LAWS GOVERNING THE PRACTICEOF NURSING
LAW
 It is defined as the sum total of rules
and regulations by which society is governed.
 It is man-made and regulates social conduct
on a formal and binding way.
 It reflects society isneeds,attitudes and more.
 May also be defined as arule or conduct
pronounced by controlling authority and
whichmay been forced.
3Essential Characteristics of every law
1. Authority or the right to declare that the
rule exists - to be able toenforce control
2. Such rule is pronounced or expressed and
that is the source can be identified
3. A right to enforce the same must be provided
Government - the controlling authority in our
system
Constitution - the fundamental law of the
government
 It contains the principleson which the
government is founded,regulates the
division of sovereignpowers,directs to
whatpersons each of these powers is
toentrusted and specifies the
manner by which these powers shall
beexercised
Principalsourcesofpronouncements
1. the Constitution
2. The statutes or legislation
3. the regulations issued by theExecutive Branch
ofthe government
4. case decisions or judicial opinions
5. Presidential Decrees
6. LettersofInstruction
Whenaruleofconduct is pronounced by alaw-
making body, itmustbeissuedinwriting and in such
mannerthatitsmeaningisclearandconcise.
When a law-making body enacts rules of
conduct, there are always provisionssetting forththe
consequencesforviolations.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINENURSING LAW
Act No. 2493 of 1915
 first law that had to do with the practice of
nursing, which was regulated the practice
of medicine
 this act provided for the examination
andregistration of nurses inthePhilippines
During that time, the applicants needed tobe only
twenty years old,In good physical health, and of
goodmoral character.
*Graduates of intermediate courses of a
public schools could enter the school of
nursing which was then giving only twenty
years-and-a-half of instruction, these
graduates were called first-class nurses
*Those who desired to be second-class
nurses filed an application with the district
health officer in the district where they
resided
1919 Act 2808
- was passed – First True Nursing Law
- It created, among others, a board of
examiners for nurses
1920
First board examination in the Philippines
was given
June19, 1953
- Congress enacted the Philippine Nursing
Law (Republic Act 877)
2 IMPORTANT SECTIONS OF R.A. 877
a. SEC. 16, ART IV – Inhibition
against practice of nursing
b. SEC 30 ART V – Prohibition in
the practice
of nursing. Penal Provision
June 18, 1966
- Republic Act 4704 amended certain
portions of RA 877.
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MOST SALIENT CHANGES
1. The membership of the Board of
Examiners for Nurses was increased
from 3-5 members
2. Members of the Board were to be
appointed by the President of the
Philippines with the consent of the
Commission on Appointments and no
longer “upon recommendation of the
Commission of Civil Service”
3. The requisite academic degree for
members of the Board was a Master’s
Degree, instead of a Baccalaureate
Degree in Nursing
4. A disqualifying age limit for a Board
member was fixed. No person was
eligible for membership in the board
if she/he was over 60 years of age
5. The maximum total compensation
which a member of the Board of
Examiners for Nurses could receive
was raised P12000 per annum to
P18000 yearly
6. The academic qualification for Deans,
Directors, and principlas of Colleges
and Schools of Nursing was raised
from the level of Baccalaureate
Degree to that of Master’s Degree in
Nursing
7. The areas of study required for
entrance to colleges and schools of
nursing were generalized to include
courses in physical, biological, social
and behavioral sciences, as well as
humanities, chemistry, psychology
and zoology
8. The scope of nursing practice was
broadened to circumscribe the whole
management of the care of patients
and the acts constituting professional
practice of nursing were spelled out.
9. The date of holding of nurse’s
examination was no longer fixed but
adjusted to the official closing of the
semestral term of classes in colleges
and schools of nursing.
10. The minimum age required of
applicants for admission to the
nurse’s examination was lowered
from 21 to 18 years of age.
RA 7164 – introduced by Senator Heherson
Alvarez codified and revised all the laws
regulating the practice of nursing in the
Philippines. It was also known as the
Philippine Nursing Act of 1991.
1) Redefinition of the scope of nursing
practice to emphasize
- The use of the nursing process as a
scientific discipline in arriving at an
appropriate nursing action and care
- The teaching, management, leadership
and decision making roles of the nurse
- The undertaking of and participation in
studies and research by nurses
2) Requiring a faculty member who was
appointed to the Board of Nursing to
resign from his/ her teaching position
at the time of appointment and not
one year preceding his/her
appointment
3) Updating a faculty’s educational
qualifications by requiring Master’s
Degree in n Nursing or related fields
or its equivalent in terms of
experience and specifications as
prerequisite to teaching
4) Specification of qualifications of
administrators of nursing services
5) Inclusion of the phrase “Unethical
conduct” as one of the reasons for
revocation and suspension of
certificate of registration
October 17, 1958 (Proclamation No. 593)
– Presidential proclamation of a Nurses’
Week
Presidential Decree No. 223
– issued on June 23, 1973 created the PRC
and prescribed its powers and functions.
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PRC Memorandum No. 2005-02
– dated March 3, 2005, implementing the
revised rates of fees charged and collected
by the Commission on Appointment
Letter of Instruction No. 1000
– dated March 20,1980, required that
members of accredited professional
organizations shall be given priority in the
hiring of employees in the government
service and in the engagement of
professional services
Republic Act 1612
– stated that a privilege tax shall be paid
before any business or occupation can be
lawfully begun or pursued.
RA 7392
– amended RA 2644 known as Midwifery
