N

urse Practice Acts (NPAs) are laws in each state that are instrumental in defining the scope of nursing
practice. State boards of nursing oversee this statutory law. They have the responsibility and authority
to protect the public by determining who is competent to practice nursing. Common Law is derived
from principles or social mores rather than from rules and regulations. It consists of broad, interpretive
principles based on reason, traditional justice and common sense. Together, the NPAs and Common
Law define nursing practice.

It is a nurse's responsibility to be informed on both the NPA and Common Law for the state(s) in which
they are licensed to practice. It is critical for students and nurses need to be aware of the legal issues
pertaining to the profession. Familiarity with the law and relevant court rulings helps in understanding
the scope of practice and responsibilities that come with being a licensed caregiver, as well as providing
insight on how to prevent legal problems before they happen.

Read up on the NPA for your state - know your responsibilities and limitations. You may also want to
subscribe to professional nursing journals to stay abreast of the latest court rulings. Here are a couple of
case studies provided by Legal Eagle Eye Newsletter for the Nursing Profession, a monthly journal
covering court cases, rulings and legislation pertaining to the nursing profession:

Healthcare Facility Liable for Student Nurse Error

QUICK SUMMARY: A nursing student's negligence resulted in the fall and injury of patient during
transfer.  A nursing student at this student’s level had the training and should have been able to care for
this patient. The student nurse testified she had received training to assist patients with ambulation and
transfer. The nursing student’s preceptor testified the patient needed someone close with her at a safe
distance at all times to ambulate. The healthcare facility was held to the same legal standard of care for a
student nurse’s error or omission as for the same error or omission by a licensed professional nurse.

COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO, 1996.

The patient’s chart indicated that she had serious difficulty with her balance which made it necessary for
her to have assistance when standing or walking with a walker and when transferring. She had fallen
backward six days earlier, but was caught and lowered to the floor without being injured. She was afraid
of falling and needed not only physical assistance, but also encouragement to take steps forward with her
walker.

According to the Court of Appeals of Ohio, the student nurse had read the patient’s chart and knew the
patient had weakness and an unsteady gait. Nonetheless, the student nurse helped her up from the
commode, then walked away and left the patient standing with her walker in the bathroom, while the
student nurse propped the door hinge open and adjusted her wheelchair, expecting the patient to walk to
the wheelchair on her own to transfer with assistance. The patient took a step forward, fell backward and
was injured.
The court ruled a healthcare facility will be held to the same legal standard of care for a student nurse’s
error or omission as for the same error or omission by a licensed professional nurse. There was also
testimony from a nursing instructor, that a nursing student at this student’s level should have known, the
same as a graduate nurse, to stay close by this patient when standing or walking with a walker. Failing to
give proper close attention to a patient’s need for assistance while ambulating is negligence, for which a
healthcare facility can be held liable.

Dimora vs. Cleveland Clinic Foundation,

683 N.E. 2d 1175 (Ohio App., 1996).
Nurses Negligent for Giving Nursing Functions to Aides
QUICK SUMMARY:  The physician wanted his patient to receive skilled nursing care.  He wrote an order for the home health nurses to re-
pack her hip decubitus wound with antiseptic gauze.  Instead, the nurses showed home health aides how to re-pack the wound and left them
on their own to do wound care.  Wound healing was delayed more than a year, and the nurses were ruled negligent.

A home health client sued her home health agency because a hip decubitus wound site she sustained in
the hospital took a year longer to heal than it should have.  Healing apparently was delayed by old gauze
embedded in the wound, found there by a surgeon who operated on the wound when it failed to heal and
instead worsened.  The judge believed the home health aides had been changing the outer dressing, but
they did not understand the rationale for sterile packing and re-packing of a deep wound and had left the
original gauze in the wound the entire time.

The nursing agency tried to defend the lawsuit by claiming its nurses had shown the aides how to re-pack
the wound with sterile gauze and replace the outer bandages, and had taught the patient how to do it
herself.  The jury sided with the home health nursing agency and found no nursing negligence.  The
patient, however, insisted her physician had a reason for ordering skilled nursing care and insisted she
was entitled to skilled nursing care.  The judge agreed with her and threw out the jury's verdict, awarding
the patient more than $100,000 from the nursing agency.  The Court of Appeals of Louisiana upheld the
judge's decision to disregard the jury and award the patient damages against the nursing agency
notwithstanding the jury's verdict.

