SUMMARY

RA 9173 - An act providing for a more responsive nursing profession, repealing for the
purpose RA 7164 known as the Phil. Nursing Act of 1991 and for other purposes. This
act shall be known as the Phil. Nursing Act of 2002
ARTICLE I
TITLE
Section 1. Title - This act shall be known as the Phil. Nursing Act of 2002
Sec 2. Declaration of Policy
1. relevant nursing education,
2. humane working conditions,
3. better career prospect
4. and a dignified existence of our nurses.
(BON Res. 425 s. 2003 IRR of RA 9173 state hereby guarantees the delivery of quality
basic health services thru an adequate nursing personnel system throughout the country.)
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD OF NURSING
Sec 3. Creation and Composition of the Board
A chairperson and six members, appointed by the President of the Republic of the
Philippines

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Sec 4. Qualifications
Natural born citizen;
Member of good standing of the accredited professional organization for nurses;
RN, MAN, MA Education or other allied profession from universityduly recognized by the
Government; provide that majority are MAN; Chairman is MAN holder;
10 years continuous practice ; last 5 years in the Phil.
Not convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude
Membership to the board shall hold 3 areas namely, nursing education, nursing
service and community service

Sec 5.Requirement upon qualification

immediately resign from teaching from any school, college or university offering nursing
education, review program for the local nursing board or in any office or employment in the
government or in any government owned corporations
she/he shall not have pecuniary interest or administrative supervision over any institution
offering nursing education.

(IRR pecuniary interest refers to involvement of husband/wife, children, brothers/sisters,

and mother/father in any activity that will conflict w/ her/his position in the Board, particularly
money matters.)
Sec 6. Term of Office
1. 3 years; can be reappointed for another 3 years
2. any vacancy in the Board occurring shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term only
(HOLD OVER DOCTRINE)
3. The incumbent chairperson & members shall continue to serve the remainder of their term
(RA 7164) until their replacements shall have been appointed (IRR)
4. Submit to the Pres. 2 nominees/ vacancy not later than 2 mos. Before the vacancy occurs
w/ the request that the appointment be issued not later than 30 days before the scheduled
board exam (IRR)
5. the Board shall be under the supervision of PRC
Sec 7. Compensation of Board Members same as that of the PRC
Sec 8. Administrative Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its records, Secretariat
and Support Service - PRC
Sec 9. Powers and Duties of the Board
a. Police Powers
b. Quasi-legislative
c. Quasi-judicial
Sec 10. Annual Report - detailed account of its proceedings, accomplishments &
conditions affecting the nursing practice President
Sec 11. Removal or Suspension of Board Members
a. continued neglect of duty
b. commission or toleration of irregularities in the licensure examination
c. unprofessional, immoral or dishonorable conduct
ARTICLE IV
EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION
Sec 12. Licensure Examination
Pass a written examination in accordance w/ RA 8981 PRC Modernization Act
Sec 13. Qualifications for Admission to the Licensure Examination:
1. Citizen of the Phil or subject of a country which permits Filipino nurses to practice within its
territorial limits
2. Good moral character

3. BSN degree holder from a college/university

Sec 14. Scope of examination shall be determined by the board taking into
consideration objectives of nursing curriculum, board areas of nursing & other related
disciplines and competencies.
Sec 15. Ratings
1. General weighted average of 75% with no grade lower than 60 % in any subject
2. An examiner who gets an average of 75% or higher but gets a rating of below 60% percent
in any subject Removal
Sec 16. Oath required prior to entering the practice of nursing
Sec 17. Certificate of registration shall be issued after the oath taking ceremony, which is
renewable every three years
Sec. 18. Fees for Examination & Registration - prescribed by the commission
Sec. 19. Automatic Registration of Nurses ipso facto registered
Sec 20. Registration by Reciprocity
A certificate of registration/professional license may be issued without examination to nurses
registered under the laws of a foreign country or state provided:
requirements for registration is substantially the same
laws of such state grants the same privileges to registered nurses of the Philippines
Sec 21. Practice through Special/Temporary Permit
1. Internationally known specialists/experts
2. On medical mission
3. Exchange professors
Sec 22. Non registration & non issuance of Certificate of Registration/Professional
License
1. convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude
2. person guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct
3. declared by court to be of unsound mind

1.
2.
3.
4.

Sec 23. Revocation/Suspension of Certificate of Registration/Prof. License &

Cancellation of Special/Temporary Permit
Persons convicted by final judgment of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude
Person guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct
Any person declared by court to be of unsound mind
Unprofessional and unethical standard