Law on June 18, 1960
SEVERAL ARGUMENTS AROSE AMONG
NURSES AS A RESULT OF THE PASSAGE OF
THE MIDWIFERY LAW
1. Do nurses really have to register as
midwives before they can attend to
deliveries?
- Since the law specifies that nurses
perform nursing care during delivery, then
nurses have the legal rights to do so.(Rule V
Section 28 Scope of Nursing)
2. Should hilots or the licensed midwives
from the barrios be allowed to
continue to practice their trade?
To ensure safety of both mothers
and newborns, many health
centers offer training programs
for hilots as part of their service
to their communities.
3. Are the midwives properly trained in
their school to assume the roles
provided in R.A. 7392? Does this law
not infringe on the Philippine
Republic Act 2382, known as the Philippine
Medical Act, defines the practice of
medicine in the Philippines.
SEC 10. Act constituting the practice of
medicine.
A person shall be considered as
engaged in the practice of medicine
who shall for compensation, fee, salary,
or reward in any for paid to him
directly or through another or even
without the same may physically
examine any person, and diagnose,
treat, operate or prescribe any remedy
for any human disease, injury,
deformity, physical, mental, physical
condition or ailment, real or imaginary,
regardless of the nature of the remedy
or treatment administered, prescribed
or recommended.
Republic Act 5181. This act prescribes
permanent residence and reciprocity as
qualifications for any examination or
registration for the practice of any
profession in the Philippines.
SEC 1. No person shall be allowed to
practice any profession in the Philippines
unless he has complied
This Law states that all medical doctors must
examine, diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe
any remedy for any human disease, ailment or
deformity regardless of its nature.
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This Law states that all Filipino citizen
of any profession must practice his/her
profession in the Philippines.
In case he/she is an a Filipino citizen,
he/she must be a permanent resident
for at least 3 years
Presidential Decree 541 allows former
Filipino professional to practice their
respective professions in the Philippines.
Balikbayans, therefore, although not
residents of the Philippines anymore, may
practice their profession during the period
of their stay in the country provided they
register with the Professional Regulation
Commission and pay their income tax on all
earnings while in the country.
This Law states that Balikbayan, are
allowed to to practice their profession
dursing the period of their stay and must
register to PRC and pay their income tax
while in the country.
In 1972, Republic Act 6425 known as the
Dangerous Drugs Act was passed. Article II,
Section 4 states that sale, administration,
delivery, distribution, and transportation of
prohibited drugs are punishable by law. The
penalty of imprisonment ranging from
twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty
years and a fine ranging from twelve
thousand to twenty thousand pesos shall be
imposed upon any person who, unless
authorized by law, shall sell, administer,
deliver, give way to another, distribute,
dispatch in transit,
or transport any prohibited drug, or
shall act as broker in any of source
transactions. In case of a practitioner, the
maximum penalty herein prescribed and
the additional penalty of revocation of
his/her license to practice his/her
profession shall be imposed. Of the victim
of the offense is a minor, the maximum
penalty shall be imposed. Should a
prohibited drug involved in any offense
under this section be the proximate cause
of death of the victim thereof, the penalty
of life imprisonment to death and a fine
ranging from twenty thousand to thirty
thousand pesos (P20,000.00 – P 30, 000.00)
shall be imposed upon the pusher.
This Law states that sale, administration,
delivery, distribution, and transportation of
prohibited drugs are punishable by law.
SEC 8. Possession or Use of Prohibited
Drugs.
- The penalty of imprisonment ranging
from six (6) years and one (1) day to
twelve (12) years and a fine ranging
from six thousand to twelve thousand
pesos (P6, 000.00 – P 12, 000.00) shall
be imposed upon any person, who
unless authorized by law, hall possess
any prohibited drug, except Indian
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hemp as to which the next following SEC 16. Profession or Use of Regulated
paragraph shall apply. Drugs.
- The penalty of imprisonment ranging - The penalty of imprisonment ranging
from six months and one day to six from six (6) months and one (1) day to
years and a fine ranging from six four (4) years and a fine ranging from
hundred to six thousand pesos six hundred to four thousand (P600.00
(P600.00 – P6, 000.00) shall be – P4,000.00) pesos shall be imposed
imposed upon any person who, unless upon any person without the
authorized by law, shall possess or use corresponding license or prescription.
Indian hemp.
Act No. 3573 in 1929
SEC 15. Sale administration, - declared that all communicable diseases
dispensation, delivery, transportation, shall be reported to the nearest health
and distribution of regulated drugs. station, and that any person may be
- The penalty of imprisonment ranging inoculated. Administered or injected with
from six (6) years and (1) day to twelve prophylactic preparations. No persons shall
(12) years and a fine ranging from six refuse as to hinder or obstruct these
thousand to twelve (12) thousand protective measures deemed advisable by
pesos the Secretary of Health or the authorized
representative.
This states that possession or use of
prohibited drugs has also different This states that any regulated drugs
punishment that selling or transporting must be prescribed by a licensed
prohibited drugs. practioner or else imprisonment and
fine will be imposed to the offense.
This states that there are also law
about Sale administration, This Law states that all communicable
disease must be treated immediately
dispensation, delivery, transportation, and not person is allowed to refuse the
and distribution of regulated drugs, it protective measures to that disease

