Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro ManilaEighth Congress
Republic Act No. 7164 November 21, 1991
AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and 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 1991."
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, and in humane working conditions, better career prospects and a dignified existence for our nurses.
The State hereby guarantee the delivery of basic health services through an adequate nursing personnel throughout the country.
ARTICLE III ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD OF NURSING
Section 3. Name and Composition of the Board. – There shall be created a Board of Nursing to be composed of a Chairman and four (4)...
Details
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Republic Acts
AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES
Republic Act No. 7164
Summary of the Philippine Nursing Act of 1991
Declaration of Policy (Section 2)
- The State shall assume responsibility for protecting and improving the nursing profession.
- The State shall guarantee the delivery of basic health services through adequate nursing personnel.
Organization of the Board of Nursing (Sections 3-12)
- A Board of Nursing shall be created, composed of a Chairman and four members appointed by the President.
- The Board shall supervise and regulate the nursing profession, conduct licensure examinations, issue certificates, investigate violations, and promulgate rules and regulations. (Section 4)
- Qualifications for Board members are specified, including being a registered nurse with a master's degree, having at least 10 years of continuous practice, and not holding a foreign permanent residency. (Section 5)
- Board members shall resign from any teaching or government positions and shall not have pecuniary interests in nursing education institutions. (Section 6)
- Board members shall serve for a term of 3 years, with the possibility of reappointment for another 3 years. (Section 7)
- The President may remove Board members for specified grounds after due process. (Section 9)
- The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations, and maintain records under the custody of the Professional Regulation Commission. (Sections 10-11)
Licensure Examination and Registration (Sections 12-22)
- All applicants for nursing practice must pass a written examination by the Board of Nursing. (Section 12)
- Qualifications for examination applicants include being a Philippine citizen or from a reciprocal country, at least 18 years old, in good health and moral character, and holding a bachelor's degree in nursing. (Section 13)
- The examination shall be held within 1-2 months after the semester closing, and the scope shall be determined by the Board. (Sections 14-15)
- To pass, an examinee must obtain at least 75% general average rating with no subject below 60%. Provisions are made for repeating failed subjects. (Section 16)
- Certificates of registration shall be issued to successful examinees upon payment of fees. (Sections 17-18)
- Registration by reciprocity may be granted to nurses from countries with substantially similar requirements. (Section 19)
- Certificates shall not be issued to persons convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude or guilty of immoral conduct. (Section 20)
- The Board may revoke or suspend certificates for specified grounds, including unprofessional conduct, incompetence, malpractice, and fraud. (Section 21)
- Revoked certificates may be reissued for reasons of equity and justice, upon proper application and payment of fees. (Section 22)
Nursing Education (Sections 23-26)
- Applicants for nursing courses must belong to the upper 40% of their graduating high school class. (Section 23)
- The nursing education program shall provide sound academic and professional foundation for nursing practice. (Section 24)
- Learning experiences shall adhere to the prescribed curriculum and rules, with a minimum of 6 units or equivalent. (Section 25)
- Faculty qualifications include being a Filipino citizen, registered nurse, having at least 3 years of clinical practice, a member of the accredited nurses' association, and holding a master's degree in nursing or related field. Deans must have additional qualifications. (Section 26)
Nursing Practice (Sections 27-28)
- The scope of nursing practice is defined, including utilizing the nursing process, establishing community linkages, motivating individuals and families, participating in teaching and supervision, and undertaking research and training. (Section 27)
- Qualifications for nursing service administrators are specified, including being a registered nurse, having experience in administration, and possessing relevant academic degrees. (Section 28)
Health Human Resource Development, Production and Utilization (Section 29)
- The Nursing Board shall undertake studies and cooperate with agencies in conducting studies for health human resource production, utilization, and development. (Section 29)
Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions (Sections 30-35)
- Penalties of fines from ₱10,000 to ₱40,000 and/or imprisonment from 1 to 6 years are imposed for various violations, including practicing without registration, using fraudulent certificates, and conducting unauthorized review classes. (Section 30)
- A standard basic pay for nurses shall be fixed by the proper government agency, based on NEDA figures, and periodically increased. (Section 31)
- Law enforcement agencies shall enforce the provisions of this Act and prosecute violators. (Section 32)
- Inconsistent laws, decrees, orders, and issuances are repealed or modified accordingly. (Section 33)
- If any part of the Act is declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts shall remain valid. (Section 34)
- The Act shall take effect one month after publication in a newspaper of general circulation. (Section 35)
Declaration of Policy (Section 2)
- The State shall assume responsibility for protecting and improving the nursing profession.
