Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- State responsibility for protection and improvement of the nursing profession.
- Measures for relevant education, humane working conditions, career prospects, and dignity.
- Guarantee basic health services through adequate nursing personnel nationwide.
Organization of the Board of Nursing
- Creation of a Board composed of a Chairman and four members appointed by the President.
- Members must be registered nurses of recognized standing and meet qualifications.
Powers and Duties of the Board
- Supervise and regulate nursing practice.
- Develop licensure exam content, conduct exams, score, and submit results.
- Issue, suspend, revoke nursing certificates.
- Ensure ethical, technical, and professional standards.
- Authorize opening of new nursing schools after evaluation.
- Require state college graduates to render one year service in the Philippines before overseas work.
- Investigate violations with subpoena power.
- Promulgate decisions for advancement and enforcement.
Qualifications of Board Members
- Filipino citizenship and residence.
- Good standing in accredited nurses association.
- Registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing.
- At least ten years continuous practice.
- No green card or moral turpitude convictions.
Requirements Upon Qualification
- Resign from teaching, government posts or jobs with pecuniary interest in nursing education institutions.
Term of Office
- Three-year term, renewable once.
- Chairmanship determined by seniority or board selection.
- Vacancies filled only for unexpired term.
- Oath required before duties.
Compensation
- Comparable to other government boards.
Removal of Board Members
- Possible for neglect, incompetence, irregularities, or dishonorable conduct after administrative investigation.
Rules, Records, and Examination
- Board to promulgate necessary rules.
- Secure maintenance of examination and administrative records.
- Examination required for licensure.
Qualifications for Licensure Exam Applicants
- Filipino or reciprocal citizenship.
- At least 18 years old (with licensing delayed until majority if underage).
- Good health and moral character.
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from recognized institutions.
Licensure Examination Details
- Timing: Within one to two months after semester closing.
- Locations: Manila or as approved.
- Scope: Determined by Board, includes relevant subjects.
Passing Grades and Retake Procedures
- General average 75% minimum, no subject below 60%.
- Retake allowed for subjects below 60%.
- Limit of three attempts per subject unless refresher course completed.
Certification and Fees
- Certificate issued upon passing and payment.
- Certificate contains full name, serial number, signatures, and seal.
- Fees prescribed by Professional Regulation Commission.
Registration by Reciprocity
- Issued without exam if foreign requirements substantially equal.
- Reciprocity conditions must be met.
Nonissuance and Revocation of Certificates
- Denial for convictions involving moral turpitude or immoral conduct.
- Revocation/suspension for unprofessional conduct, incompetence, malpractice, or fraud.
- Reissuance possible if causes corrected, with fees.
Nursing Education Requirements
- Admission requirements: upper 40% of secondary graduating class.
- Curriculum must provide academic and professional foundation.
- Practical learning no less than six units.
- Faculty qualifications: Filipino registered nurses with master’s degree, clinical experience, and association membership.
- Transitional provisions for existing faculty.
- Dean must have teaching experience and preferably a master’s in administration.
Scope of Nursing Practice
- Nursing defined as services rendered for compensation in health promotion, illness prevention, treatment, and care.
- Includes assessments, planning, implementation, evaluation, and administration of medications and procedures.
- Requires special training for intravenous injections.
- Nursing services may include teaching, research, and health manpower development.
- Nursing students may perform functions only under direct supervision.
Nursing Service Administrators
- Must be Filipino or former Filipino intending to reacquire citizenship.
- Registered nurse, good standing, and experience required.
- Specific experience and academic qualifications required for chief nurse/director positions.
- Transition rule and 2000 deadline for qualification compliance.
- Adjusted requirements for smaller hospitals.
Health Human Resource Development
- Board to conduct or cooperate in studies on nursing manpower needs, production, utilization, and development.
Penal Provisions
- Fines and imprisonment for unlicensed practice, misuse of certificates, false claims, or conducting unauthorized review classes.
- Fines range from P10,000 to P40,000 and imprisonment from 1 to 6 years.
Standard Pay
- Government to fix standard basic pay for nurses and adjust periodically.
Enforcement
- Duty of law enforcement agencies to enforce the Act and prosecute violations.
Repealing and Separability Clauses
- Repeals conflicting laws.
- Unconstitutional parts do not affect remaining provisions.
Effectivity
- Takes effect one month after newspaper publication.