A nurse testified as an expert witness for the patient that nurses do not have the option to change the
physician's orders on their own.  The court accepted the nurse as an expert on the nursing standard of
care.  The court ruled if the physician orders specific skilled nursing care, it means those specific nursing
functions are to be performed by skilled nurses with their own hands, or by non-licensed persons with
direct supervision by licensed professional nurses.

There was no documentation that licensed nurses ever performed the re-packing procedure or witnessed
non-licensed persons doing it.  The aides signed off that they had performed wound care, but there was
no documentation of what exactly they did.  The judge interpreted it to mean they only changed the outer
dressing, which would be wholly inappropriate care.  
Singleton vs. AAA Home Health, Inc.,
772 So. 2d 346 (La. App., 2000).
Emergency Room Assessment:  Hospital Liable for
Nurse's False Assurances that Infant Would Be Okay
QUICK SUMMARY: A nurse cannot reassure parents their infant will be all right without fully assessing
the child’s condition and obtaining a physician’s examination. Based on the nurse’s reassurances, the
parents did not wait to see the physician, and the child died. The hospital was ordered to pay nearly two
million dollars for negligence.

COURT OF APPEALS OF GEORGIA, 1996

The child had been discharged from the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit the day before his parents
brought him back to the emergency room. The parents told the emergency room triage nurse the baby
had turned blue at home, had not had a bowel movement all day, appeared limp and that his eyes had
rolled back in his head. The parents had been told to bring the child back to the hospital at once if the
baby had even a slight fever, if there was a change in his eating habits or if there was a change in his
color.

From the court record in the Court of Appeals of Georgia, it appeared that a struggle developed in the
emergency room between the parents, who were highly agitated and insistent that their child be seen by a
physician immediately, and the triage nurse on duty, who was intent on insisting that the parents fill out
certain forms.

According to the court, the triage nurse made a cursory examination of the baby. She then repeatedly
reassured the parents the baby
was fine, apparently to calm the parents and
 Old Nursing law

NURSING LAW AND ETHICS

JURIS OUTLINE
( Atty. Aleth Joyce T. Cubacub)
Chapter 1- Overview

Nursing Profession
- Process of constant change
- Etymological perspective it comes

from the Latin word meaning NUTRIX

or nourish

Nursing
- Art, a science and a social science
- Being an art, deals with skills that

require dexterity and proficiency

- Science : systematic and well-defined

body of knowledge which utilizes
scientific methods and procedures in
the application of nursing process

- Social Science: primordial interest is

man whether well or sick

- It is involved in total quality patient

care when giving the patient
prescribed medication or treatments

- Primary focus is the individual’s

response to health related problems
FOUR FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF
NURSING
a. Promote health
b. Prevent illness

c. Restore health and

d. To alleviate sufferings
- Noble goal to promote the harmonious

or symphonic interaction between

men and their environment
CHARACTERISTICS OF NURSING
a. Nursing is caring
b. Involves close, personal contact with

the recipient of care;

c. Concerned services ( humans as physiological, psychological and sociological organisms)

d. Committed to personalized services

regardless of color, creed or social or
economic status

e. Committed to promoting individual,

family , community and national
health goals

f. Committed to involvement in ethical,

legal and political issues in the
delivery of health care

NURSING PROCESS
- Use nurse process as a tool in nursing
practice

- Logical, systematic scientific problem-

solving process utilized by nurses to
deliver total quality health care
services to patients

CHARACTERIZED AS:
a. Way of thing as a nurse
b. Framework of interrelated activities

resulting in competent nursing care

c. Dynamic and cyclical in nature
d. Scientific, problem oriented approach

to patient
NURSING CARE PLAN
a. Assessment
b. Diagnosis
c. Planning
d. Implementation
e. Evaluation
NURSING AND ITS ORIGIN
- Part of human civilization since time
immemorial
- Origin: primeval mother who cared for
the sick in her family during the
primitive times