5. Gross incompetence or serious ignorance

6. Malpractice or negligence in the practice of nursing
7. Uses fraud deceit, or false statements in obtaining certificate of registration/ professional
license or special/temporary permit
8. Violation of the Code of Ethics or conditions for the issuance of temporary/special permit
9. Practicing his/her profession during his/her suspension from such practice
10. PROVIDED however that such suspension of the cert. of registration/prof. license shall be
for a period not to exceed 4 years
Sec 24. Re-issuance of revoked Certificates and Replacement of lost Certificate
cause of revocation has disappeared/cured
or corrected subject to the rules of the Board
ARTICLE V
NURSING EDUCATION
Sec 25. Nursing Education Program
shall provide sound general and professional foundation for the practice of nursing
learning experience shall adhere strictly to specific requirements by the CHED and
standards of the nursing practice.
Sec 26. Inactive nurses returning to practice (for 5 consecutive years) are required to
undergo 1 month didactic training and 3 months practicum in accredited hospitals.
Sec 27. Qualifications of the Faculty:
1. RN;
2. One year experience of clinical practice in a field of specialization;
3. Member of good standing of accredited professional nursing organization;
4. MAN, MA Education or other allied medical sciences conferred by acollege or university
duly recognized by the government;
5. Dean - MAN and must have at least 5 years experience in nursing
ARTICLE VI
NURSING PRACTICE
Sec 28. Scope of Nursing Practice
A person shall be deemed to be practicing nursing within the meaning of this Act when
he/she singly or in collaboration with another, initiates and performs nursing services to
individuals, families and communities in any health care setting.
1. It includes but not limited to: nursing care during conception, labor, delivery, infancy,
childhood, toddler, pre-school, school age, adolescence, adulthood and old age.
2. As independent practitioners, nurses are primarily responsible for the promotion of health &
prevention of illness.

3. As members of the health team, nurses shall collaborate with other health care providers
for the curative, preventive, and rehabilitative aspects of care, restoration of health,
alleviation of suffering and when recovery is not possible, towards a peaceful death.
4. Provide nursing through the utilization of the nursing process. Nursing care includes but not
limited to:
a. traditional and innovative approaches
b. therapeutic use of self
c. executing health care techniques and procedures, essential primary health care, comfort
measures, & health teachings
d. administration of written prescriptions for treatment therapies, oral, parenteral medications,
e. internal examinations during labor in the absence of antenatal bleeding
f. delivery
g. in case of suturing of perineal laceration, special training shall be provided according to
protocol established
5. Establish linkages with community resources and coordination with the health team
6. Provide health education to include families and communities
7. Teach, guide and supervise students in nursing education programs including
administration of services in varied settings such as hospitals, and clinics and undertake
consultation services; engage in such activities that require the utilization of knowledge and
decision making skills as registered nurses
8. Undertake nursing and health human resources development training, which shall include
but not limited to the development of advance nursing practice
Sec 29. Qualifications of Nursing Service Administrators
1. RN;
2. At least 2 yrs. experience in gen. nursing service administration;
3. BSN degree holder with at least 9 units in management and administration courses at the
graduate level;
4. Member of good standing of the accredited professional organization for nurses;
5. For chief nurse/ director of nursing service 5 yrs. experience in supervisory or managerial
position & MAN holder;
6. Chief Nurse (Primary Hospital) qualification same as supervisors; CN Public Health
Agencies -MPH
7. For military chief nurses MAN plus completion of the General Staff Course (GSC).
ARTICLE VII
HEALTH HUMAN RESORCE PRODUCTION, UTILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Sec 30. Studies for Nursing manpower needs, production, utilization and development

 The Board in coordination with APO & appropriated government and private agencies shall
initiate, undertake & conduct studies on health human resource production, utilization and
development.
Sec 31. Comprehensive Nursing Specialty Program
BON/ APO/ RSO/DOH
upgrade the level of skill and competence of specialty nurse clinicians
critical care/oncology/renal
beneficiaries to serve Phil. Hospital for 2 years
BON Res #14 s.1999 created NSCC oversee the administration of new program by
Specialty Cert. Board (Pres APO/ Academician/PRB)
Sec 32. Salary shall not be lower than grade 15 (RA 6758 Compensation & Classification
Act of 1989)
Sec 33. Funding of CNSP
PAGCOR/PCSO
DOH releases, accounts & audits and sets the criteria for the availment of the program
Sec 34. Incentives and benefits
free hospital care for nurses and their dependents
scholarship grants & other non-cash benefits
maintain nurse-patient ratio as set by DOH
ARTICLE VIII
PENAL AND MISCELLENAOUS PROVISIONS
Sec 35. Prohibitions in the Practice of Nursing
(Penalty: fine of Php50,000.00 but not more than Php100,000.00 or imprisonment of not less
than 1 year but not more than 6 years or both)
Any person who practices nursing
1. without certificate of registration/ professional license; temporary permit
2. who uses as his/her own certificate of registration/ license/permit of another
3. who uses an invalid, suspended, revoked, expired, cancelled certificate, license or permit
4. who gives any false evidence to the Board in order to obtain a cert. of registration/ license/
or permit
5. who appends BSN/ RN or any similar appendages to his/her name without having been
conferred said degree or registration
6. who falsely advertises as registered/licensed nurse or uses any other means that tend to
convey the impression that he/she is a registered/licensed nurse

7. who as a registered/licensed nurse, abets or assists the illegal practice of a person who is
not lawfully qualified to practice nursing
Any person or the CEO of a juridical entity who undertakes in-service educational programs
or who conducts review classes for both local & foreign examination without
permit/clearance from the BON & PRC
Any person or employer of nurses who violates the minimum base pay of nurses and the
incentives & benefits that should be accorded as specified in RA 6758 Compensation and
classification Act of 1989
Any person or the CEO of a juridical entity violating any provision of this Act and its rules and
its rules and regulations