Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro ManilaTwelfth Congress
Second Regular SessionBegun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-second day of July, two thousand two.
Republic Act No. 9173 October 21, 2002
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MORE RESPONSIVE NURSING PROFESSION, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7164, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 1991" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
ARTICLE I
Title
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Nursing Act of 2002."
ARTICLE II
Declaration of Policy
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to assume responsibility for the protection and improvement of the nursing profession by instituting measures that will result in relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, better career prospects and a dignified existence for our nurses.
The State hereby guarantees the delivery of quality basic health services through an adequate nursing...
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Republic Acts
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MORE RESPONSIVE NURSING PROFESSION
Republic Act No. 9173
Summary of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002
Declaration of Policy (Section 2)
- The State shall protect and improve the nursing profession by ensuring relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, better career prospects, and a dignified existence for nurses.
- The State guarantees the delivery of quality basic health services through an adequate nursing personnel system.
Organization of the Board of Nursing (Sections 3-11)
- A Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing is created, composed of a Chairperson and six members appointed by the President.
- Qualifications for Board members are specified, including being a natural-born Filipino citizen, a registered nurse with a master's degree, at least 10 years of continuous practice, and good moral character. (Section 4)
- Board members must resign from any teaching or employment positions upon appointment. (Section 5)
- Board members have a 3-year term and may be reappointed. (Section 6)
- The Board is under the administrative supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), which shall provide secretariat and support services. (Section 8)
- The Board has powers and duties related to conducting licensure examinations, issuing and revoking certificates, enforcing standards, ensuring quality nursing education, investigating complaints, and promulgating regulations. (Section 9)
Examination and Registration (Sections 12-24)
- All applicants must pass a written licensure examination conducted by the Board. (Section 12)
- Qualifications for taking the examination include being a Filipino citizen or from a country that allows Filipino nurses to practice, having good moral character, and holding a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. (Section 13)
- Examination requirements, ratings, and procedures for issuance of certificates and professional identification cards are specified. (Sections 14-18)
- Provisions for automatic registration of existing nurses, registration by reciprocity with foreign countries, and issuance of special/temporary permits are included. (Sections 19-21)
- The Board has the power to revoke or suspend certificates for various grounds, including conviction of crimes, unprofessional conduct, incompetence, and violations of the Act. (Section 23)
Nursing Education (Sections 25-27)
- The nursing education program must provide a sound general and professional foundation for nursing practice, adhering to prescribed curricula. (Section 25)
- Inactive nurses returning to practice after 5 years must undergo 1 month of training and 3 months of practicum at accredited hospitals. (Section 26)
- Qualifications for nursing faculty members are specified, including being a registered nurse, having clinical experience, and holding a master's degree. (Section 27)
Nursing Practice (Sections 28-29)
- The scope of nursing practice is defined, including providing nursing care, health education, supervision of students, consultation services, and research. (Section 28)
- Qualifications for nursing service administrators and chief nurses are outlined, including experience, academic degrees, and professional organization membership requirements. (Section 29)
Health Human Resources Production, Utilization and Development (Sections 30-34)
- The Board shall conduct studies on nursing manpower needs, production, utilization, and development. (Section 30)
- A comprehensive nursing specialty program shall be developed to upgrade the skills of specialty nurse clinicians. (Section 31)
- The minimum base pay for nurses in public health institutions shall not be lower than Salary Grade 15 under the Compensation and Classification Act of 1989. (Section 32)
- Funding for the nursing specialty program shall come from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. (Section 33)
- An incentive and benefit system shall be established, including free hospital care, scholarship grants, and maintaining standard nurse-patient ratios. (Section 34)
Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions (Sections 35-41)
- Penalties of fines from P50,000 to P100,000 and/or imprisonment from 1 to 6 years are imposed for various violations, such as practicing without a license, using invalid certificates, falsely posing as a nurse, conducting review classes without a permit, and violating minimum pay and incentive provisions. (Section 35)
- The PRC and Board shall effectively implement the Act, with assistance from law enforcement agencies. (Section 36)
- Appropriations for implementing the Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. (Section 37)
- The Board and PRC shall formulate implementing rules and regulations within 90 days of the Act's effectivity. (Section 38)
- A separability clause and repealing clause for inconsistent laws are included. (Sections 39-40)
- The Act shall take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspapers. (Section 41)
Declaration of Policy (Section 2)
- The State shall protect and improve the nursing profession by ensuring relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, better career prospects, and a dignified existence for nurses.