- Tribal task of caring

- Medieval period ( 400-1400 AD;

Augustinian sisters which is
considered the first nursing order in
the Middle ages

- Monastic orders all over the world

( present)

- The Catholic church has influence over

nursing because of St. Thomas
Aquinas’ teachings on
a. The need to preserve life
b. Need to procreate
c. Need to know the truth
d. Need to live in society

- During the Protestant period, dark age

for nursing , Middle of 19th century ,
downfall of church’s influence

- Social reforms by the 19th century ,

British nurse Florence Nightingale
during the Crimean war (1854- 1856) ,
huge effect for 20th century

stop their demanding behaviors. The nurse then classified the baby as semi-urgent under the hospital’s
classification scheme, which meant the baby would require medical intervention within eight hours, but did
not have an immediately life-threatening problem. The nurse told the parents to wait, and the physician
would be with them shortly.

The parents, however, based on the nurse’s reassurances concerning their child’s condition, within a few
minutes elected to get up and leave, without waiting for the child to be seen by the emergency room
physician. The baby died several hours later.

The court faulted the triage nurse in several respects. She did not take a complete history and did not
correctly assess the gravity and immediacy of the baby’s condition. The nurse did not bring the baby to
the physician’s immediate attention, as she should have.  Most importantly, the nurse, in an apparent
effort to control and defuse the parent’s demanding behaviors, had falsely reassured the parents the baby
was all right and was not in need of immediate medical attention. The court blamed the parents’ leaving
the hospital on the nurse’s false reassurances and held the hospital liable for payment of substantial legal
damages for the nurse’s actions. The parents were not to blame for leaving against medical advice.
  South Fulton Medical Center, Inc. vs. Poe, 480 S.E. 2d 40 (Ga. App, 1996.)
About Legal Eagle Eye Newsletter for the Nursing Profession
Legal Eagle Eye Newsletter for the Nursing Profession was started in 1992 and has been published
monthly ever since. Each month, the newsletter spotlights the latest U.S. court decisions and new Federal
regulations affecting hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, extended care nursing centers and home health
agencies.The goal of the Legal Eagle Eye Newsletter for the Nursing Profession is to reduce nurses’ fear
of the law and litigation.  By highlighting the law that pertains directly to nursing, it gives nurses
confidence to act appropriately. The editor and publisher of Legal Eagle Eye Newsletter for the Nursing
Profession is nurse/attorney Kenneth Snyder. He has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the
University of Washington School of Nursing and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan School of
Law. He is currently licensed as a Registered Nurse and as an Attorney at Law in Seattle, Washington.

Page2 of14

- She took care of British soldiers and

organized a pool of nurses, educated
them
ORIGIN IN THE PHILIPPINES

- Known anthropologist Dr. F Landa

Jocano ; found human skullcap and
portions of the jaw in Tabon cave in
Palawan

- Found out that there were already

people existing during the pre-historic
times and reason to believe that they
have already used health care practice
for the sick in their caves
- Superstitions ( dwende, manghihilot,
mangkukulam, albolario, etc)
Coming of Spaniards

- They wiped out these pagan practices

and imposed Catholic Teachings ( may
mabuti din palang nagawa ang
Spaniards…hehehe)

- Hospital Real de Manila founded by

Gov. Francisco de Sande in 1577 pero
hindi para sa mga Pinoy kung d para
sa Spanish soldiers

- Rosa Sevilla de Alvero who at the age

of 18 volunteered to nurse the sick
and injured soldiers ( nightingale ng
pinas…)
- Nightingale humanitarian service
a. Dona HIlaria de Aguinaldo ( asawa ni
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo)
b. Dona Maria Agoncillo Aguinaldo ( 2nd
wife of Gen Aguinaldo)
c. Felicidad Aguinaldo ( sister of Gen.
Aguinaldo) ( mukhang it runs in the
blood. Puro Aguinaldo lahat ito)
d. Mechora Aquino ( alias Tandang Sora)
e. Trinidad Tecson ( ina ng biyak na bato)
f. Marami pang iba
USA- Transition of the government from
military to civilian administration ,
American doctors and nurses

