Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 877)
The official title of the law is the "Philippine Nursing Law."
The Board is composed of a chairman and two members appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Commissioner of Civil Service, from among registered nurses of recognized standing certified by the national association of nurses in the Philippines.
Members must be Filipino citizens and residents, registered nurses with a bachelor's degree in nursing or equivalent, at least 30 years old, with at least 10 years of successful nursing practice, and have no faculty or pecuniary interest in nursing schools one year prior to appointment.
The Board issues, suspends, revokes, or reissues certificates of registration, studies nursing education and practice conditions, investigates violations of the Act, inspects facilities for nursing schools, and recommends measures for professional advancement and enforcement of the law.
Applicants must be Filipino citizens or foreigners from countries granting reciprocity, at least 21 years old, in good health and moral character, have completed high school or equivalent, and graduated with a nursing diploma or degree from an accredited institution covering prescribed subjects.
A candidate must obtain a general rating of at least 75% in the written test, with no rating below 60% in any subject, to pass the first examination.
Certificates may be revoked or suspended for criminal convictions involving moral turpitude, immoral or dishonorable conduct, unprofessional conduct, malpractice, incompetency, negligence, or fraud in obtaining the certificate.
Any person practicing nursing without a valid certificate or proper exemption commits a misdemeanor and upon conviction, faces a fine of not less than ₱1,000 and not more than ₱5,000 or imprisonment of one to five years, or both.
They must provide at least 100 hospital beds available at all times for various medical cases, as well as facilities for student experience in public health nursing through community health agencies and adequate budget, library, classrooms, and supplies.
All duly constituted officers of the law of the National Government or any provincial, city, or municipal government are responsible for enforcing the law and prosecuting violations.