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Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.
AT A GLANCE
- As independent practitioners, nurses are primarily responsible for the promotion of health and prevention of illness.
The State shall assume responsibility for the protection and improvement of the nursing profession by instituting measures that will result in relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, better career prospects and a dignified existence for our nurses.
In furtherance of this, the delivery of quality basic health services through an adequate nursing personnel system throughout the country is guaranteed. (Section 2, Republic Act No. 9173 also known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002)
What is the scope of nursing?
The law says:
A person shall be deemed to be practicing nursing within the meaning of this Act when he/she singly or in collaboration with another, initiates and performs nursing services to individuals, families and communities in any health care setting. It includes, but not limited to, nursing care during conception, labor, delivery, infancy, childhood, toddler, preschool, school age, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.
As independent practitioners, what are nurses primarily responsible for?
The law says:
As independent practitioners, nurses are primarily responsible for the promotion of health and prevention of illness. A members of the health team, nurses shall collaborate with other health care providers for the curative, preventive, and rehabilitative aspects of care, restoration of health, alleviation of suffering, and when recovery is not possible, towards a peaceful death. (Section 28, Republic Act No. 9173)
What are the duties of nurses?
The law says:
(a) Provide nursing care through the utilization of the nursing process. Nursing care includes, but not limited to, traditional and innovative approaches, therapeutic use of self, executing health care techniques and procedures, essential primary health care, comfort measures, health teachings, and administration of written prescription for treatment, therapies, oral topical and parenteral medications, internal examination during labor in the absence of antenatal bleeding and delivery. In case of suturing of perineal laceration, special training shall be provided according to protocol established;
(b) establish linkages with community resources and coordination with the health team;
(c) Provide health education to individuals, families and communities;
(d) Teach, guide and supervise students in nursing education programs including the administration of nursing services in varied settings such as hospitals and clinics; undertake consultation services; engage in such activities that require the utilization of knowledge and decision-making skills of a registered nurse; and
(e) Undertake nursing and health human resource development training and research, which shall include, but not limited to, the development of advance nursing practice. (Section 28, Republic Act No. 9173)
What are the limitations of the aforementioned duties of nurses?
The law says:
Provided, That this section shall not apply to nursing students who perform nursing functions under the direct supervision of a qualified faculty:
Provided, further, That in the practice of nursing in all settings, the nurse is duty-bound to observe the Code of Ethics for nurses and uphold the standards of safe nursing practice. The nurse is required to maintain competence by continual learning through continuing professional education to be provided by the accredited professional organization or any recognized professional nursing organization:
Provided, finally, That the program and activity for the continuing professional education shall be submitted to and approved by the Board. (Section 28, Republic Act No. 9173)
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