LECTURE NOTES: RA 9173 Page 1

Republic Act No. 9173 October 21, 2002

Philippines; and
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MORE RESPONSIVE NURSING
PROFESSION, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
(e) Not have been convicted of any offense involving moral
NO. 7164, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE PHILIPPINE NURSING
turpitude; Provided, That the membership to the Board
ACT OF 1991" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
shall represent the three (3) areas of nursing, namely:
nursing education, nursing service and community health
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the nursing.
Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 5. Requirements Upon Qualification as Member of the
ARTICLE I Board of Nursing. - Any person appointed as Chairperson or Member
of the Board shall immediately resign from any teaching position in
any school, college, university or institution offering Bachelor of
Title
Science in Nursing and/or review program for the local nursing board
examinations or in any office or employment in the government or
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including
Nursing Act of 2002." government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries as
well as these employed in the private sector. He/she shall not have
any pecuniary interest in or administrative supervision over any
ARTICLE II institution offering Bachelor of Science in Nursing including review
classes.
Declaration of Policy
Section 6. Term of Office.. - The Chairperson and Members of the
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. � It is hereby declared the policy of Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years and until their
the State to assume responsibility for the protection and successors shall have been appointed and qualified: Provided, That
improvement of the nursing profession by instituting measures that the Chairperson and members of the Board may be re-appointed for
will result in relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, another term.
better career prospects and a dignified existence for our nurses.
Any vacancy in the Board occurring within the term of a Member
The State hereby guarantees the delivery of quality basic health shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term only. Each
services through an adequate nursing personnel system throughout Member of the Board shall take the proper oath of office prior to the
the country. performance of his/her duties.

ARTICLE III The incumbent Chairperson and Members of the Board shall
continue to serve for the remainder of their term under Republic Act
No. 7164 until their replacements have been appointed by the
Organization of the Board of Nursing President and shall have been duly qualified.

Section 3. Creation and Composition of the Board. - There shall be Section 7. Compensation of the Board Members. - The Chairperson
created a Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing, hereinafter and Members of the Board shall receive compensation and
referred to as the Board, to be composed of a Chairperson and six allowances comparable to the compensation and allowances
(6) members. They shall be appointed by the president of the received by the Chairperson and members of other professional
Republic of the Philippines from among two (2) recommendees, per regulatory boards.
vacancy, of the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter
referred to as the Commission, chosen and ranked from a list of
three (3) nominees, per vacancy, of the accredited professional Section 8. Administrative Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its
organization of nurses in the Philippines who possess the Records, Secretariat and Support Services. - The Board shall be
qualifications prescribed in Section 4 of this Act. under the administrative supervision of the Commission. All records
of the Board, including applications for examinations, administrative
and other investigative cases conducted by the Board shall be under
Section 4. Qualifications of the Chairperson and Members of the the custody of the Commission. The Commission shall designate the
Board. - The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall, at the Secretary of the Board and shall provide the secretariat and other
time of their appointment, possess the following qualifications: support services to implement the provisions of this Act.

(a) Be a natural born citizen and resident of the Section 9. Powers and Duties of the Board. - The Board shall
Philippines; supervise and regulate the practice of the nursing profession and
shall have the following powers, duties and functions:
(b) Be a member of good standing of the accredited
professional organization of nurses; (a) Conduct the licensure examination for nurses;

