NURSING AS A PROFESSION

LAWS
Laws Related
to the
Practice of
Nursing
 Nurses Week Celebration

Proclamation No. 539

dated October 17, 1958 – The President
proclaimed the last week of October every
year as Nurses’ Week to:

promote the ideals of the nursing profession

and

to develop consciousness and availability

of nursing resources in the country.
 BON Resolution No. 82

 Promulgation of standards of safe nursing

practice for the observance/compliance of the
members of the nursing profession

BON Resolution No. 220 series of

2004
 Code of Ethics for Filipino Nurses
 BON Resolution No. 357
Submission and attachment of documents
in compliance with policies and guidelines
prior to the application for the ICNLE

Curricular offerings on nursing subjects

Related Learning Experience (RLE)
requirements
Degree and membership of deans, chief
nurses and clinical coordinators
Status/level of accreditation of
institutions of learning
Professional Regulation
 P.D. 223
created the Professional Regulation Commission and
prescribed its powers and functions
R.A. 8981
PRC Modernization Act of 2000
R.A. 6511
standardized the examination and registration
fees charged by the various Board of Examiners
 PRC Memorandum 90-11 , August 20,1990
– Provided for new rates for examination and
registration
– Fee for professions needing Baccalaurate
Degree, exam fee was P 350 and for those less
than Baccalaureate Degree was P 250
– Initial registration fee for professions leading to
Baccalaureate Degree initial registration fee
was P250 while those with less than
Baccalaureate Degree was P175
– Annual Registration Fee for professions
needing Baccalaureate Degree new registrants
was P40 For those with less than baccalaureate
P30
PRC Resolution No. 463 dated Nov. 27, 1996
Prohibits bringing inside the examination rooms
the following: books, notes, review materials
and other printed materials containing principles
or excerpts thereof, coded
data/information/formula which are relevant to
or connected with the examination subject,
PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATORS,
CELLULAR PHONES, beepers portable
personal computers or other similar
gadgets/devices.
The act shall be considered cheating and /or
act of dishonesty and shall be a ground for the
cancellation of your examinations.
 PRC Resolution No. 2002-27
dated January 18, 2002
Requiring applicants for licensure examinations to
submit complete documentary requirements.

BON Resolution 425- 2003

Implementing Rules and Regulations of
the Nursing Law

BON Resolution 112

Adoption of the Core Competency
Standards for Nursing Practice
 R.A. 5181
prescribes permanent residence and
reciprocity as qualifications for any
examination or registration for the practice of
any profession in the Philippines

P.D. 541
allows former Filipino professionals to
practice their respective professions in the
Philippines.
 LOI No. 1000
dated March 10, 1980, required that the
members of the APO shall be given
priority in the hiring of employees in the
government service and in the
engagement of professional services.

R.A. 1612
payment of privilege tax annually on or
before January 31.
 R.A. 1080
those who passed the bar and the board
examination are declared civil service
eligible, hence not required to take the civil
service examination

E.O. 220
Code of Good Governance for the
Professions
PRC Resolution No.179- 2004

Standardized guidelines and procedures for

the implementation of the Continuing
Professional Education for all professions.

Provisions:
Requires 60 CPE credit units for 3 years for
professionals with baccalaureate degree
courses; 30 credit units for 3 years for non-
degree courses
 Drugs
Administration
 R.A. 6675 - Generics Act of 1988
Act to promote, require and ensure the production
of an adequate supply, distribution, use and
acceptance of drugs and medicines identified by
their generic names. Medicines are prescribed in
generics

R.A. 6425 - Dangerous Drugs Act,1972 –

Art. II Sec. 4 states that the sale, administration,
delivery, distribution and transportation of
prohibited drugs are punishable by law.

R.A 9165 - known as the Comprehensive

Dangerous Drug Act 0f 2002, repealed the Dangerous
Drug Act, R. A. 6425
 Public Health
R.A. 1082
created the Rural Health Units staffed with
rural health personnel including nurses

R.A. 4073
liberalizes the treatment of leprosy

R.A. 1054
requires the owner or lessee of any
industrial, commercial or agricultural
establishments to provide free emergency
medical and dental services to his/her
employees or laborers.
R. A. 8423
Creation of the Philippine Institute of
Traditional and Alternative Health Care

R.A. 9288
Newborn Screening ( counseling of parents
about heritable diseases)
 Other
Health Professions
Practice Acts
 R. A. 7392 - Midwifery Law
provides that only those who are
licensed midwives could practice
midwifery

Nurses have to pass the examination

and submit twenty (20) deliveries and
pay the corresponding fees for
examination and registration
 R.A. 2382
Philippine Medical Act, an act
constituting the practice of medicine.

