JULY 3, 2011

NR # 2454B

Nursing course still the worlds choice by 2030 - solon

Despite moves by the health and education departments and certain sectors calling for the cessation or whittling down of nursing courses, a lawmaker still believes that the government should further protect and develop the profession. Nursing remains a top career choice among Filipinos, said Rep. Carlos M. Padilla (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya), who filed House Bill 4567 urging Congress to introduce reform to Republic Act 9173 or the Philippine Nursing act of 2002. The present law (RA 9173) must be amended to achieve the vision of the Philippine professional nursing care as the best for the Filipino and the choice of the world by 2030, Padilla said. In fact, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) reported that the number of nursing students rose from 30,000 in 2000 to 450,000 in 2007or a mere span of seven years. The demand for Filipino nurses abroad has risen steadily over the past two decades, Padilla said. Padilla said the total number of registered nurses as of 2003 was 332,206, according to data from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Given the statistics, it is but necessary to institute reforms to the existing law to give nurses further protection and their welfare enhanced, Padilla said. Padilla said since the enactment of RA 9173, significant factors critical to the development of the nursing practice in the country has emerged. This includes providing humane and globally-competent nursing care, ensuring positive practice environment for nurses, and strengthening Philippine nursing as a recognized leader in primary health care, Padilla said. Padilla said the proposed amendments to the nursing law should include certification, specialization and educational requirements. Under the bill, the powers of the Nursing Board shall also be strengthened and provide additional educational requirements for different levels of the nursing practice to ensure competitiveness and provide a better environment in its practice. Likewise, the bill will create the Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing to be composed of a chairman and six members. They will be appointed by the President from two recommendees per vacancy of the PRC and should be natural born citizen and

resident of the Philippines for the last three years. Under the bill, an applicant for a nursing examination should be a holder of a bachelors degree in nursing. The applicant should file the application within three years after graduation from college or from a university that complies with the standards of nursing education duly recognized by the proper government agency. The bill provides a fine of not more than P300,000 or imprisonment of not less than one year or more than six years against violators. Earlier, Health Secretary Enrique Ona urged the Filipino students to stop taking nursing courses because the demand of Filipino nurses abroad has been declining in the past years. He said there are about 200,000 nursing graduate in the country who are still jobless. (30) mmr