must be authorized by law and must be

Republic Act 1082 which was approved on
limited and prescribed by a licensed
June 1954 and amended by R.A. 1891 on
medical practitioner.
June 22, 1957 for the creation of rural

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health units. Public health nursing in the This Law states that all people with
Philippines was in great demand leprosy must be treated in a
particularly in the rural areas. For this government skin clinic, rural health or
reason and to provide these areas with by a licensed physician.
competent public health nursing service the
government established rural health units Presidential Decree 996 - requires

staffed with technical personnel, including compulsory immunization for all children

public health nurses. The creation of rural below eight years of age against

health units all over the Philippines communicable disease. Circular No. 14 of

was authorized by R.A. 1082, which was 1965 requires health examination and

approved on June 15, 1954. immunization of all prospective Grade I

As amended by R.A. 1891 in June 22, pupils against smallpox, diphtheria and

1957 the law provided for the creation of tuberculosis as pre-requisite for enrollment.

rural health units of eight different

categories corresponding to eight Presidential Decree 825 - provides penalty

population groups of municipalities to be for improper disposal of garbage and other

served. R.A. 4405, approved on June 16, forms of uncleanliness.

1965 enlarged the staff by integrating into

Presidential Decree 856, the Code of
these units the provincial, city, and
Sanitation, provides for control of all factors
municipal sanitary inspectors nurses and
in man’s environment that affect health
midwives covered by the act.
including the quality of water, food, milk,

Republic Act 4073 liberalizes the treatment control of insects, animal carriers,

o leprosy. Except when the disease requires transmitters of disease, sanitary and

institutional treatment, no person afflicted recreation facilities, noise unpleasant odors

with leprosy shall be confined in a and control of nuisance.

leprosarium. Patients shall

Presidential Decree No. 148 -amending R.A.