- The government hospital and health facilities were forced to train Filipino women to become nurses
- Philippine Medical school December
10, 1907
- Philippine General Hospital School of
Nursing (1913)
- St. Luke’s hospital school of nursing
( 1903)
- St. Paul’s School of Nursing, Manila
( 1900)
- Mary Johnston Hospital School of
Nursing (1907)
- Ilo-ilo Mission Hospital Training School
of nurses ( 1906)
First Nursing Law

- RA 2808 ; An act regulating the

practice of nursing profession in the
Philippines” march 01, 1919
- Many other laws up to the present RA
9173 Philippine Nursing act of 2002
DEFINITION OF TERMS AND CONCEPTS
Law- Latin , LEX, set of rules established by

a governing power to guide actions,

regulate conduct of people and
impose sanctions
- Obligatory upon the people
- Ignorantia legis neminem excusat,
ignorance of the law excuses no one
- The law is presumed to be morally
sound (even if you think it is not….)

- They are crafted by the rulers of

presumed ethics and wisdom to guide
the people ( kaya pala me Jose Pidal,
Fertilizer scam etc)

- So in the performance of the duties of

the nurses, it should be presumed
ethical or moral
- Law is based on ethics not vice versa
GROUPS
a. Divine law – promulgated by the
Creator
b. Human Law- by man to regulate
human relations, divided into classes:

1. General or public law –

international law, constitutional
law, administrative law, criminal
law and religious law

Page3 of14

2. Individual or private law ; civil law,

mercantile law, procedural law
(rules of court for lawyers)
BRANCHES OF LAW
a. Constitutional law
b. Criminal law
c. Civil law
d. Labor law
e. Administrative law
f. Civil service law
g. Case law
- All these are germane and related to
the nursing practice
ETHICS
- Greek, ETHOS
- Customs or particular behavior ,
etymological origin of ethics
- Practical science dealing with the
morality of the human acts of conduct
- Guide the intellect in the acquisition
and application of moral principles

- Determines which values are truly

human, that is, which actions or things
help us fulfill truly human needs
whether innate or created and helps
us decide what to do when values
seem to be in conflict
Nursing ethics

- Division of ethics which deals with

moral behavior or nurses in the
practice of their profession
MORALS
- the human conduct in light of ethics
Nursing jurisprudence

- branch of law which deals with the

nursing laws, lawsuits, liabilities, legal
principles, rules and regulations, case
laws and doctrines affecting the
nursing practice
Nursing legislation

- process of making laws for the

protection and improvement of the
nursing practice
Medical Ethics
- particular science of ethics which
guides our judgment concerning the
goodness or badness of human acts in
the medical profession
RA 9173
Philippine Nursing act of 2002 , approved
October 21, 2002
Two fold police for the nursing profession
a. state responsibility
•

government’s responsibility to
protect and improve the nursing
profession through the institution
of measures for the attainment and
improvement of the nursing
profession through the ff measures:
1. relevant nursing education
2. humane working conditions
3. better career prospects
4. dignified existence of the
Filipino nurse
b. state guarantee
•

government’s commitment to
deliver quality health care service
by providing adequate nursing
personnel through the country
NURSING EDUCATION

- there was a deletion of the rule on

upper 40% in high school as an
admission requirement
- deleted: requirement to be part of the
upper 40% of the graduating class

- GOAL: provide a sound general and

professional foundation for the
practice of nursing , that is why there
is RLE

- CHED mandated by RA 7722 ; to

provide standards or minimum
requirements for the regulation of
educational institutions offering
tertiary courses
QUALIFICATION FO FACULTY MEMBERS IN THE

COLLEGE OF NURSING
a. Registered nurse in the Philippines
b. Have at least 1 year clinical practice in
a field of specialization

c. Be a member of good standing in the

accredited professional organization of
nurses
NURSING LAW AND ETHICS

JURIS OUTLINE

( Atty. Aleth Joyce T. Cubacub)

Chapter 1- Overview

Nursing Profession
- Process of constant change
- Etymological perspective it comes

from the Latin word meaning NUTRIX

or nourish

Nursing
- Art, a science and a social science
- Being an art, deals with skills that

require dexterity and proficiency

- Science : systematic and well-defined

body of knowledge which utilizes
scientific methods and procedures in
the application of nursing process

