The practice of nursing in the Philippines is governed by Republic Act No. 9173, the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002. It is still the law in force; bills for a new comprehensive nursing law have been filed in Congress, but none had been enacted as of the latest check. Its implementing rules are Board of Nursing Resolution No. 425, s. 2003.

The law exists to protect the public. It does this by:

• Creating a Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing (BON) under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
• Setting licensure requirements and the examination
• Defining the scope of nursing practice
• Setting standards for nursing education and for nurse administrators
• Providing for welfare (minimum pay, incentives) and penalties for violations

Key terms:

• Registered nurse (RN) — a person who passed the licensure examination, took the oath, and is registered with the PRC; holds a Certificate of Registration and a Professional Identification Card
• Scope of practice — what the law allows a nurse to do
• Accredited professional organization (APO) — the national organization of nurses recognized by the PRC; for nurses, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA)

Structure of RA 9173 (main sections)

Powers of the Board (Sec. 9, summarized)

• Conduct the licensure examination; register successful examinees; issue, suspend, and revoke certificates
• Monitor and enforce quality standards of nursing practice and education
• Investigate violations and hear administrative cases
• Promulgate the Code of Ethics in coordination with the APO
• Recognize nursing specialty organizations
• Issue rules and guidelines to implement the Act

Scope of nursing practice (Sec. 28, key points)

• Nursing services to individuals, families, and communities in any health care setting, in health and illness, across the life span from conception to old age
• The nurse provides care through the nursing process, including therapeutic use of self, health education, executing health care techniques and procedures, and administering written prescriptions for treatment, therapies, and oral, topical, and parenteral medications
• Internal examination during labor in the absence of antenatal bleeding, and delivery; suturing of perineal lacerations requires special training according to protocol
• Establishing linkages with community resources and coordinating with the health team
• Health education; teaching, guiding, and supervising nursing students; consultation; research; nursing and health human resource training
• The nurse is duty-bound to observe the Code of Ethics and must maintain competence through continuing professional education

Nursing service administrators (Sec. 29)

• Supervisory or managerial positions: RN; at least 2 years of experience in general nursing service administration; BSN with at least 9 units of graduate-level management and administration courses; APO member in good standing
• Chief nurse or director of nursing: in addition, at least 5 years in a supervisory or managerial position and a master's degree major in nursing

Grounds for revocation or suspension (Sec. 23)

• Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude; immoral or dishonorable conduct
• Unprofessional and unethical conduct; violation of the Code of Ethics
• Gross incompetence or serious ignorance
• Malpractice or negligence in the practice of nursing
• Fraud or false statements in obtaining the certificate
• Practicing while suspended; other violations of the Act or its rules

Penalties (Sec. 35): a fine of ₱50,000 to ₱100,000 or imprisonment of 1 to 6 years, or both for acts such as practicing without a valid certificate or ID, using another's certificate, falsely claiming to be an RN, aiding unlicensed practice, running unauthorized review or education programs, and violating the minimum salary provision.

• Before accepting a task, ask: is it within the nursing scope of RA 9173, within hospital policy, and within my training? Administering a medication requires a written prescription (or a policy-approved verbal order process with read-back and prompt written confirmation).
• Delegation and supervision: nurses coordinate the health team and may assign tasks to nursing attendants or aides, but assessment, nursing judgment, evaluation, and medication administration remain with the licensed nurse. A nurse who sees an unlicensed worker assessing and planning insulin doses must stop the activity — this protects the client and the nurse's accountability.
• Legal duties that flow from the Act and related laws: accurate documentation, confidentiality, prompt reporting of notifiable diseases (RA 11332), and timely response when a client deteriorates, including seeking another physician if the attending one cannot be reached.
• Returning to practice: a nurse who has not practiced for 5 years must complete the refresher training (1 month didactic, 3 months practicum) before resuming.
• Managers must meet Sec. 29 qualifications and ensure staff practice within scope.

