The Philippine Nursing Law

RA 9173- Philippine Nursing Act of 2002

- Was approved on October 21, 2002 and took effect on November 20,
2002
- he law regulates Ph Nursing Practice at Present.
- Provides about nursing registration, examination, nursing education,
nursing practice, and health human resource production
- Has 19 articles and 41 sections

BON Res. 425 s. 2003 implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 9173
- State hereby guarantees the delivery of quality basic health services
through an adequate nursing personnel system throughout the country
History:
● 1920- first nursing licensure examination
1. June 19, 1953- first Ph Nursing Law- R.A. 877
2. November 21, 1991 – R.A. 7164 - revised nursing law
August 31, 1970 - R.A. 6136 – authorizes registered nurses to
administer IV and other injections as long as the administration is
under the direction and supervision of a physician
3. October 21, 2002 – R.A. 9173 – present Ph Nursing Law
Board of Nursing:
- A chairperson and six members, appointed by the President of the
Republic of the Philippines
Vacant position in BON:
PNA nominates 3 per vacancy PRC recommends 2  the president
of the Ph appoints 1
Term of office:
a. Appointed for 3 years reappointment for one term only
 b. Appointment to vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of the
term
c. proper oath of office
Types of appointment:
1. Regular appointment
2. Ad interim appointment
3. Doctrine of Hold- over

BON Qualifications:
● Natural born citizen and resident
● Member of good standing of PNA
● RN with master’s degree
● At least 10 years continuous practice of the profession prior to
appointment
● Last 5 years shall be in the Phil.
● Not convicted of any offense (moral turpitude)
● BON shall represent 3 areas of Nursing (Sec. 4)
 Community Health Nursing
 Nursing Education
 Nursing Service

Requirement upon qualification (sec 5)

● Immediately resign from teaching from any school, college or university
offering nursing education, review program for the local nursing board or in
any office or employment in the government or in any government owned
corporations
● She/he shall not have pecuniary interest or administrative supervision over
any institution offering nursing education.
(IRR – pecuniary interest refers to involvement of husband/wife,
children, brothers/sisters, and mother/father in any activity that will
conflict w/ her/his position in the Board, particularly money matters.)
BON: powers, duties, functions
● Conduct Licensure examination for nurses
● Issue, suspend, revoke certificates of registration
● Monitor & enforce quality standards of nursing practice in the Phil.
● Ensure quality education by examining prescribed facilities of universities or
colleges of nursing. The authority to open and close colleges of nursing
and/or nursing program shall be vested on the CHED upon the written
recommendation of the board
● Conduct hearings & investigations (may issue subpoena- a court ordered
demand that a person appear in court or other legal proceeding)
● Promulgate CODE OF ETHICS
● Prescribe, adopt, issue regulations for the improvement of the profession

Removal/suspension (BON) (ICU)

● Incompetence/ continuous neglect of duty
● Commission/ tolerance of irregularities in the board exam
● Unprofessional, immoral & dishonorable conduct

Qualifications of FACULTY
● Holder of master’s degree in nursing/ education/ allied health sciences
● At least one year clinical practice
● RN
● Member with Good standing in the accredited credited professional
organization
 For a faculty member to be promoted as a dean, she/he must
meet the ff qualifications:
a) At least five years (5) experience in nursing practice
b) With MAN/master’s degree

SCOPE OF NURSING PRACTICE (PPIC)

● Provides nursing care: different stages of life of life (from conception to
old age)
● Promotion of health & Prevention of illnesses – independent practitioner
● Initiates & performs nursing services in any health care setting – Indiv,
Fam, and Com
● Collaborate with other health care providers for the preventive, curative
& rehabilitative aspects of care
● It shall be the duty of the nurse to: (sec 28)
o Do utilize NURSING PROCESS in providing nursing care
o Undertake nursing & health human resource development training
& research
o Teach, guide, supervise nursing students
o Interrelationship/linkages with community resources & health care
team
o Educate individual, families, community on health
o Strict/ duty-bound observance of the CODE OF ETHICS