- The State guarantees the delivery of quality basic health services through an adequate nursing personnel system.
Organization of the Board of Nursing (Sections 3-11)
- A Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing is created, composed of a Chairperson and six members appointed by the President.
- Qualifications for Board members are specified, including being a natural-born Filipino citizen, a registered nurse with a master's degree, at least 10 years of continuous practice, and good moral character. (Section 4)
- Board members must resign from any teaching or employment positions upon appointment. (Section 5)
- Board members have a 3-year term and may be reappointed. (Section 6)
- The Board is under the administrative supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), which shall provide secretariat and support services. (Section 8)
- The Board has powers and duties related to conducting licensure examinations, issuing and revoking certificates, enforcing standards, ensuring quality nursing education, investigating complaints, and promulgating regulations. (Section 9)
Examination and Registration (Sections 12-24)
- All applicants must pass a written licensure examination conducted by the Board. (Section 12)
- Qualifications for taking the examination include being a Filipino citizen or from a country that allows Filipino nurses to practice, having good moral character, and holding a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. (Section 13)
- Examination requirements, ratings, and procedures for issuance of certificates and professional identification cards are specified. (Sections 14-18)
- Provisions for automatic registration of existing nurses, registration by reciprocity with foreign countries, and issuance of special/temporary permits are included. (Sections 19-21)
- The Board has the power to revoke or suspend certificates for various grounds, including conviction of crimes, unprofessional conduct, incompetence, and violations of the Act. (Section 23)
Nursing Education (Sections 25-27)
- The nursing education program must provide a sound general and professional foundation for nursing practice, adhering to prescribed curricula. (Section 25)
- Inactive nurses returning to practice after 5 years must undergo 1 month of training and 3 months of practicum at accredited hospitals. (Section 26)
- Qualifications for nursing faculty members are specified, including being a registered nurse, having clinical experience, and holding a master's degree. (Section 27)
Nursing Practice (Sections 28-29)
- The scope of nursing practice is defined, including providing nursing care, health education, supervision of students, consultation services, and research. (Section 28)
- Qualifications for nursing service administrators and chief nurses are outlined, including experience, academic degrees, and professional organization membership requirements. (Section 29)
Health Human Resources Production, Utilization and Development (Sections 30-34)
- The Board shall conduct studies on nursing manpower needs, production, utilization, and development. (Section 30)
- A comprehensive nursing specialty program shall be developed to upgrade the skills of specialty nurse clinicians. (Section 31)
- The minimum base pay for nurses in public health institutions shall not be lower than Salary Grade 15 under the Compensation and Classification Act of 1989. (Section 32)
- Funding for the nursing specialty program shall come from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. (Section 33)
- An incentive and benefit system shall be established, including free hospital care, scholarship grants, and maintaining standard nurse-patient ratios. (Section 34)
Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions (Sections 35-41)
- Penalties of fines from P50,000 to P100,000 and/or imprisonment from 1 to 6 years are imposed for various violations, such as practicing without a license, using invalid certificates, falsely posing as a nurse, conducting review classes without a permit, and violating minimum pay and incentive provisions. (Section 35)
- The PRC and Board shall effectively implement the Act, with assistance from law enforcement agencies. (Section 36)
- Appropriations for implementing the Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. (Section 37)
- The Board and PRC shall formulate implementing rules and regulations within 90 days of the Act's effectivity. (Section 38)
- A separability clause and repealing clause for inconsistent laws are included. (Sections 39-40)
- The Act shall take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspapers. (Section 41)