PHILIPPINE NURSING LAW OF 2012 RA SEC.

28 SCOPE OF NURSING PRACTICE

This Act defines nursing as the practice of providing nursing services to individuals, families, and
communities in any healthcare setting. Nurses are responsible for promoting health and preventing
illness, and as members of the health team, they collaborate with other providers for curative,
preventive, and rehabilitative care. They must provide nursing care through traditional and innovative
approaches, establish linkages with community resources, provide health education, teach students in
nursing education programs, and undertake nursing and health human resource development training
and research. Nurses must adhere to the Code of Ethics and uphold safe nursing practice standards, and
maintain competence through continuing professional education provided by accredited organizations.
Nurses are also expected to advocate for the rights of individuals and communities in accessing
healthcare services and resources. They must maintain accurate and confidential health records,
ensuring privacy and security of patient information. Nurses should actively participate in quality
improvement initiatives to enhance healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Additionally, they play a
crucial role in disaster preparedness and response, providing care and support during emergencies.
Nurses are encouraged to engage in professional organizations to promote the advancement of the
nursing profession. Lastly, nurses must demonstrate cultural competence and sensitivity in their practice,
respecting the diversity and beliefs of individuals and communities they serve.

NATIONAL NURSING CORE COMPETENCIES STANDARDS

The core competency standards in nursing play a crucial role in unifying nursing practice, education, and
regulation. These standards provide a framework for developing nursing curriculum, evaluating nurse
performance, protecting the public from incompetent practitioners, and guiding advanced nursing
practice. The development of these standards involves phases such as competency identification,
verification, pilot testing, and benchmarking with existing standards from other countries. Safe and
quality nursing care is essential in nursing practice, with core competencies focusing on knowledge-
based care, decision-making, patient safety, priority setting, continuity of care, medication
administration, nursing process utilization, care planning, implementation, and evaluation. Nursing
professionals must also manage resources, maintain a safe environment, provide health education,
adhere to legal and ethical responsibilities, and engage in personal and professional development. The
interprofessional approach to improving quality and safety within healthcare emphasizes the importance
of interprofessional teamwork and communication. Research shows that effective teamwork and
communication can reduce errors, improve patient outcomes, enhance process outcomes, and increase
staff and patient satisfaction. Training programs, such as TeamSTEPPS, have been developed to enhance
interprofessional team performance and patient safety through specific skills and tools. Overall, the
integration of core competency standards, safe and quality nursing care, interprofessional teamwork,
and ongoing professional development are crucial in ensuring the delivery of high-quality healthcare
services and promoting patient safety and well-being.
PATIENT BILL OF RIGHTS

The Patient’s Bill of Rights, established by the American Hospital Association in 1973 and subsequently
updated, emphasizes patients' entitlement to respectful, culturally competent care. It ensures patients
receive clear, comprehensive information about their health, including diagnoses, treatments, and
prognosis, and have the right to discuss procedures, risks, and alternatives. Patients are entitled to know
the identities and roles of their caregivers, as well as the financial implications of their treatment
choices. They can make decisions about their care, refuse treatment, and have advance directives
honored. Privacy and confidentiality are paramount, with patients able to review and interpret their
medical records. Hospitals must respond reasonably to patients' requests for care, ensuring continuity
and informing them of available resources for dispute resolution. Patients also have the right to consent
to or decline participation in research studies and to be informed of hospital policies, charges, and
payment methods. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care and is encouraged to
obtain relevant, current, and understandable information concerning diagnosis, treatment, and
prognosis from physicians and other direct caregivers. Except in emergencies when the patient lacks
decision-making capacity and the need for treatment is urgent, the patient is entitled to the opportunity
to discuss and request information related to specific procedures and/or treatments, the risks involved,
the possible length of recuperation, and the medically reasonable alternatives and their accompanying
risks and benefits.

INFORMED CONSENT

Informed consent in healthcare is a process where providers inform patients about the risks, benefits,
and alternatives of a procedure or intervention. It is a critical component of patient-centered care,
ensuring that patients are fully informed participants in their healthcare decisions. The patient must be
competent and able to voluntarily decide whether to proceed. This process is both an ethical and legal
requirement for medical practitioners in the US. The right to informed consent stems from the patient's
right to control what happens to their body. It includes assessing the patient's understanding, making a
recommendation, and documenting the process. The Joint Commission mandates documenting all
elements of informed consent. Required documentation includes the nature of the procedure, risks and
benefits, reasonable alternatives, risks and benefits of alternatives, and an assessment of the patient's
understanding. Providers must ensure patients feel included in the decision-making process and avoid
coercion. They must make a recommendation and provide their reasoning.

DATA PRIVACY LAW

The Data Privacy Act penalizes acts that put personal data at risk, such as unauthorized entry and
processing, improper disposal of sensitive personal information, intentional breach, or harmful
disclosures. Health information is regarded by many as one of the most confidential types of personal
information. The Data Privacy Act applies to the dealing out of all kinds of data if it is done by a
Philippine citizen, in Philippine residence, or any group or individual with links to the Philippines.
Personal information is defined as any information that enables the person holding it to identify directly
and reasonably an individual. The Act covers personal data, sensitive personal information, and
privileged information, which includes health-related information. It establishes the scope of protection,
ensuring that health data falls under the purview of the law. The Act also sets forth principles governing
the processing of personal information, including health data. Transparency requires the data subject to
be aware of the nature, purpose, and extent of the processing of his or her personal data, including the
risks and safeguards involved, the identity of the personal information controller, his or her rights as a
data subject, and how these can be exercised. Legitimate purpose entails that the processing of
information shall be compatible with a declared and specified purpose which must not be contrary to
law, morals, or public policy. Proportionality requires the processing of information shall be adequate,
relevant, suitable, necessary, and not excessive in relation to a declared and specified purpose.