This Law states that all rural areas must 679 (Woman and Child Labor Law), states

establish rural health untis staffed with that the employable age shall be 16 years.

technical personnel including PHNs This decree provides for the minimum
employable age and for privileges of
working women.

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This Law states that there is a creed, business and industrial enterprises to
promote the concept of family planning
compulsory immunization for all
welfare,
children below 8 years of age against
This Law states that when RNs and RMs are
communicable disease (smallpox, empowered to provide, dispense or
diphtheria and tuberculosis) as a pre- administer acceptable methods of
contraception after undergoing a training
requisite for enrollment. and granted authorization by POPCOM.

This Law states that private

This Law states that improper disposal
organization and individuals must
of garbage and other forms of
participate in strengthening the family
uncleanliness is punishable by the law.
planning programs.

This Law states that all factors in

Letter of Instruction No. 47 directs all
man’s environment that affect health
schools of medicine, nursing, midwifery and
must be controlled.
allied medical professions and social work

Republic Act 6365 established a National to prepare, plan and implement the

Policy on Population and created the integration of family planning in their

Commission on Population (POPCOM). curricula and to require from their

graduates sufficient appropriate licensing
Presidential Decree No 791 is the revised examination.
Population Act. It defines the objectives,
duties and functions of the POPCOM. Department of Labor Order No. 7 requires
all industrial establishments to provide
Presidential Decree No. 166 amending family planning services.
Presidential Decree No. 791. This decree
strengthens family planning programs Presidential Decree No. 48 limits paid
through participation of private maternity leave privileges to four children.
organizations and individuals in the
formulation and implementation of the
program planning policies.
General Order No. 18 enjoins all citizens of
the Philippines, universities, colleges,
schools, government offices, mass media,
voluntary and religious organizations of all

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Presidential Decree. 69 workers the right to self-organizations and
- limits the number of children to four (4) collective bargaining. It promotes the rights
for tax exemption purposes. and welfare of workers.

Presidential Decree No. 965 Presidential Decree 603, Child and Youth
- requires that couples intending to get Welfare Code,
married must first undergo a family - protects and promotes the rights and
planning and responsible parenthood welfare of children and youth. Employment
instruction prior to the issuance of a of children below 16 years of age is limited
marriage license. to perfuming light work not harmful to their
safety, health or normal development and
Republic Act No. 1054 which it not prejudicial to their studies.
- requires the owner, lessee or operator of
Presidential Decree 651 decrees the
any commercial, industrial or agricultural
registration of birth of a child within 30
establishment to furnish free emergency,
days with the Civil Registrar.
medical and dental attendance to his
employees and laborers
ILO Convention No. 149 provides for the
improvement of life and work conditions of
Republic Act 226, known as the Hospital
nursing personnel.
Licensure Act, - requires all hospitals in the
Philippines to be licensed before they can
Presidential Decree 1519 gives
offer to serve the community. The licensing
Medicare benefits to all government
agency is the Office for Hospital and
employees regardless of status of
Medical Services, Department of Health.
appointment. Retirees, regardless of age,
are also entitled to Medicare privileges by
Nurses working in agencies with 100-bed
virtue of their membership in the GSIS or
capacity and/or above and are working in
SSS.
an area of one million population are
Effective January 1980, Presidential Decree
supposed to work only forty (40) hours a
No. 1636 requires compulsory membership
week per R.A. 5901.
in the GSIS or SSS Retirement Fund.

