Rationale
- Philosophy centers on enhancing PNP nurses' responsiveness to changes in healthcare.
- Emphasizes continuing education and specialty training to promote professional growth and modern nursing care.
Purpose
- Establish guidelines and procedures governing specialty training of PNP nurses.
Definition of Terms
- Specialty Training: Training in specified nursing fields.
- PNP Nurses: Includes Police Commissioned Officers (PCO), Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCO), and Nurses (NUP) assigned to Health Service.
Policy, Concept, and Procedures
- Institutionalization of a uniform and standard system for selecting trainees based on seniority and potential.
- Coordination between Chief of Nursing Service Division and hospitals offering specialty training.
- Training opportunities are disseminated and require written recommendation by superior officers.
- Specialty training is not equivalent to mandatory PNP career courses.
- Formation of a PNP Nurses Specialty Training Board chaired by Chief, Nursing Service Division.
Period of Training
- Training duration varies by specialization, ranging from six months to one year depending on the nursing field.
Place of Training
- Training to be conducted as On-the-Job Training (OJT) in accredited government and private hospitals.
- Additional six months OJT at Philippine National Police General Hospital for practical application.
Number of Trainees
- Specialty training slots are capped at 10% of total nursing staff.
Qualifications
- Permanent appointment verified by Civil Service Commission.
- No pending legal or administrative cases.
- Minimum of three years in service.
- Physical and mental fitness.
- Willingness to be assigned where expertise is needed.
- No outstanding financial obligations from previous training.
- No pending applications for other scholarships or training grants.
Duration of Training
- Trainees must complete within specified training periods.
Emoluments
- Trainees receive a daily Training Subsistence Allowance (TSA) of P30.00 and a monthly instructional material allowance of P100.00, subject to funds and audit rules.
Service Obligations
- Trainees sign a Specialty Training Contract detailing service return obligations based on length of training:
- 2 years training: 4 years service
- 6 months to 1 year training: 2 years service
- 3-6 months training: 1 year service
- Below 3 months: 6 months service
- Failure to fulfill obligations requires refund of training expenses, enforceable by deduction of benefits or further legal action.
Policy on Deferment
- Deferment requests generally disallowed except for:
- Incapacitation certified by Chief, PNPGH or Regional Health Officer.
- Filing of criminal/administrative cases affecting attendance.
- Death of immediate family member requiring presence.
- Victim of disasters or calamities hindering regular attendance.
Records and Reports
- Chief, Nursing Service Division monitors trainees and reports performance to Director, PNP Health Service.
Academic Break/Leave
- Academic breaks are not special leaves and are deducted from leave credits.
- Authorized academic breaks based on course duration:
- Less than 6 months: 7 days
- 6 months to 1 year: 15 days
- More than 1 year to 2 years: 30 days
Responsibilities
- Chief, PNP: Approves specialty training upon recommendations.
- Director, PNP Health Service: Official responsible for implementing the circular.
- Chief, Nursing Service Division: Maintains records/reports, monitors trainees, and designs programs for qualification upgrading.
Rescission
- Previous inconsistent publications are rescinded or modified accordingly.
Effectivity
- Circular takes effect 15 days after filing with University of the Philippines Law Center, pursuant to EO No. 292 (Revised Administrative Code of 1987).