(c) Be a registered nurse and holder of a master's degree (b) Issue, suspend or revoke certificates of registration for
in nursing, education or other allied medical profession the practice of nursing;
conferred by a college or university duly recognized by the
Government: Provided, That the majority of the members
of the Board shall be holders of a master's degree in (c) Monitor and enforce quality standards of nursing
nursing: Provided, further, That the Chairperson shall be a practice in the Philippines and exercise the powers
holder of a master's degree in nursing; necessary to ensure the maintenance of efficient, ethical
and technical, moral and professional standards in the
practice of nursing taking into account the health needs of
(d) Have at least ten (10) years of continuous practice of the nation;
the profession prior to appointment: Provided, however,
That the last five (5) years of which shall be in the
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(d) Ensure quality nursing education by examining the Section 13. Qualifications for Admission to the Licensure
prescribed facilities of universities or colleges of nursing or Examination. - In order to be admitted to the examination for nurses,
departments of nursing education and those seeking an applicant must, at the time of filing his/her application, establish to
permission to open nursing courses to ensure that the satisfaction of the Board that:
standards of nursing education are properly complied with
and maintained at all times. The authority to open and
(a) He/she is a citizen of the Philippines, or a citizen or
close colleges of nursing and/or nursing education
subject of a country which permits Filipino nurses to
programs shall be vested on the Commission on Higher
practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the
Education upon the written recommendation of the Board;
subject or citizen of such country: Provided, That the
requirements for the registration or licensing of nurses in
(e) Conduct hearings and investigations to resolve said country are substantially the same as those
complaints against nurse practitioners for unethical and prescribed in this Act;
unprofessional conduct and violations of this Act, or its
rules and regulations and in connection therewith, issue
(b) He/she is of good moral character; and
subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to
secure the appearance of respondents and witnesses and
the production of documents and punish with contempt (c) He/she is a holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
persons obstructing, impeding and/or otherwise from a college or university that complies with the
interfeming with the conduct of such proceedings, upon standards of nursing education duly recognized by the
application with the court; proper government agency.

(f) Promulgate a Code of Ethics in coordination and Section 14. Scope of Examination. - The scope of the examination
consultation with the accredited professional organization for the practice of nursing in the Philippines shall be determined by
of nurses within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act; the Board. The Board shall take into consideration the objectives of
the nursing curriculum, the broad areas of nursing, and other related
disciplines and competencies in determining the subjects of
(g) Recognize nursing specialty organizations in
examinations.
coordination with the accredited professional organization;
and
Section 15. Ratings. - In order to pass the examination, an
examinee must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five
(h) Prescribe, adopt issue and promulgate guidelines,
percent (785%) with a rating of not below sixty percent (60%) in any
regulations, measures and decisions as may be necessary
subject. An examinee who obtains an average rating of seventy-five
for the improvements of the nursing practice, advancement
percent (75%) or higher but gets a rating below sixty percent (60%)
of the profession and for the proper and full enforcement of
in any subject must take the examination again but only in the
this Act subject to the review and approval by the
subject or subjects where he/she is rated below sixty percent (60%).
Commission.
In order to pass the succeeding examination, an examinee must
obtain a rating of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in the subject or
Section 10. Annual Report. - The Board shall at the close of its subjects repeated.
calendar year submit an annual report to the President of the
Philippines through the Commission giving a detailed account of its
Section 16. Oath. - All successful candidates in the examination
proceedings and the accomplishments during the year and making
shall be required to take an oath of profession before the Board or
recommendations for the adoption of measures that will upgrade and
any government official authorized to administer oaths prior to
improve the conditions affecting the practice of the nursing
entering upon the nursing practice.
profession.

Section 17. Issuance of Certificate of Registration/Professional

Section 11. Removal or Suspension of Board Members. - The
License and Professional Identification Card. - A certificate of
president may remove or suspend any member of the Board after
registration/professional license as a nurse shall be issued to an
having been given the opportunity to defend himself/herself in a
applicant who passes the examination upon payment of the
proper administrative investigation, on the following grounds;
prescribed fees. Every certificate of registration/professional license
shall show the full name of the registrant, the serial number, the
(a) Continued neglect of duty or incompetence; signature of the Chairperson of the Commission and of the Members
of the Board, and the official seal of the Commission.
(b) Commission or toleration of irregularities in the
licensure examination; and A professional identification card, duly signed by the Chairperson of
the Commission, bearing the date of registration, license number,
and the date of issuance and expiration thereof shall likewise be
(c) Unprofessional immoral or dishonorable conduct.
issued to every registrant upon payment of the required fees.

ARTICLE IV
Section 18. Fees for Examination and Registration. - Applicants for
licensure and for registration shall pay the prescribed fees set by
Examination and Registration Commission.