INACTIVE NURSES
Nurses who have not actively practiced the profession for FIVE (5)
consecutive years can return to practice:
● ONE MONTH didactic training
● THREE MONTHS practicum

SPECIAL OR TEMPORARY PERMIT TO PRACTICE FOR LICENSED

FOREIGN NURSES:
● Medical mission
 ● Outstanding expert or specialist
● Professors on exchange employment
(permit valid for the duration of the project, mission or employment
contract.)
NURSING EDUCATION (Art.V)

● The Nursing Education Program shall provide sound general & professional
foundation for the practice of nursing
● Resolved the controversy on: “Upper 40 percent (40)” by deleting the
provision on General Entrance Requirements found in Sec 23 Art IV of RA
7164
“Applicants desiring to enroll in a nursing course must belong to the upper
forty percent of the graduating class of the general secondary course, as
certified by the school”(—not anymore!)
IMPACT:
a. Led to a new round of proliferation of nursing Schools
b. There are more than 400 nursing schools in the country today
c. Greater challenge: QUALITY NURSING EDUCATION
NURSING EXPERIENCES
Learning experiences: settings
 CLASSROOM
 HOSPITAL
 HOME
 COMMUNITY
 OTHER HEALTH AGENCIES
Learning experiences shall not be less than six (6) units or its equivalent.
EXAMINATION & REGISTRATION (art iv)
● In accordance with RA 8981 (PRC Modernization Act of 2000)
● Given TWICE a year
 ● Schedule: NOT EARLIER THAN ONE MONTH BUT NOT LATER THAN TER
THAN TWO MONTHS A ONTHS AFTER THE CLOSING OF THE SEMESTER
QUALIFICATIONS (Admission to Licensure Examination)
● Citizen of the Philippines
● Person of good moral character
● BSN holder (recognized school: complies with the standards of nursing
education)
List of documents
 TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDS
 Special order number
 Date of graduation
 Seal of the school
 Scanned picture
 Marriage contract (for married)
 4 pcs passport size colored pic;
 Current Community Certificate
 RLE record (Chief Nurse & Dean)
 Certificate of Live birth
 ACTUAL CASES
 Operating room
 Deliveries assisted
Signed:
Chief nurse
Dean
Clinical instructors

Ratings
 General average: 75%
 No grade below 60% in any subject
*removal exam within two years after last failed exam
RECONSIDERATION OF RATINGS
Grounds:
 mechanical, clerical or clear error or malfeasance in the rating of paper
* Request filed within 90 days from date of official release of exam results
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION
 Full name of the professional
 Serial number
 Signature of the chairperson of the commission & members of the boar
 Official seal of the commission
 Scanned picture
Professional Identification Card
 Full name of the professional
 License number
 Date of registration
 Date of issuance and expiration
 Signature of the chairperson
 Bar code Picture of the RN
SUSPENSION/REVOCATION of certificate of registration/license
 Gross incompetence/serious ignorance
 Unprofessional/unethical conduct
 Malpractice/negligence
 Fraud/deceit in obtaining certificate of registration/license
 Practice of profession during suspension from the Practice
 Conviction of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude

Re-issuance of revoked certificates

 Expiration of a minimum of four years from the date of revocation
 The CAUSE of revocation has disappeared/corrected
 Proper application
 Payment of required fees

PROHIBITIONS in the practice of Nursing

  Without certificate of registration/ professional license
 Use of other’s identification card (misdemeanor)
 Use of invalid/revoked/ suspended certificate of registration
 Use of false evidence to the to the BON to obtain certificate of
registration/professional license
 Falsely poses/advertises as a registered licensed nurse
 Falsely Appending BSN/RN to his/her name
 Assisting in illegal practice

Penalties:
 A fine of not less than P50,000 nor more than P100,000. Or imprisonment
of not less than than 1 year nor more than six than six years, or both, , upon
the discretion of the court.