Nurse Review: Professional Adjustment, RA 9173 part 3

Section 7 discusses the compensation of the Board of Nursing (BON) members, stating their salaries and allowances are comparable to those of other professional regulatory boards, though not explicitly specified. Section 8 details that the BON is under the guardianship of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), meaning all examinations and cases are under PRC custody, and the PRC provides manpower and support services for the BON.

The BON has the power to conduct the Nurse Licensure Examination, determining its scope, structure, and content, and writing exam questions. The PRC sets the dates and venues. Additionally, the BON can issue, suspend, or revoke licenses. Suspension or revocation requires due process, involving a fair trial or hearing.

The BON conducts hearings and investigations to resolve complaints against nurses, exercising quasi-judicial power, meaning they function like a court but are independent of regular courts. They also possess quasi-legislative power by adapting, setting, and proclaiming resolutions, guidelines, and policies for nursing schools and practice, often in coordination with the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), such as writing the Code of Ethics.

The BON exercises executive power by enforcing the Code of Ethics and other regulations, reflecting their position under the executive branch of government, with members appointed by the president. They monitor and enforce quality standards of nursing practice, utilizing core competency standards as a framework for regulation, education, and performance evaluation.

The BON ensures quality nursing education by monitoring program standards in nursing schools. While the BON can recommend the closure of non-compliant nursing schools, the actual power to close a school or permit a university to open a nursing program is vested in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The BON also recognizes nursing specialty organizations.

Section 11 outlines the grounds for removal or suspension of a BON member after due administrative investigation. These grounds include engaging in or tolerating irregularities in the nurse licensure examination (e.g., the 2006 leakage issue), immoral, unprofessional, or dishonorable conduct, and incompetence or continued neglect of duty. If found guilty, the President can remove or suspend the member.