Section 12. Licensure Examination. - All applicants for license to Section 19. Automatic Registration of Nurses. - All nurses whose
practice nursing shall be required to pass a written examination, names appear at the roster of nurses shall be automatically or ipso
which shall be given by the Board in such places and dates as may facto registered as nurses under this Act upon its effectivity.
be designated by the Commission: Provided, That it shall be in
accordance with Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the
Section 20. Registration by Reciprocity. - A certificate of
"PRC Modernization Act of 2000."
registration/professional license may be issued without examination
to nurses registered under the laws of a foreign state or country:
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Provided, That the requirements for registration or licensing of temporarily/special permit; or

nurses in said country are substantially the same as those prescribed
under this Act: Provided, further, That the laws of such state or
(g) For practicing his/her profession during his/her
country grant the same privileges to registered nurses of the
suspension from such practice;
Philippines on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such
foreign state or country.
Provided, however, That the suspension of the certificate of
registration/professional license shall be for a period not to exceed
Section 21. Practice Through Special/Temporary Permit. - A
four (4) years.
special/temporary permit may be issued by the Board to the following
persons subject to the approval of the Commission and upon
payment of the prescribed fees: Section 24. Re-issuance of Revoked Certificates and Replacement
of Lost Certificates. - The Board may, after the expiration of a
maximum of four (4) years from the date of revocation of a certificate,
(a) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states whose
for reasons of equity and justice and when the cause for revocation
service are either for a fee or free if they are internationally
has disappeared or has been cured and corrected, upon proper
well-known specialists or outstanding experts in any
application therefor and the payment of the required fees, issue
branch or specialty of nursing;
another copy of the certificate of registration/professional license.

(b) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states on

A new certificate of registration/professional license to replace the
medical mission whose services shall be free in a
certificate that has been lost, destroyed or mutilated may be issued,
particular hospital, center or clinic; and
subject to the rules of the Board.

(c) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states

ARTICLE V
employed by schools/colleges of nursing as exchange
professors in a branch or specialty of nursing;
Nursing Education
Provided, however, That the special/temporary permit shall be
effective only for the duration of the project, medical mission or Section 25. Nursing Education Program. - The nursing education
employment contract. program shall provide sound general and professional foundation for
the practice of nursing.
Section 22. Non-registration and Non-issuance of Certificates of
Registration/Professional License or Special/Temporary Permit. - No The learning experiences shall adhere strictly to specific
person convicted by final judgment of any criminal offense involving requirements embodied in the prescribed curriculum as promulgated
moral turpitude or any person guilty of immoral or dishonorable by the Commission on Higher Education's policies and standards of
conduct or any person declared by the court to be of unsound mind nursing education.
shall be registered and be issued a certificate of
registration/professional license or a special/temporary permit.
Section 26. Requirement for Inactive Nurses Returning to Practice. -
Nurses who have not actively practiced the profession for five (5)
The Board shall furnish the applicant a written statement setting forth consecutive years are required to undergo one (1) month of didactic
the reasons for its actions, which shall be incorporated in the records training and three (3) months of practicum. The Board shall accredit
of the Board. hospitals to conduct the said training program.

Section 23. Revocation and suspension of Certificate of Section 27. Qualifications of the Faculty. - A member of the faculty in
Registration/Professional License and Cancellation of a college of nursing teaching professional courses must:
Special/Temporary Permit. - The Board shall have the power to
revoke or suspend the certificate of registration/professional license
(a) Be a registered nurse in the Philippines;
or cancel the special/temporary permit of a nurse upon any of the
following grounds:
(b) Have at least one (1) year of clinical practice in a field
of specialization;
(a) For any of the causes mentioned in the preceding
section;
(c) Be a member of good standing in the accredited
professional organization of nurses; and
(b) For unprofessional and unethical conduct;

(d) Be a holder of a master's degree in nursing, education,

(c) For gross incompetence or serious ignorance;
or other allied medical and health sciences conferred by a
college or university duly recognized by the Government of
(d) For malpractice or negligence in the practice of nursing; the Republic of the Philippines.