• Practice only with a valid registration and current Professional Identification Card
• Know the scope of practice, and decline tasks outside it or outside one's competence (and say why)
• Follow the Code of Ethics and standards of safe nursing practice
• Maintain competence through continuing professional development
• Supervise assistive personnel and nursing students appropriately
• Report unlicensed practice, impairment, or unsafe practice through proper channels
• Participate in the APO and in efforts to improve standards and welfare (including the minimum pay provision)

• Acting beyond the scope of practice may be treated as unauthorized practice and can lead to administrative, civil, and criminal liability.
• Malpractice or negligence is a ground for revocation or suspension under Sec. 23, in addition to any civil or criminal case.
• A nurse's certificate can be suspended or revoked after due process (notice and hearing before the Board).
• Carrying out a clearly wrong or unsafe order is not excused by "following orders"; the nurse must clarify or question it first.
• Confidentiality duties under the Code of Ethics are reinforced by the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173); unnecessary access to records (e.g., looking up a friend's chart out of curiosity) is a privacy violation.
• Failure to report a notifiable disease violates the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act (RA 11332).

Case 1. A nurse gives a medication based on a verbal order she did not repeat back or confirm, and the client is harmed.

Correct principle: the nurse administers written prescriptions; verbal orders are used only when unavoidable, must be read back and documented, and signed promptly per policy. Why: skipping verification is a breach of the duty of care and can support a negligence claim and Board action.

Case 2. A client in the ICU deteriorates; the attending physician cannot be reached.

Correct action: start emergency measures within nursing scope, call the rapid response or another available physician, and document. Why: the duty to act promptly to prevent harm does not wait for one particular doctor.

Case 3. A nursing attendant checks a client's capillary blood glucose and plans an insulin dose on her own.

Correct action: the nurse stops the attendant, assesses the client, verifies the order, and administers or withholds insulin herself; then clarifies roles. Why: medication decisions and administration are within the licensed nurse's scope, and the nurse is accountable for supervision.

Case 4. A nurse who left practice 6 years ago wants to return to a hospital staff position.

Correct action: complete the refresher program (1 month didactic, 3 months practicum) first. Why: Sec. 26 applies to nurses who have not practiced for 5 consecutive years.

• Saying the Board has five members — it has a Chairperson and six members (seven in all).
• Mixing up exam passing rules: 75% general average, no subject below 60%.
• Forgetting that the Board is under the PRC; it is not a DOH office.
• Believing any order from a physician protects the nurse — the nurse is independently accountable.
• Confusing Sec. 29 requirements: general managerial posts need 2 years + 9 graduate units; chief nurse needs 5 years + master's in nursing.
• Thinking RA 7164 or RA 877 is current — RA 9173 is.
• Treating the Salary Grade 15 minimum as applying to private hospitals — Sec. 32 refers to nurses in public health institutions.

• RA 9173 = Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 (current); IRR = BON Res. 425, s. 2003
• Board of Nursing: Chairperson + 6 members, 3-year term, under the PRC; members need 10 years' practice and a master's degree
• Exam eligibility: BSN, citizenship or reciprocity, good moral character
• Passing: ≥ 75% average, no subject < 60%; then oath
• Scope (Sec. 28): nursing process, health education, written prescriptions, internal exam during labor only in the absence of antenatal bleeding, delivery, perineal suturing with special training per protocol, health-team coordination, community linkages; Code of Ethics and continuing education are duties
• Administrators (Sec. 29): 2 years + 9 graduate units; chief nurse 5 years + master's in nursing
• Inactive 5 years → 1 month didactic + 3 months practicum
• Revocation/suspension (Sec. 23) includes malpractice or negligence and Code of Ethics violations; suspension ≤ 4 years
• Public-sector nurse minimum pay: Salary Grade 15
• Penalties (Sec. 35): ₱50,000–₱100,000 fine or 1–6 years' imprisonment, or both