order to obtain a certificate of
30 registration/professional license, a professional identification card or special
31 permit; or
32 [(S) who falsely poses or advertises as a registered and licensed nurse or uses any
33 other means that tend to convey the impression that he/she is a registered and
34 licensed nurse; or]

35 [(6) who appends B.S.N./RIN. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Registered Nurse)
36 or any similar appendage to his/her name without having been conferred said
37 degree or registration: or]

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[(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.]

[(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]

[(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]

[(d) any person or the chief executive officer of a juridical entity violating any

provision of this Act and its rules and regulations.|

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 concemed, 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. Separabil

thereof shall be held unconstitutional and invalid, the other parts or provisions of this Act, which

y Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act or any part

are not affected thereby, shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,

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