REPUBLIC ACT 9173

Aims:
To provide a sound general and
professional foundation for the practice of
nursing through quality nursing education.
Republic Act No.9173,otherwise known as
the “Philippine Nursing Act of 2002”’ which
was approved on October 21,2002.
Republic Act 9173- Change in the
Philippine Nursing Act 2002 from R.A.
7164, the Philippine Nursing Act of 1998,
taken from the Implementing Rules and
regulations of RA 9173.
Two – fold state policy for the nursing
profession.
1. The state responsibility- pertains to the
government’s responsibility to protect and
improve the nursing profession through
the institution of measures for the
attainment of the following:
a. Relevant nursing education
b.
l
Humane working conditions
c. Better career prospects
d. Dignified existence of the Filipino nurses

2. The state guarantee- is the government’s

commitment to deliver quality health care
services by providing adequate nursing personnel
throughout the country (Sec.2,Art II,R.A. No.9173)
With the passage of this new law in nursing,
the government affirms the State policy to
make education accessible to all, apart
from its commitment to provide quality
education, deliver quality health care, and
support the advancement of the nursing
practice.
Republic Act 9173 (Philippine Nursing Act of
2002) empowers the PRC-Board of
Nursing to revoke or suspend the
certificate of registration/professional
license or cancel the special/temporary
permit of a nurse.
Prohibited Acts
a. Causes mentioned in the preceding
section on practice through
special/temporary permit
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/professional
license or a temporary special permit
f. Violation of this Act, rules and regulations, Code
of Ethics for nurses and technical standards for
nursing practice, policies of the Board and the
Commission, or temporary/special permit.
g. Practicing his/her profession during
his/her suspension from such practice.