- Social Science: primordial interest is

man whether well or sick

- It is involved in total quality patient

care when giving the patient
prescribed medication or treatments

- Primary focus is the individual’s

response to health related problems

FOUR FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF

NURSING

a. Promote health

b. Prevent illness
c. Restore health and
d. To alleviate sufferings
- Noble goal to promote the harmonious

or symphonic interaction between

men and their environment

CHARACTERISTICS OF NURSING
a. Nursing is caring
b. Involves close, personal contact with

the recipient of care;

c. Concerned services ( humans as physiological, psychological and sociological organisms)

d. Committed to personalized services

regardless of color, creed or social or
economic status

e. Committed to promoting individual,

family , community and national
health goals

f. Committed to involvement in ethical,

legal and political issues in the
delivery of health care

NURSING PROCESS

- Use nurse process as a tool in nursing

practice

- Logical, systematic scientific problem-

solving process utilized by nurses to
deliver total quality health care
services to patients

CHARACTERIZED AS:
a. Way of thing as a nurse
b. Framework of interrelated activities

resulting in competent nursing care

c. Dynamic and cyclical in nature
d. Scientific, problem oriented approach
to patient

NURSING CARE PLAN

a. Assessment

b. Diagnosis

c. Planning

d. Implementation

e. Evaluation

NURSING AND ITS ORIGIN

- Part of human civilization since time

immemorial

- Origin: primeval mother who cared for

the sick in her family during the
primitive times

- Tribal task of caring

- Medieval period ( 400-1400 AD;

Augustinian sisters which is
considered the first nursing order in
the Middle ages

- Monastic orders all over the world

( present)

- The Catholic church has influence over

nursing because of St. Thomas
Aquinas’ teachings on
a. The need to preserve life
b. Need to procreate
c. Need to know the truth
d. Need to live in society

- During the Protestant period, dark age

for nursing , Middle of 19th century ,
downfall of church’s influence
- Social reforms by the 19th century ,
British nurse Florence Nightingale
during the Crimean war (1854- 1856) ,
huge effect for 20th century

Page6 of14

a. If enrollment less than 1,000 students

= 50 periodicals

b. 1,001 – 3,000 students = 75

periodicals
c. If over 3,000= 1,000 periodicals
d. There must be an extensive Filipiniana

collection

e. Current Filipiniana titles , separate this

from the General section

f. Apply a weeding program ( remove

the obsolete and outdated articles ) ,
must be relevant and up to date

LIBRARY QUARTERS

a. Adequate space for housing the library

collection
b. Accessible to all
c. Attractive, safe and suitable space for

workroom
d. Offices and lounge
e. Size of library must be proportionate

to size of population

f. Adequately lighted

g. Properly ventilated

h. Open and accessible even beyond

class hours
RESEARCH AND LABORATORY FACILITIES

- Improve and advance nursing care ,

educational management and other

aspects of nursing program

- Promote utilization of research findings
- There must be a budget for this
- Comply with rules and policies for

laboratories

a. Adequate space

b. Adequate instrument and equipment

c. Hospital setting

d. At least 2 doors, one for entrance and

one for exit

e. Fire extinguisher near the door

Nursing skills laboratory

a. Classroom that can accommodate

maximum of 48-50 students at one
time

b. Must be like amphitheatre in style

c. There must be a demonstration room

One bed for 8 students at one

given time

Complete equipments and supplies

CLINICAL FACILITIES AND RESOURCES FOR

RLE- Clinical facilities and resources for RLE

a. Lying in

b. Schools and structural establishment

c. Community agencies

d. Outpatient clinics

e. General and specialty hospitals

Minimum requirements of the hospitals for

RLEa. Hospital should be independently

owned or operated by the institution

Or utilized by the college according

to an agreement

b. Minimum of 100 beds and min bed

occupancy of 80%

Accredited by the DOH, bureau of

licensing and regulation

c. Conducive environment , coordination

and cooperation

d. Staffing must be qualified professional

and non-professional personnel

e. Adequate physical facilities, supplies

and equipment for effective nursing
care and students learning
experiences

f. Community health agencies used for

RLE
1. Conference room
2. Library
3. Comfort room
4. Dressing room
5. Lounge
6. Locker

g. Faculty and nursing personnel of the

affiliation agency must work together
in the planning, implementation and
evaluation of RLE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