(e) For the use of fraud, deceit, or false statements in In addition to the aforementioned qualifications, the dean
obtaining a certificate of registration/professional license or of a college must have a master's degree in nursing.
a temporary/special permit; He/she must have at least five (5) years of experience in
nursing.
(f) For violation of this Act, the rules and regulations, Code
of Ethics for nurses and technical standards for nursing ARTICLE VI
practice, policies of the Board and the Commission, or the
conditions and limitations for the issuance of the
Nursing Practice
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Section 28. Scope of Nursing. - A person shall be deemed to be administration courses at the graduate level; and
practicing nursing within the meaning of this Act when he/she singly
or in collaboration with another, initiates and performs nursing
(d) Be a member of good standing of the accredited
services to individuals, families and communities in any health care
professional organization of nurses;
setting. It includes, but not limited to, nursing care during conception,
labor, delivery, infancy, childhood, toddler, preschool, school age,
adolescence, adulthood, and old age. As independent practitioners, Provided, That a person occupying the position of chief nurse or
nurses are primarily responsible for the promotion of health and director of nursing service shall, in addition to the foregoing
prevention of illness. A members of the health team, nurses shall qualifications, possess:
collaborate with other health care providers for the curative,
preventive, and rehabilitative aspects of care, restoration of health,
(1) At least five (5) years of experience in a supervisory or
alleviation of suffering, and when recovery is not possible, towards a
managerial position in nursing; and
peaceful death. It shall be the duty of the nurse to:

(2) A master's degree major in nursing;

(a) Provide nursing care through the utilization of the
nursing process. Nursing care includes, but not limited to,
traditional and innovative approaches, therapeutic use of Provided, further, That for primary hospitals, the maximum academic
self, executing health care techniques and procedures, qualifications and experiences for a chief nurse shall be as specified
essential primary health care, comfort measures, health in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section: Provided, furthermore,
teachings, and administration of written prescription for That for chief nurses in the public health nursing shall be given
treatment, therapies, oral topical and parenteral priority. Provided, even further, That for chief nurses in military
medications, internal examination during labor in the hospitals, priority shall be given to those who have finished a
absence of antenatal bleeding and delivery. In case of master's degree in nursing and the completion of the General Staff
suturing of perineal laceration, special training shall be Course (GSC): Provided, finally, That those occupying such positions
provided according to protocol established; before the effectivity of this Act shall be given a period of five (5)
years within which to qualify.
(b) establish linkages with community resources and
coordination with the health team; ARTICLE VII

(c) Provide health education to individuals, families and Health Human Resources Production, Utilization and
communities; Development

(d) Teach, guide and supervise students in nursing Section 30. Studies for Nursing Manpower Needs, Production,
education programs including the administration of nursing Utilization and Development. - The Board, in coordination with the
services in varied settings such as hospitals and clinics; accredited professional organization and appropriate government or
undertake consultation services; engage in such activities private agencies shall initiate undertake and conduct studies on
that require the utilization of knowledge and decision- health human resources production, utilization and development.
making skills of a registered nurse; and
Section 31. Comprehensive Nursing Specialty Program. - Within
(e) Undertake nursing and health human resource ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Board in
development training and research, which shall include, coordination with the accredited professional organization recognized
but not limited to, the development of advance nursing specialty organizations and the Department of Health is hereby
practice; mandated to formulate and develop a comprehensive nursing
specialty program that would upgrade the level of skill and
competence of specialty nurse clinicians in the country, such as but
Provided, That this section shall not apply to nursing students who
not limited to the areas of critical care, oncology, renal and such
perform nursing functions under the direct supervision of a qualified
other areas as may be determined by the Board.
faculty: Provided, further, That in the practice of nursing in all
settings, the nurse is duty-bound to observe the Code of Ethics for
nurses and uphold the standards of safe nursing practice. The nurse The beneficiaries of this program are obliged to serve in any
is required to maintain competence by continual learning through Philippine hospital for a period of at least two (2) years and
continuing professional education to be provided by the accredited continuous service.
professional organization or any recognized professional nursing
organization: Provided, finally, That the program and activity for the
continuing professional education shall be submitted to and Section 32. Salary. - In order to enhance the general welfare,
approved by the Board. commitment to service and professionalism of nurses the minimum
base pay of nurses working in the public health institutions shall not
be lower than salary grade 15 prescribes under Republic Act No.
Section 29. Qualification of Nursing Service Administrators. - A 6758, otherwise known as the "Compensation and Classification Act
person occupying supervisory or managerial positions requiring of 1989": Provided, That for nurses working in local government
knowledge of nursing must: units, adjustments to their salaries shall be in accordance with
Section 10 of the said law.
(a) Be a registered nurse in the Philippines;
Section 33. Funding for the Comprehensive Nursing Specialty
Program. - The annual financial requirement needed to train at least
(b) Have at least two (2) years experience in general
ten percent (10%) of the nursing staff of the participating government
nursing service administration;
hospital shall be chargeable against the income of the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement and
(c) Possess a degree of Bachelors of Science in Nursing, Gaming Corporation, which shall equally share in the costs and shall
with at least nine (9) units in management and be released to the Department of Health subject to accounting and
auditing procedures: Provided, That the department of Health shall
set the criteria for the availment of this program.
 LECTURE NOTES: RA 9173 Page 5