Presidential Decree 442 known as the

Labor Code of the Philippines provided

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Presidential Decree No. 626 or the
Employee Compensation and State
Insurance Fund provided benefits
workers covered by SS or GSIS for
immediate injury illness or disabilities
Republic Act 6675 or the Generics Act of
1988 is an act to promote, require and
ensure the production of an adequate
supply, distribution, use and acceptance
and drugs and medicines identified by their
generic names, Medicines are prescribed in
generics.
Nurses are the patient’s advocated.
Their role is not only as drug administrators
but also as educators by giving information
as evaluators although monitoring, verifying
and reporting of usage and problems
encountered, and as coordinators with
physician, pharmacists, dentists
concerned groups.
Republic Act 6758
- standardizes the salaries of government
employees which includes the nursing
personnel.
- This Law states that all medicines must
be prescribed by their generic names.
- This Law states that salaries of
government employees including
nursing personnel must be compensated
to position titles, salary grades and
schedules
Republic Act No. 6713, known as the “Code
of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
to Official and Employees”, upholds a time-
honored principles that public office is a
public trust.
- It is the policy of the State to promote a
high standard of ethics in a public service.
Public officials and employees shall
discharge their duties with utmost
responsibility, integrity, competence and
loyalty, and shall act with patriotism and
justice. They must least modest lives and
uphold public interest over personal
interest.
Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government
Code transfers responsibilities for delivery
of basic services and facilities of the
national government to local government
and
units. This involves devolution of powers,
functions and responsibilities to the local
government both provincial and municipal
Another law approved by Pres. Corazon C.
Aquino on March 26, 1992, and authored
by Senator Edgardo Angara is R.A. 7305
entitled Magna Carta for Public Health
Workers”. Its significant objectives are:
a. To promote and improve the social
and economic well-being of health
workers;
b. To develop their skills and capabilities;
and
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c. To encourage those qualified and with
abilities to remain government
service
This Law states that Public officials and
employees shall discharge their duties with
utmost responsibility, integrity, competence
and loyalty, and shall act with patriotism
and justice.
This Law states that transfers
responsibilities for delivery of basic
services and facilities of the national
government to local government units.
Republic Act 7600 or the Rooming- in and
Breastfeeding Act of 1992 provides that
babies is born in private and government
hospitals should be roomed-in with their
mothers to promote breastfeeding and
ensure and safe and adequate nutrition to
children. This is enforced by the Milk Code
(Executive Order No. 51)
- This Law states that every hospitals
private to government must have a policy
that babies should be roomed-in with
mother to promote breastfeeding
Republic Act 7432 or the Senior Citizen’s
Act gives honor and justice to our people’s
long tradition of giving high regard to our
elderly. It entitles to our elderly to a twenty
percent (20%) discount in all public
establishments such as restaurants,
pharmacies, public utility vehicles and
hospitals. It also entitles the elderly to free
medical and dental check-up and
hospitalization in all government hospitals.
- This Law states that all Senior citizens of
the Republic of the Philippines should have
20% discounts in all public establishments
Republic Act 9173 – Change in the
Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 from R.A
7164, The Philippine Nursing Act of 1998,
taken from the Implementing Rules and
Regulations of RA 9173. 1998, taken from
the Implementing Rules and Regulations of
RA 9173.
PRC Resolution No. 2004-17 Series of 2004
re-implemented continuing Professional
Education requiring sixty (60) credit units
for three (3) years for professionals with
bachelor’s degree. Any excess unit earned
cannot be carried on to the next three-year
period except for units earned for doctoral
and master’s degrees. The total CPE units
for registered professionals without
baccalaureate degrees shall be thirty (30)
units for three (3) years. Any excess shall
not be carried on to the next three-year
period.
PRC Board of Nursing Resolution No. 14
Feb. 8, 1999 – promulgated the guidelines
for the implementation of a Specialty
Certification.
PRC Board Resolution No. 2003-166
amended the filling of application of various
licensure examinations in the regional
offices from twenty (20) days to thirty (30)
days before the first day of examination to
give sufficient time for the Boards in charge
in the Central Office to tally the report,
review the qualifications, check the
completeness and accuracy of the
documents thereby ensuring strict
compliance with the “no deferent” policy.
PRC Board of Nursing Resolution No. 2004-
200 series of 2004
Requires applicants in the licensure
examination to submit transcript of records
with scanned pictures and with the remarks
“For Board Examination Purposes only”.
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PRC Resolution No. 2004-189 series of
2004 – forfeits the examination fees paid by
the examinee that failed to report and take
the scheduled examination.

Executive Order No. 566 Sept. 8, 2006

directs the Commission on Higher
Education to regulate the establishment
and operation of review centers and similar
entities.

CHED Memorandum Order No. 49 series of

2006 implements the rules and regulations
in governing the operation review centers
pursuant to Executive Order 266.

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