- College has the right to impose

minimum requirements for admission

- CMO 30 advises
a. Upper 40% is already deleted
b. There must be well-defined admission,

promotion and retention policies

published and made known to the
students

c. Admission quota – depending on the

capacity of the nursing school and
they should provide the ff:

Page8 of14

f. Regular academic audit of

instructional resources

OTHER ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

- You should have taken your senior

year in the college or school which
would confer your degree ( residency
rule)

- All graduating students should be

assessed and evaluated

NURSING REGULATION

- RA 7164 Philippine Nursing act of 1991

great accomplishment of professional
nursing

passed 38 years after enactment of

7164 , approved by Cory Aquino

- October 21, 2002, Pres. GMA RA 9173

SIX MAIN FEATURES

a. Organization of the board of nursing
b. Examination and registration

c. Nursing education

d. Nursing practice

e. Health human resource , production ,

utilization and development

f. Penal and miscellaneous provisions

New law; two fold policy

a. State responsibility to protect and

promote the nursing profession

b. State’s commitment to deliver health

services

PRBON

a. 1 chairperson and 6 members to be

appointed by the President

From the list of 2 recommendees

for every vacancy , recommended

by PRC

3 nominees per vacancy ,

nominated by accredited
professional organization ( PNA)

b. They are guided by Executive Order no

496

Instituting procedures and criteria

fo rhte selection and
recommendation of nominees for
the appointment for vacant
positions in the PRC

Unwritten latitude by the PRC on

recommendees from list of
nominees

QUALIFICATIONS OF CHAIR AND MEMBERS

- They must have this at the time of

their appointment

a. Be a natural born citizen and resident

of the Philippines

b. Member in good standing of

accredited professional organization of
nurses

c. Registered nurse

Holder of masteral degree in

nursing , education or other allied
medical profession conferred by a
recognized university
•

Chair and majority of members

MUST be holders of master’s
degree in nursing

d. At least 10 years of continuous

practice of profession

e. Not have been convicted of any

offense involving moral turpitude

Even if previously pardoned by the

President

REQUIREMENTS UPON QUALIFICATION

a. Upon appointment, to immediately

resign from any teaching position in
any school, college or university or
other review program for local nursing
board

Also in any office or employment in

government

Or subdivision or agency of

government

Also in private sector

b. Not have any pecuniary interest / administrative supervision in any institution offering BSN including
review classes

c. Even after 1 year from resignation or

retirement! Di rin pwede.

TERM OF OFFICE AND COMPENSATION

- term of office 3 years
- in case of vacancy, only the unexpired

term but not more than 3 years

- must take an oath prior to assumption

of office

Page10 of14

PRC BON Resolution no 14, 1990

- Adoption of nursing specialty

certification Program and creation of a
nursing specialty certification council (
NSCC)

Removal or suspension of board members

- Comply with due process ( notice and

hearing)

- Grounds:

a. Continued neglect of duty or

incompetence

b. Commission or tolerance of
irregularities in the licensure
examination

c. Unprofessional, immoral or

dishonorable conduct

- President of the Philippines has

disciplining authority over the chair
person and members being her
appointees

- Power to appoint carries with it the

power to remove!

LICENSURE EXAM
- PRC will determine
- Twice a year

First week of months of june and

December

Regional Venues shall be

determined by the PRC

Regional office may request PRC to

designate a venue , provided
applicants there are not less than
100

PRCa. To administer and conduct the exams

b. Use publicly or privately owned

buildings and facilities

c. Conduct more than 1 licensure exams in a year, provided at least one should be held on weekdays

d. Require completion of refresher course

Failed to pass three times

Except when otherwise provided by

the law
e. Preserve integrity of the exams
f. Publish the results
g. Provide schools copies of sample test
questions on examinations recently
conducted

h. Impose sanctions for violations

QUALIFICATIONS FOR EXAMINEES

- Must be present at the time of

application

a. Filipino citizen

Or foreigner but there is

RECIPROCITY clause
g. Good moral character
h. BSN in a college or university

recognized

What to bring :