Section 34. Incentives and Benefits. - The Board of Nursing, in minimum base pay of nurses and the incentives and
coordination with the Department of Health and other concerned benefits that should be accorded them as specified in
government agencies, association of hospitals and the accredited Sections 32 and 34; or
professional organization shall establish an incentive and benefit
system in the form of free hospital care for nurses and their
(d) any person or the chief executive officer of a juridical
dependents, scholarship grants and other non-cash benefits. The
entity violating any provision of this Act and its rules and
government and private hospitals are hereby mandated to maintain
regulations.
the standard nurse-patient ratio set by the Department of Health.

ARTICLE IX
ARTICLE VIII

Final Provisions
Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 36. Enforcement of this Act. - It shall be the primary duty of

Section 35. Prohibitions in the Practice of Nursing. - A fine of not
the Commission and the Board to effectively implement this Act. Any
less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) nor more than One
duly law enforcement agencies and officers of national, provincial,
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less
city or municipal governments shall, upon the call or request of the
than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years, or both, upon the
Commission or the Board, render assistance in enforcing the
discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon:
provisions of this Act and to prosecute any persons violating the
same.
(a) any person practicing nursing in the Philippines within
the meaning of this Act:
Section 37. Appropriations. - The Chairperson of the Professional
Regulation Commission shall immediately include in its program and
(1) without a certificate of issue such rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this
registration/professional license and professional Act, the funding of which shall be included in the Annual General
identification card or special temporary permit or Appropriations Act.
without having been declared exempt from
examination in accordance with the provision of
Section 38. Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after
this Act; or
the effectivity of this Act, the Board and the Commission, in
coordination with the accredited professional organization, the
(2) who uses as his/her own certificate of Department of Health, the Department of Budget and Management
registration/professional license and professional and other concerned government agencies, shall formulate such
identification card or special temporary permit of rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this
another; or Act. The implementing rules and regulations shall be published in the
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
(3) who uses an invalid certificate of
registration/professional license, a suspended or Section 39. Reparability Clause. - If any part of this Act is declared
revoked certificate of registration/professional unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall
license, or an expired or cancelled continue to be valid and operational.
special/temporary permits; or
Section 40. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 7164, otherwise
(4) who gives any false evidence to the Board in known as the "Philippine Nursing Act of 1991" is hereby repealed. All
order to obtain a certificate of other laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances, rules and
registration/professional license, a professional regulations and parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are
identification card or special permit; or hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

(5) who falsely poses or advertises as a Section 41. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
registered and licensed nurse or uses any other upon its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2)
means that tend to convey the impression that newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
he/she is a registered and licensed nurse; or
Sources:
(6) who appends B.S.N./R.N. (Bachelor of http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2002/ra_9173_2002.html
Science in Nursing/Registered Nurse) or any http://www.prc.gov.ph/documents/NURSING%20LAW.PDF
similar appendage to his/her name without
having been coferred said degree or registration;
or

(7) who, as a registered and licensed nurse,

abets or assists the illegal practice of a person
who is not lawfully qualified to practice nursing.

(b) any person or the chief executive officer of a judicial

entity who undertakes in-service educational programs or
who conducts review classes for both local and foreign
examination without permit/clearance from the Board and
the Commission; or

(c) any person or employer of nurses who violate the