Implementing Rules and Regulations of

RA 9173
1.Composition of the Board of Nursing-
The Board is now composed of a
Chairman and six (6) members instead of
a Chairman and four (4) members.
2. Submission of names of qualified
nominees by the Accredited Professional
Organization (APO) to the Commission,
three (3) nominees per vacancy, not later
than three months before the vacancy.
3. The Commission submits to the office of
the President two (2) nominees per
vacancy not later than two months before
the vacancy occurs. The appointment
must be issued not later than thirty (30)
days before the scheduled licensure
examination.
4. Qualifications of Board Members
4.1 Educational requirement for members of the
Board is not limited to registered nurses with
Master’s degree in nursing but also to registered
nurses with master’s degrees in education, or
other allied medical profession provided that the
Chairperson and majority of the members are
holders of a Master’s degree in nursing.
4.2 Of the ten years of continuous practice
of the profession prior to appointment, the
last five (5) years must be in the
Philippines. This was not specified in RA
7164.
4.3 The section that states that the Board
member must not be a green card holder
(Art III Sec. 5 R.A. 7164) does not appear
in the new law.
5.Powers and Duties of the Board, Art. II
Sec. 11 added:
5.1 Adopt and regulate a Code of Ethics
and Code of Technical Standards for the
practice of nursing within one year from
the effectivity of this Act.
5.2 Recognize specially organizations in
coordination with accredited professional
organization.
6. Licensure Examination and
Registration
6.1 Specific Dates of examination has
been deleted. (RA 7164 Sec. 14) Specific
dates of examination- not earlier than one
month (1) month and not later than two
months after the closing of each semestral
term
6.2 Specific age of applicants to take the
examination to be at least eighteen years
(18) of age has been deleted. (RA 7164
Sec. 13b)
7. Ratings, Sec 15 RA 9173
7.1 Specific number of times an examinee
may take the licensure examination has
been deleted (RA 7164 Sec.16 3rd
paragraph)
7.2 Added: Removal examinations shall be
taken within two (2) years after the last
failed examination.
8. Revocation and Suspension of
Certificate of Registration
8.1 Added: Sec. 25 for violation of RA 9173,
the Implementing Rules and Regulations,
the Code of Ethics, the Code of the
Technical Standards, for Nursing practice,
and policies of the Board and of the
Commission.
8.2 Sec 28g. Added: For practicing the
profession during the period of suspension
8.3 Period of suspension of the certificate of
registration/professional license not to
exceed four (4) years.
9. Rule IV, Nursing Education
9.1 Sec.26, Rule 1-Added: requirement for
inactive nurses returning to practice-
Nurses who have not actively practiced
the profession shall undergo one (month)
of didactic training and three (3) months of
practicum
9.2 Sec.27, Qualifications of Faculty-
Requirement of clinical experience in a
field of specification has been reduced
from three (3) years to one (1) year in a
field of specialization.
9 .3 The Dean of the College of Nursing
must have at least five (5) years of
experience in teaching and supervising a
nursing education program. Note: An
increase from three (3) years as specified
in RA 7164
10. Rule V, Nursing Practice
10.1 Scope of Nursing- Duties and Responsibilities
of the Nurse:
a. Deleted: Special training in intravenous
injections
Note: Nursing Service Administrators still require
formal training in this aspect for the safety of
the patient, and the protection of the nurse and
of the agency/institutions where the patient is
being treated or confined.
b. Added: Special training for suturing the
Lacerated Perineum
Note: This is being undertaken by the
Association of Nursing Service
Administrators of the Philippines (ANSAP)
with the Maternal and Child Association
of the Philippines (MCNAP).
c. Added: Observe the Code of Ethics and
the Code of Technical Standards
Maintain competence through continual
professional education.
10.2 Qualification of Nursing Service
Administrators.
a.Sec.30. Priority in Appointment
a.1 For appointment as Chief Nurse in a
Public Health Agency, priority shall be
given to those who have Master’s degree
on Public Health/Community Nursing.
a.2 For appointment as Chief Nurse in
Military Hospitals, priority shall be given to
those who have a Master’s Degree in
Nursing and completion of a General Staff
Course (GSC).
11. Rule VI, Health Human Resource
Production and Utilization Additions:
11.1 Sec.32. Comprehensive Nursing
Specialty Program. The Board is
mandated to formulate and develop a
comprehensive nursing specialty program
that would upgrade the level of skills and
competency of specialty nurse clinicians in
the country.
11.2 Sec.33, Salary. Minimum base pay of
nurses in public health institutions shall
not be lower than the first step or hiring
rate prescribed for Salary Grade 15
pursuant to RA 6758, otherwise known as
the “Compensation and Classification Act
of 1989”. For nurses working in Local
Government units, adjustments in salaries
shall be in accordance with Sec. 10 of the
same Act.
11.3 Sec 34 Funding for the comprehensive
Nursing Specialty Program. The annual
financial requirement to train at least (10)
percent of the nursing staff of the
participating hospital shall be chargeable
against the incomes of the Philippine
charity Sweeptakes.
11.4 Sec. 35. Incentives and Benefits.
Incentives and benefits shall be limited to
non- cash benefits such as free hospital
care for nurse and their dependents, and,
and scholarship grants. As part of the
improved working condition of nurses, the
government and private hospitals are
mandated to maintain the standard nurse-
patient ratio set by the Department of
Health.
12. Rule VII. Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions
12.1 Penalty for violation of this Act in fines has
been increased (from not less than ten (10)
thousand pesos (10,000) nor more than forty
thousand pesos (P40,000) as specified in RA
7164 to not less than fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000) nor more than one hundred thousand
pesos (P100,000)
Imprisonment of not less than one (1) year
nor more than five (5) years reduced from
not less than one (1) nor more than six (6)
years from RA 7164, or both fine and
imprisonment upon the discretion of the
Board.
Penalty and fine are not only for those who
practice nursing under circumstances
prohibited by the Act but also for persons
or employers of nurses of judicial entities
who undertake review classes for foreign
or local examination without permit from
the Board; or violate the minimum base
pay of nurses, incentives and benefits. Or
any provision of this Act as implemented
by its IRR.
PRC Resolution No. 2004-17 Series of 2004
re- implemented continuing Professional
Education requiring sixty (60) credit units
for three years for professionals with
bachelor’s degree. Any excess unit
earned cannot be carried on the next
three –year period except for units earned
for doctoral and masteral degrees.33
The total CPE units for registered
professionals without baccalaureate
degrees shall be thirty (30) units for three
(3) years. Any excess shall be not be
carried to the next three-year period.