- To prevent fraud and to determine

identity
a. Personal appearance by the applicant
b. Possess all documents

1. TOR with the special order from

CHED

2. Original certificate of live birth or

authenticated copy by the NSO
3. Marriage contract in case married

female applicants

4. 4 pcs of passport size colored

picture with complete name and
tag with white background

5. Current cedula ( community tax

 cert)

6. Others documents

7. Proof of good moral character

Sworn affidavit or certification by

duly licensed nurse

SCOPE OF EXAMINATION

- Areas

a. Nursing care of individuals , families , communities etc in accordance with 4 major nursing goals

b. Nursing process and communication

skills

c. Identification of common nursing

problems

d. Leadership and beginning skills in

management

e. Beginning skills in nursing research ,

therapeutics , nutrition, and diet
therapy

f. Microbiology

Page11 of14
Ratings
- 75% passing mark with a rating not
below 60% in any subject

- If you get a subject below 60% you

should get at least 75% in the
repeated subject ( retake)

- The new nursing law deleted the

refresher course requirement
( unlimited number of takes)
 Oath taking is mandatory

- So you could get your certificate of

registration/ professional license and
your professional identification card

- This will be renewed every3 years

( PRC License)
- For renewal you need 60 units of CPE
(continuing professional education )
- But the CPE has been temporarily
suspended
Reciprocity
- Give certificate to foreign nurses
provided

a. The requirements for registration or

licensing of nurses in said country are
substantially the same as prescribed
in the law

b. Laws of such state or country grant

the same privileges to the Filipino
nurses

Special or temporary permit

a. Licensed nurses from foreign states

whose services are either for a fee or
internationally known specialists or
outstanding experts in any branch or
specialty of nursing

b. Licenses nurses from foreign countries

on medical mission
c. Employed in schools or colleges as
exchange professors

- Cannot be issued special or temporary

permit when CONVICTED of final
judgment of any criminal offense
involving moral turpitude or found
guilty of immoral conduct or
dishonorable conduct or unsound mind

- Guilt beyond reasonable doubt !

MORAL TURPITUDE
- act done contrary to justice, honesty,
modesty or good morals
 a. adultery
b. bigamy
c. blackmail
d. bribery

e. criminal conspiracy f. smuggling of opium g. embezzlement

h. estafa
i. extortion
j. fabrication or evidence
k. foregery
l. libel
m. murder
n. perjury
o. seduction under promise of marriage

Immoral and dishonorable conduct

- contrary to standards of moral conduct
- whether illegal or not
- morality is subjective

GROUNDS FOR REVOCATION / SUSPENSION

cert of registration
a. causes mentioned in Sec 22
b. unprofessional and unethical conduct
c. gross incompetence or serious

ignorance
d. malpractice or negligence in the
practice of nursing

e. use of fraud, deceit or false

statements in obtaining a certificate of
registration

f. practice of nursing while under

suspension , provided not more than 4
years suspension in the certificate of
registration

the certificate may be issued by

the board after expiration of 4
years from the date of revocation
or suspension for equity and justice

Nursing practice
a. perform nursing services
•
singly or collaboratively
•
individuals, families , communities
in any health care setting
b. nursing care
c. nursing action as independent
practitioners
d. collaborative work with other health
care professional

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duties of nurses

a. provide nursing care through utilizing

nursing process

b. establish linkages with community

resources

c. health education varied settings

d. consultation services

e. as long you utilize knowledge and

decision making skills of nurses

f. undertake nursing and health human

resource development training and
research

development of nursing practice

Inactive nurses

- not actively practice profession for 5

CONSECUTIVE years

- to go back , you need 1 months

didactic training and 3 months
practicum in hospital accredited by
the board
ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE
- mandatory trainings necessary
a. internal examination during labor and

delivery

b. suturing of perineal lacerations

c. intravenous therapy

NSCC

- specialty certification is a process of

validating the qualifications of nurse
clinician nursing care and linking
resources and research to optimize
outcomes from patients , families and
health care providers

