General Practice of Board of Nursing

A fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) nor more than Forty thousand pesos (P40,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years, or both, in the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon:

1. Any person practicing nursing in the Philippines within the meaning of this Act:

    

   1. Without a certificate of registration or without having been declared exempt from examination in accordance with the provisions of this act;
   2. Who uses as his/her own the certificate of registration of another;
   3. Who uses an expired, suspended or revoked certificate of registration;
   4. Who gives any false evidence to the board of Nursing in order to obtain a certificate of registration;
   5. Who falsely poses or advertises as a registered nurse or uses any other means that tend to convey the impression that he or she is a registered nurse; or
   6. Who appends B.S.N./R.N. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Registered Nurse) to his/her name without having been conferred said degree or registration;

    

2. Any person who undertakes in-service educational programs or who conducts review classes for both local and foreign examinations without permit/clearance from the Philippine Nursing Association, the Board of Nursing and the appropriate office or officer of the Department of Labor and Employment; and 
    
3. Any person violating any provision of this Act.

On March 1, 1919, the Board of Examiners for Nurses was created by virtue of Public Act No. 2808. It was placed under the Department of the Interior with a physician as the chief executive officer. With the Reorganization Law of 1932, the supervision of the Board was transferred to the Department of Public Instruction.

However, on June 17, 1950, Republic Act No. 546 was enacted placing the Board under the Office of the President. On June 19, 1953, Republic Act No. 877, otherwise known as the “Philippine Nursing Law,” was enacted and for the first time, the Board was composed of three (3) nurses, a Chairman and two Members with additional powers and duties. Amendments to Republic Act No. 877 were effected through R.A. No. 4704 enacted on June 18, 1966 which increased the membership of the Board to five (5) and upgraded the educational qualification to Master’s degree in Nursing with an age limit of 65 years old.

A landmark law, Republic Act No. 7164 otherwise known as the “Philippine Nursing Act of 1991,” was enacted on November 21, 1991. This law removed the age limit for members of the Board, and required ten (10) years of continuous practice of the profession prior to appointment.

Republic Act No. 9173 
An Act Providing for a more responsive nursing profession, repealing for the purpose Republic Act No. 7164 otherwise known as "Philippine Nursing Act of 1991"

Philippine Nurse Association (PNA)

1663 F. Tirona Benitez Street
Taft Avenue, Malate Manila 1004
P.O. Box 1155
Tel. No.:  400-4430 / 521-0937
Website: http://www.pna-ph.org/
Re-accredited:  Res. No. 2011-604 dated May 9, 2011
 

As early as 1917, a group of Filipino nurses had already felt the need to organize themselves. But the idea to form an association was realized only in 1922 when the representatives of different nursing groups and schools met at the nurses’ dormitory of the Philippine General Hospital. Presided over by Ms. Anastacia Giron, the meeting resulted to the organization of the Filipino Nurses Association (FNA). Ms. Francisca Delgado was elected first president of the Association.

A month after its conception, the FNA adopted its constitution and by-laws. The Association was incorporated in January 1924 and held its first annual national convention in the ensuing month.

With the primary purpose to promote the standards of the nursing and other allied professions, the FNA has been a major instrument in bringing about improvements in the practice of the profession. In cooperation with hospital authorities, the FNA observes the National Hospital Day which was first celebrated on May 12, 1926, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

The FNA was admitted as member of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in 1929. In 1955, Proclamation No. 539 was issued by President Carlos P. Garcia declaring the last week of October of every year as Nurses Week and authorizing the Filipino Nurses Association to take charge of the celebration. Among the other notable accomplishments of the Association are: the standard curriculum for nursing schools in the country, the publication of the handbook for public health workers, and the preparation of the code of ethics for nurses.

The FNA which was renamed Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) in 1962 continues to uphold its vision to uplift the ideals and spirit of the nursing profession in the country and to win for the profession the respect and recognition of the international community.

Qualification of Board Members

Any person who qualifies as Chairman or member of the Board shall automatically resign from any teaching position in any school, college or university and/ or review program for the local nursing board examinations or in any office or employment in the Government or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries. He shall not have any pecuniary interest in or administrative supervision over any institution offering basic nursing education programs, including review classes.