- The State shall guarantee the delivery of basic health services through adequate nursing personnel.
Organization of the Board of Nursing (Sections 3-12)
- A Board of Nursing shall be created, composed of a Chairman and four members appointed by the President.
- The Board shall supervise and regulate the nursing profession, conduct licensure examinations, issue certificates, investigate violations, and promulgate rules and regulations. (Section 4)
- Qualifications for Board members are specified, including being a registered nurse with a master's degree, having at least 10 years of continuous practice, and not holding a foreign permanent residency. (Section 5)
- Board members shall resign from any teaching or government positions and shall not have pecuniary interests in nursing education institutions. (Section 6)
- Board members shall serve for a term of 3 years, with the possibility of reappointment for another 3 years. (Section 7)
- The President may remove Board members for specified grounds after due process. (Section 9)
- The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations, and maintain records under the custody of the Professional Regulation Commission. (Sections 10-11)
Licensure Examination and Registration (Sections 12-22)
- All applicants for nursing practice must pass a written examination by the Board of Nursing. (Section 12)
- Qualifications for examination applicants include being a Philippine citizen or from a reciprocal country, at least 18 years old, in good health and moral character, and holding a bachelor's degree in nursing. (Section 13)
- The examination shall be held within 1-2 months after the semester closing, and the scope shall be determined by the Board. (Sections 14-15)
- To pass, an examinee must obtain at least 75% general average rating with no subject below 60%. Provisions are made for repeating failed subjects. (Section 16)
- Certificates of registration shall be issued to successful examinees upon payment of fees. (Sections 17-18)
- Registration by reciprocity may be granted to nurses from countries with substantially similar requirements. (Section 19)
- Certificates shall not be issued to persons convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude or guilty of immoral conduct. (Section 20)
- The Board may revoke or suspend certificates for specified grounds, including unprofessional conduct, incompetence, malpractice, and fraud. (Section 21)
- Revoked certificates may be reissued for reasons of equity and justice, upon proper application and payment of fees. (Section 22)
Nursing Education (Sections 23-26)
- Applicants for nursing courses must belong to the upper 40% of their graduating high school class. (Section 23)
- The nursing education program shall provide sound academic and professional foundation for nursing practice. (Section 24)
- Learning experiences shall adhere to the prescribed curriculum and rules, with a minimum of 6 units or equivalent. (Section 25)
- Faculty qualifications include being a Filipino citizen, registered nurse, having at least 3 years of clinical practice, a member of the accredited nurses' association, and holding a master's degree in nursing or related field. Deans must have additional qualifications. (Section 26)
Nursing Practice (Sections 27-28)
- The scope of nursing practice is defined, including utilizing the nursing process, establishing community linkages, motivating individuals and families, participating in teaching and supervision, and undertaking research and training. (Section 27)
- Qualifications for nursing service administrators are specified, including being a registered nurse, having experience in administration, and possessing relevant academic degrees. (Section 28)
Health Human Resource Development, Production and Utilization (Section 29)
- The Nursing Board shall undertake studies and cooperate with agencies in conducting studies for health human resource production, utilization, and development. (Section 29)
Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions (Sections 30-35)
- Penalties of fines from ₱10,000 to ₱40,000 and/or imprisonment from 1 to 6 years are imposed for various violations, including practicing without registration, using fraudulent certificates, and conducting unauthorized review classes. (Section 30)
- A standard basic pay for nurses shall be fixed by the proper government agency, based on NEDA figures, and periodically increased. (Section 31)
- Law enforcement agencies shall enforce the provisions of this Act and prosecute violators. (Section 32)
- Inconsistent laws, decrees, orders, and issuances are repealed or modified accordingly. (Section 33)
- If any part of the Act is declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts shall remain valid. (Section 34)
- The Act shall take effect one month after publication in a newspaper of general circulation. (Section 35)