Proposed Bill For Amending Certain Sections Of Republic Act 9173; Providing For An Advanced Nursing Education Act

Congressman Anthony Golez Jr. of Malasakit at Bayanihan proposed a bill that amends certain sections of the Republic Act 9173 otherwise known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2022 proposes to elevate and further nurture Filipino Nurses.

The Advanced Nursing Education Act of 2022 was filed in Congress in the hopes of further advancing and meeting international standards by providing them with the avenue to hone their skills and develop their specializations and also by improving nursing education programs.

As such, the bill proposes the following amendments:

• Section 25 – Nursing education shall refer to the formal learning and training in the science and art of nursing provided by higher educational institutions duly recognized and accredited by the CHED.

There shall be standard basic and graduate programs for nursing education which shall be established pursuant to Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the “CHED LAW”.

• A new Section 26 will be inserted after Section 25 of RA 9173 which read as follows;

Basic Education and Graduate Programs for Nursing Education- There shall be a basic program for nursing education which shall provide sound liberal and professional education, and shall equip basic nursing students with the necessary competencies for entry-level safe and quality nursing practice. The curriculum and related learning experiences should include community integration and immersion to encourage more graduates to work in a community setting. Admission to the basic program for nursing education shall require passing a national nursing admission test (NNAT). The curriculum and the related learning experiences must be in accordance with the National Nursing Core Competency Standards to be promulgated by the board and implemented through the policies, standards, and guidelines of the CHED.

There shall also be a graduate program for nursing education which shall be a post baccalaureate nursing program, which build on the experiences and skills of a nurse towards mastery, expertise, and leadership in practice will develop highly specialized skills needed for nursing practice in the various fields of advanced nursing, including, but not limited to; advanced practice nursing, ambulatory care nursing, critical care nursing, palliative care nursing, rehabilitation nursing, and other specialized fields of advanced nursing. It shall include a master’s degree and doctorate degree in nursing founded on the philosophies, and the scientific body of knowledge and practice. Graduate programs for nursing education shall be offered only in higher educational institutions as prescribed by the prevailing CHED policies, standards and guidelines for graduate education.

The faculty-to-student ratio must be in accordance with the standard to be determined and prescribed by CHED.

• Section 27 of RA 9173 will be renumbered and amended which read as follows;
• Basic Program for Nursing Education – A member of the faculty in a college of nursing teaching professional courses:
• Must be a registered nurse in the Philippines and holder of a certificate of registration and a current professional identification card issued by the commission;
• Must have at least three (3) years of nursing practice;
• Must be a holder of a Master’s Degree in Nursing, conferred by a university duly recognized by the government of the Republic of the Philippines; and
• Must have the appropriate certificate of nursing proficiency, or its equivalent, to be issued by the board of nursing.
• Graduate Program for Nursing Education – A member of the faculty of teaching graduate professional courses:
• Must follow paragraphs (A) and (B) above on basic nursing education; and
• Must be a holder of a doctoral degree in nursing conferred by a university duly recognized by the government of the Republic of the Philippines.

Section 26 of RA 9173 will be renumbered to section 27 while Section 28 of RA 9173 will also be renumbered as Section 29, along with the succeeding sections of the same Act.