R.A.5921
Pharmacy Act

R.A. 4419
Dental Act
 Sanitation

P.D. 825 – provides penalty for improper

disposal of garbage and other forms of
uncleanliness

P.D. 856 – Code of Sanitation, provides

for control of all factors in man’s
environment that affect health
Family Planning
and
Population
Management
 R.A. 6365
Established the National Policy on Population
and created the Commission on Population
(POPCOM)
P.D. 791
Revised the Population Act, defines the
objectives, duties and functions of the POPCOM
P.D. 166
Amending P.D No. 791, strengthening family
planning by the participation of private
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 creeds, business and industrial
enterprises to promote the concept of
family welfare, responsible parenthood
and family planning
 LOI No. 47
directs all schools of medicine, nursing, midwifery
and allied medical professions and social work to
integrate family planning in their curricula and to
require from their graduates sufficient licensing
examination

DOLE Order 7
– requires all industrial establishments to provide
family planning services

P.D. 48
– limits paid maternity leave privileges to four (4)
children

P.D. 69
– limits the number to four (4) children for tax
exemption purposes
 P.D. 965

Requires that couples intending to get

married must first undergo family
planning and responsible parenthood
instructions prior to the issuance of a
marriage license
 Women
and
Child Health
 P.D. 996
requires compulsory immunization of
children below 8 years old against
communicable diseases.

P.D. 148
amending R.A. 679 (Woman and Child
Labor Law) states that the minimum
employable age shall be 16 years and the
privileges of working women
 P.D. 603
Child and Youth Welfare Code, protects
and promotes the rights and welfare of
children and youth.

P.D. 651
decrees the registration of birth of a child
within 30 days with the Civil Registrar
 R.A. 7600
Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act of 1992
provides that babies born in private &
government hospitals should be roomed-in
with their mothers to promote breastfeeding
& ensure safe and adequate nutrition to
children
 E.O. 51
– Milk Code of the Philippines

BON Resolution No. 459

series of 2002
Maternal and Child Nursing
Standards of Practice

E.O. 209
– Family Code of the Philippines
 R.A. 7877 Anti Sexual Harassment Act of
1995

 R.A. 9262 Anti- Violence Against Women

and Children

 R.A. 9344 Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act

of 2006
 Children below 15 are exempted from criminal
charges while youth offenders ages 15 – 18 could
be criminally charged if they committed the crime
with discernment
 Hospital
And
Labor Laws
 R.A. 4226
Hospital Licensure Act, requires all
hospitals in the Philippines to be licensed
before it can offer to serve the community.
The licensing agency is the Office for
Hospital and Medical Services, DOH.

R.A. 5901
Forty- Hours Law, provides that nurses
working in agencies with 100-bed capacity
and/or above and are working in an area of I
M population should work only forty hours a
week.
 R.A. 8344 An act penalizing the refusal of
hospitals and medical clinics to administer
appropriate initial medical treatment and
support in emergency cases

 R.A. 9439 Anti –patient illegal detention law

 P.D. 442

Labor Code of the Philippines

provides workers the right to self-
organization and collective bargaining. It
promotes the rights and welfare of workers.

ILO Convention 149

provides for the improvement of life and

work conditions of nursing personnel

R.A. 7719
Blood Bank Act
 Social Security
&
Insurance System
 P.D. 1636
requires compulsory membership in the
GSIS and SSS

P.D. 626
Employee Compensation and State
Insurance Fund provides benefits to
workers, covered by SSS, or GSIS for
immediate injury, illness or disabilities
R.A. 7875
National Health Insurance Act
 Government Service

R.A. 6758- Salary Standardization

Law
standardizes the salaries of
government employees, which include
the nursing personnel.
 R.A.6713

Code of Conduct and Ethical

Standards for Public Officials and
Employees

upholds the time-honored principle that

public office is a public trust. They shall
discharge their duties with utmost
responsibility, integrity, competence &
loyalty, and shall act with patriotism and
justice.
 R.A. 7160

Local Autonomy Code

( Devolution of LGU’s )
transfers responsibility for delivery of
basic services and facilities of the
national government to local government
units. It involves devolution of powers,
functions and responsibilities to the local
government both provincial and
municipal.
 R.A. 7305

“Magna Carta for Public Health

Workers”

to promote and improve the social

and economic well-being of health
workers; develop their skills
and capabilities; and encourage
those qualified to remain
in government service.
 R.A. 7432
Senior Citizens Act

gives honor and justice to the elderly,

giving them 20% discount in all public
establishments such as restaurants,
pharmacies, public utility vehicles and
hospitals
R.A. 9994
Amended R.A. 7432, exemption from
paying the Value Added Tax for goods
and services produced by a senior
citizen
 R.A. 9257 Expanded Senior
Citizen’s Act
Provides for benefits of all senior citizens like :
 Exemptions from payment of income taxes
 20% discount in fares for domestic air and
sea travels, public highways, skyways, and
bus fares
 Free movies everyday in Mandaluyong,
Makati, Paranaque and Manila , Tuesdays
and Thursdays in Quezon City
 Provision of express lanes for senior citizens
 RA 9502
Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality
Medicines Act of 2008 or Cheaper
Medicines Act of 2008
E.O. 821 Minimum Drug Retail Act
5 drugs are made accessible at a cheaper
price ( 2 anti-CA, 1 anti- cholesterol, 1 anti-
HPN, 1 antibiotic )
Amlodipine( HPN), Azithromycin( antibiotic)
Atorvastatin( anti cholesterol), Cytarabine and
Doxorubicin ( anti –CA)