This chapter contains related literature and studies connected to the research.

It discusses various reading of laws, theories, definitions and experiences that are important to the students, graduates, instructors and other people concern in knowing the scholastic standing, pre-board performance and national licensure examination. Related Literature Nursing has undergone remarkable changes in response to societal needs and influences. A look at the nursings beginnings reveals its continuing struggle for autonomy and professionalism. Several definitions are given with respect to their interpretation of the nursing profession. According to Kozier B. (2004) et.al., Florence Nightingale defined nursing over 100 years ago as the act of utilizing the environment of the patient to assist him in his recovery. Nightingale considered a clean, well-ventilated and quite environment essential for recovery. Often considered the first nurse theorist, Nightingale raised the status of nursing through education. Nurse were no longer untrained housekeepers but people educated in the care of the sick. They also stated that Virginia Henderson was one of the modern nurses to define nursing. She wrote The unique function of the nurse is to assist individual sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge and to do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as rapidly as possible. Like Nightingale, Henderson saw the nurse as concerned with both ill and infirm individuals, acknowledged that nurses interact with clients even when recovery may not be feasible, and mentioned the teaching and advocacy role of the nurse. They gave another definition from the Canadian Nurse Association stated in the year 1987. They described nursing as a dynamic, caring, helping relationship in which the nurse assist the client to achieve and obtain optimal health. In the later part of the 20th century, a number of nurse theorists develop their own definitions: nursing is caring, nursing is an art, nursing is science, nursing is holistic, nursing is adaptive, nursing is concerned with health promotion, health maintenance and health restoration and nursing is a helping profession. Professional nursing associations have also examined nursing and develop their definition of it. In 1973, the American Nurse Association (ANA) described nursing practice as direct, goal oriented and adaptable to the needs of individual, the family and community during health and illnesses. In 1980, the ANA changed this definition of nursing, Nursing is diagnosis, treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems. In 1995, the ANA recognized the influence and contribution of the science of caring top nursing philosophy and practice. Their most recent definition of nursing acknowledges four essentials features of contemporary nursing practice: attention to the full range of human experiences and response to health and illness without restriction to a problem-focused orientation; integration of objective data with knowledge gained from an understanding of the client or groups subjective experience; application of scientific knowledge to the process of diagnosis and treatment; and provision of a caring relationship that facilitates health and healing.

Profession is a group of similar jobs or fields of interests that requires specific training or expertise. Sometimes used interchangeably with occupation, nursing is an example of occupation. (www.immigranttoolbox.ca/index.php) A professional is a person formally certified by a professional body of belonging to a specific profession by virtue of having a completed required course of studies and/or practice. And whose competences can usually measured against an established set of standards. (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/professional.html) Kozier also stated that nursing is gaining recognition as a profession. A profession I generally distinguished from other kinds of occupation by (a) its requirement of prolonged, specialized training o acquire a body of knowledge pertinent to the role to be performed; (b) an orientation of the individual toward service, either to a community or to an organization; (c) ongoing research; (d) code of ethics; (e) autonomy; and (f) professional organization. Board examinations is defined as a set of tests that one takes to be allowed to work in a particular area as doctor, nurse, etc. in the normal exam phase in between school and student but in case of board exam it is between student and state, country. (http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/board-exam) It is needed for someone to secure a license to be a professional nurse. License is defined as authorization from the state granting permission to perform duties which without such permission would be illegal. (www.pathwaytoeternity.com/glossary.html) Repil M. (2008), defined Nursing Licensure Examination as a multiple choice exam to test basic nursing and other related disciplines and competencies and is held every June and December annually in various public schools throughout the Philippines. Room assignments for the exams are posted outside the Profession Regular Commission building at least three days before the exam. Republic Act No. 9173 is an act providing for a more responsive nursing profession. The Article 1 states that the act shall be known as the Nursing Philippine Act of 2002. Section 12, Article IV states that all applicants for license to practice shall be required to pass a written examination, which shall be given by the Board in such places and dates as may be designated by the Commission: Provided, that it shall be in the accordance with Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the PRC Modernization Act of2000. Section 13 Article IV states that in order to be admitted to the examination for nurses, an applicant must, at the time of filling his/her application, establish to the satisfaction of the Board that: (a) He/she is a citizen of the Philippines, or a citizen or subject of a country which permits Filipino nurses to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizen of such country: Provided that the requirements for the registration of the licensing of nurses in said country are substantially the same as those prescribed on this Act; (b) He/she is of good moral character; and (c)

He/she is a holder of Bachelors Degree in Nursing from a college or a university that complies with the standards of nursing education duly recognized by the proper government agency. Section 14 of Article V states that the scope of the examination for the practice of nursing in the Philippines shall be determined by the Board. The Board shall take into considerations the objectives of the nursing curriculum, the broad areas of nursing, and other related disciplines and competencies in the determining the subject of examinations. Section 15 Article VI states that in order to pass the examination, an examination must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) with a rating of not below sixty percent (60%) in any subject. An examinee who obtains an average rating of seventy-five percent (75%) or higher must take the examination again but only in the subjects where he/she is rated below sixty percent (60%). In order to pass the succeeding examination, an examinee must obtain a rating of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in the subject or subject repeated. Section 16 of Article IV states that all successful in the examination shall be required to take an oath of profession before the Board or any government official authorized to administer oaths prior to entering upon the nursing practice. The Section 17 of Article IV states that a certificate or registration/professional license as a nurse shall be issued to an applicant who passes the examination upon payment of the prescribed fees. Every certificate of registration/professional license shall show the full name of the registrant, the serial number , the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission and of the Members of the Board, and the official seal of the Commission. 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 issued to every registrant upon payment of the required fees. Section 25 of Article V states the nursing education shall provide sound general and professional foundation for the practice of nursing. The learning experiences shall adhere strictly to specific requirements embodied with the prescribed curriculum as promulgated by the Commission on Higher Educations policies and standards of nursing education. Section 28 of Article VI states that a person shall be deemed to be practicing nursing within the meaning of the Act when he/she or in collaboration with another, initiates and performs nursing services to individuals, families and communities in any health care settings. 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 practitioner, nurses are primarily responsible for the promotion of health and the prevention of illness. As member 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. It shall be the duty of the nurse to: (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 self, executing health care techniques and procedures, essential primary health care, comfort measures, health teachings, and administration of written prescription for treatment, therapies,

oral, topical and parenteral medications, internal examinations during labor in the absence of antenatal bleeding and delivery. In case of suturing perineal laceration, special training shall be provided according to protocol established; (b) establish linkages with community resources and coordination with the health team; (c) provide health education to