Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- State responsibility to protect and improve the nursing profession.
- Measures to ensure relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, better career prospects, and dignified existence for nurses.
- Guarantee quality basic health services through an adequate nursing personnel system nationwide.
Organization of the Board of Nursing
- Creation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing composed of a Chairperson and six members.
- Members appointed by the President from recommendees of the Professional Regulation Commission nominated by accredited nursing organizations.
Qualifications and Appointment of Board Members
- Must be natural born Filipino citizens, registered nurses, and masters degree holders.
- Members represent nursing education, service, and community health nursing.
- Must have at least 10 years continuous practice, last 5 years in the Philippines.
- Must not have been convicted of offenses involving moral turpitude.
- Upon appointment, must resign from teaching or government/private employment with conflicts of interest.
Term, Compensation, and Administrative Supervision
- Board members serve 3-year terms, with possible reappointment.
- Compensation comparable with other professional regulatory boards.
- Board under administrative supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), which handles records and provides secretariat.
Powers and Duties of the Board
- Conduct nursing licensure examinations.
- Issue, suspend, or revoke certificates of registration and licenses.
- Monitor nursing practice standards.
- Ensure quality nursing education by evaluating institutions.
- Conduct hearings and investigate complaints.
- Promulgate a Code of Ethics.
- Recognize nursing specialty organizations.
- Formulate regulations for nursing practice improvement.
Reporting and Removal of Board Members
- Annual report to the President via the PRC detailing achievements and recommendations.
- Members may be removed or suspended by the President for neglect, irregularities, or unethical conduct.
Licensure Examination and Registration
- Written licensure exam required, conducted per PRC Modernization Act.
- Applicants must be Filipino citizens or from reciprocating countries, of good moral character, and hold a recognized nursing degree.
- Examination scope set by the Board, covering nursing curricula and disciplines.
- Passing requires a 75% general average and no subject below 60%.
- Oath required before practice.
- Registration certificates and IDs issued upon passing, with prescribed fees.
- Automatic registration of nurses listed in the prior roster.
Registration by Reciprocity and Special Temporary Permits
- Foreign nurses may register without examination if countries have reciprocal agreements and equivalent standards.
- Special/Temporary permits granted for recognized foreign specialists, medical missions, and exchange professors.
- Permits valid only for the duration of the project or contract.
Denial, Revocation, and Reinstatement of Registration
- Denial of registration for criminal convictions involving moral turpitude, immorality, dishonor, or unsound mind.
- Revocation or suspension of license for unethical conduct, incompetence, malpractice, fraud, or violations of the Act.
- Suspension not exceeding 4 years.
- Possibility for reissuance of revoked certificates after 4 years if justified.
Nursing Education
- Nursing curricula aligned with Commission on Higher Education standards.
- Nurses inactive for 5 years must undergo retraining.
- Faculty must be registered nurses with a master's degree and clinical experience; deans require master’s in nursing and 5 years experience.
Scope of Nursing Practice
- Nursing includes care throughout all life stages and settings.
- Nurses independently promote health and prevent illness and collaborate with health teams.
- Duties include nursing care, health education, supervision of students, consultation services, research, and resource development.
- Nurses must observe ethical codes and keep competence through continuing education.
Qualifications of Nursing Service Administrators
- Must be registered nurses with nursing administration experience and appropriate academic credentials.
- Chief nurses in hospitals require more experience and a master’s degree in nursing.
- Special qualifications prioritized for public health or military hospital chief nurses.
- Five-year transitional period for incumbents to qualify.
Health Human Resource Development
- Board to conduct manpower studies and develop nursing workforce plans.
- Comprehensive nursing specialty program to be formulated within 90 days of the Act, benefiting clinicians in critical specialties.
- Nurses benefiting from specialty training must serve at least 2 years in Philippine hospitals.
- Minimum salary grade 15 for nurses in public health institutions.
- Funding sourced from Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
- Incentive programs including free hospital care, scholarships, and non-cash benefits to be established.
- Mandated maintenance of nurse-patient ratios by hospitals.
Penal Provisions and Prohibitions
- Illegal practice without license or permit punishable by fines from P50,000 to P100,000, imprisonment 1-6 years, or both.
- Prohibits falsification, misuse of credentials, impersonation, unauthorized conduct of review classes, salary violations, and other infractions.
Enforcement and Implementation
- Primary enforcement by PRC and Board.
- Government agencies to assist in enforcement.
- Funding included in national budget.
- Rules and regulations to be promulgated within 90 days.
- Provision for severability and repeal of previous conflicting laws.
- Act takes effect 15 days after publication.