JAN 9, 2016

NR # 4074B

Committee on Appropriations approves Comprehensive Nursing Law

The House committee on appropriations has approved a substitute bill seeking to
provide for a Comprehensive Nursing Law geared towards quality health care system.
The still unnumbered bill repeals Republic Act 9173, otherwise known as the
Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.
The bill approved by the committee chaired by Rep. Isidro T. Ungab (3 rd District,
Davao City) substituted House Bills 1372 authored by Deputy Speaker and Nueva
Vizcaya Lone District Rep. Carlos M. Padilla, HB 151 authored by Rep. Leah S. Paquiz
(Party-list, ANG NARS) and Andres D. Salvacion, Jr. (3 rd District, Leyte), and HB1970
authored by Reps. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and Maximo B.
Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list ABAMIN).
The substitute bill provides it is the State policy to uphold the dignity of the nurses
and assume responsibility for the protection, respect, and improvement of the nursing
profession by instituting measures towards competent and relevant nursing practice for the
health and safety of the public, just and humane conditions of work, and promotion of
professional growth.
It provides further that the State recognizes nurses as prime movers of national
development and contributors to international cooperation and understanding.
Moreover, the State guarantees the delivery of accessible, affordable and available
quality health care to all the people through implementation of adequate and competent
Nursing Personnel System (NPS) throughout the country.
The bill provides for the creation and composition of a Professional Regulatory
Board of Nursing whose seven members shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines. The Board shall be headed by a chairperson to serve for one year without reelection.
To be a member of the Board, one must be a natural born citizen and resident of the
Philippines for the past five consecutive years; a nurse in the country and holder of valid
and updated certificate of registration and current professional identification card; a holder
of a masters degree in Nursing and preferably with a doctorate degree conferred by a
university duly recognized by the government; must have at least 10 years of continuous
practice of the Nursing profession prior to appointment; and must be of good moral
character and has not been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude.
The Board shall supervise and regulate the practice of the Nursing profession.

Among its powers and duties are to ensure the proper conduct of the Philippine
Nurse Licensure Exam (PNLE); issue, suspend, revoke or reissue certificates of
registration for the practice of Nursing and ensure the widest publication through
electronic and written media; and enforce and monitor safe and quality standard of
Nursing practice.
The Board is likewise empowered to study the conditions affecting the Nursing
practice in the country, and exercise the powers necessary to maintain efficient, ethicomoral, technical and professional standards in the practice of Nursing towards the optimal
health and common good of the nation; ensure quality Nursing education; and source and
utilize funds earmarked for national Nursing development.
The Board shall be under the administrative supervision of the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC). All records of the Board must be under the custody of the
PRC.
The PRC shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall provide the secretariat
and other support services to implement the provisions of the Comprehensive Nursing
Act.
The bill also details the requirements in taking the PNLE, the scope of examination,
qualifications for admission to the PNLE, and the passing rating of the PNLE, which is at
least 75 percent of tested areas of all competencies.
It also provides the guidelines in the issuance of Certificate of Registration,
Professional License and Professional Identification card to successful examinees.
Among others, the bill gives details on the administration of Nursing care and scope
of Nursing practice, the basic and graduate programs for Nursing education, the Nursing
service and interventions, and Nursing research, policy and development. (30) rbb