Specialty
a. community health nursing specialty
b. medical surgical nursing specialty
c. mother and child nursing specialty

d. mental health

e. psychiatric nursing specialty

- specialty certifications is valid for the

period of 5 years from the date of
issuance

- renewable within 30 days before its

expiration

Recommended standards for parenteral

medications

- the law authorizes the registered

nurse to administer a written
prescription for parenteral medication

and internal examination during labor

and delivery also on suturing of
perineal lacerations
- sec 28 RA 9173 authorizes you to do

this

- skilled and competent

NURSING SERVICE ADMINISTRATORS

a. registered nurse in the Philippines
b. have at least 2 years experience in

general nursing service administration

c. possess a degree of BSN with at least

9 units in management and
administration courses at the graduate
level

d. be a member of good standing of the

accredited professional organization of
nurses

e. But if chief nurse additional

1. At least 5 years experience in

supervisory or managerial position

2. Masters degree major in nursing
3. If military hospital = completed

general staff course

PROHIBITIONS IN THE NURSING PRACTICE

- Fine not less than 50,000 not more

than 100,000 AND/ OR imprisonment
of not less than 1 year not more than
6 years

a. Practicing nursing :

1. Without a certificate of registration

or professional licensed card or
temporary permit

2. Uses the certificate or card of

another
 3. Uses invalid or revoked or

suspended card

4. Gives false evidence to the board

in order to get certificate or card

5. Falsely poses or advertises as a

registered and licensed nurse or
uses any other means that tend to
convey the impression that you are
a registered nurse

6. Who appends or adds in the name

RN or BSN

Or any similar appendage

but not conferred

7. Abets or assists the illegal practice

of a person not qualified to practice
nursing

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b. Any person, chief executive officer of a
juridical entity violating the RA

c. Any person, or employer of a nurse

who violate the minimum base pay for
nurses and incentives and benefits

d. Any person or chief executive officer

of juridical entity violating the
provision of this act

Enforcement of RA 9173
- PRC and PRBON
- You can request for assistance from

NBI, DOJ etc

Public health nurse
- You can be
a. Public health nurse I and II
b. Supervising public health nurse / nurse

supervisor
c. Nurse instructor II
d. Regional training nurse
e. Regional nurse supervisor / regional

public health nurse

f. Nurse program supervisor
g. Chief nurse

h. Assistant chief nurse

i. Occupational health nurse
j. Occupational health nurse supervisor

STANDARDS CRITERIA OF NURSING

PERSONNEL
- Resolution no 82 dated September 30,
1998 * PRC and BON)
- Standards of safe nursing practice
Nursing personnel
a. Nursing administrator

b. Assistant nursing administrator

c. Nurse supervisor / coordinator
d. Senior nurse / head nurse
e. Staff nurse / clinic nurse/ school nurse

NURSING ADMINISTRATOR
a. Registered nurse
b. Masters degree in nursing
administration
c. 5 years nursing supervisory or
administrative position
•

If 50 bed capacity , only 2 years

experience in general nursing
service administration and BSN
degree with at least 9 units of

management course at the

graduate level
d. Other qualifications
•
Personal qualities like physical and
mental fitness
•
Professional competency and
administrative competency
•

Standards performance in
planning, budgeting , organizing
etc

Functions of administrator
a. Planning / budgeting
b. Organizing
c. Directing/ supervising
d. Controlling
Assistant nursing administrator
- Mandatory in hospitals
Nurse supervisor/ coordinator
a. Registered nurse
b. 9 units in graduate level
c. 3 year experience as a senior nurse /
head nurse
d. Personal qualities
e. Continuing appraisal

1. Planning
2. Implementing
3. Controlling

SENIOR/ HEAD NURSE

Manual of standards of safe nursing practice
a. Registered nurse
b. BSN degree with 9 units in nursing
administration
c. 2 years of experience as a nurse
STAFF nurse/ clinic nurse / school nurse
a. Registered nurse
b. BSN degree
c. Other personal qualities
CLINICAL LADDER
a. Novice
b. Advance beginner
c. Competent
d. Proficient
e. Expert
Competencies and skills
a. Skill development

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b. Leadership
c. Confidence
d. Innovativeness and creativeness
e. Analysis and planning
Study RA 9173 provisions also