Chapter 11: STANDARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURISNG IN THE PHILIPPINES 2006 Nursing standard are the expression of our

professional autonomy, responsibility and accountability. Thus, they are the core of our continuing effort to provide quality nursing care and service. In the context involve the public health system; the need to come up with professional practice standards has become more urgent. These standards of public health nursing practice are not absolute prescription but can serve to inform and guide decision making and policy making in local government unit. Empowered nurses then could improve their nursing practice and consequently contribute to the improvement in the image of nurses and nursing in the country. DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS: PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING refer to the practice of nursing in local/national health department which include health centers and rural health units and public schools. COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING is broader than public health nursing because it encompasses nursing practice in wide variety of community service and consumer advocate areas and in variety of roles, at time including independent practice community nursing is certainly not confined to public health nursing agencies. PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE refer to the nurse in the local health department whether department their official position title is Public Health Nurse or Nurse or School Nurse. NURSING SERVICE is a separate and distinct unit of the local health agency/unit which is composed of nurse, midwives and auxilaries such as barangay health workers, nursing aides and volunteers. A STANDARD is a desired and achievable level of performance against which actual practice is compared. Standards are benchmark against which to plan, implement and assess quality of service and to show that nursing is accountable to society, to consumer of nursing service and to government as well as to the profession of nursing itself and individual members. A CRITERION is an objective, measurable, relevant and flexible indicator related to performance, behavior, circumstances or clinical status. QUALIFICATION AND FUNCTION OF THE PHN A. The PHN has the professional, personal and other qualification that are appropriate to her/his job responsibilities.

B. The PHN perform function and activities in accordance with the dominant values of the public health nurse, within the professional ethicolegal framework and in accordance with needs of the client and available resource for health care. C. The PHN, in coordination with the faculty of colleges of nursing participates in teaching, guidance and supervision of student in nursing midwifery for their related learning experience (RLE) in the community setting. NURSING PROCESS: A. The PHN establish a working relationship to help ensure good quality data and to facilitate on enhance partnership in addressing identified health needs and problems B. The PHN systematically collect =s data that are appropriate and accurate. C. The PHN recognize the broad impact of certain factors on the clients health and nursing problem such as political climate, the clients and/or the agencys financial capability, clients values and culture, and their readiness or willingness to do something about their problems. D. The PHN analyzes data collected about the community, family and individual to determine the diagnosis. E. The PHN formulates a nursing /community diagnosis. F. The PHN develops jointly with the client a nursing care plan or program plan for the priority nursing problem G. The PHN implements the nursing care plan/program plan to promote, maintain, or restore health, to prevent illness, to effect rehabilitation and to improve the capability of client. H. The PHN evaluates the responses of her/his clients to intervention in order to revise data base, diagnose and plan, and to formulate recommendations. HEALTH PROMOTION AND HEALTH EDUCATION A. The PHN recognize the role of healthy lifestyle in the prevention of a number of health problem and integrate healthy lifestyle in the different health program. B. The PHN plans, conducts and evaluates health promotion and health education activities properly. C. The PHN demonstrates knowledge and skills on: (a) how to advocate for healthy public policy, (b) creating supportive environment, (c) strengthening community action, and (d) developing clients personal skills.

D. The PHN actively works to build capacity for health promotion among the midwives, volunteer health workers and community partners. ANNEX B SECTION 1: This Act shall be known as the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers SECTION 2: Declaration of Policy and Objectives The State shall instill health consciousness among our people to effectively carry out the health programs and project of the government essential for the growth and health of the nation. SECTION 3: Definition - For purpose of this Act, health workers shall mean all person who are engaged in health and health-related work, and all persons employed in all hospital. SECTION 4: Recruitment and Qualification Recruitment policy and minimum requirement with respect to the selection and appointment of a public health SECTION 5: Performance Evaluation and Merit Promotion SECTION 6: Transfer or Geographical Reassignment of Public Health Workers. SECTION 7: Married Public Health Workers SECTION 8: Security of Tenure SECTION 9: Discrimination Prohibited SECTION 10: No Understaffing/Overloading of Health Staff SECTION 11: Administrative Charges SECTION 12: Safeguard in Disciplinary Procedure SECTION 13: Duties and Obligation SECTION 14: Code of Conduct SECTION15: Normal Hours of Work SECTION 16: Overtime Work SECTION 17: Work During Rest Day SECTION 18: Night-Shift Differential SECTION 19: Salaries SECTION 20: Additional Compensation SECTION 21: Hazard Allowance SECTION 22: Subsitence Allowance SECTION 23: Longevity Pay SECTION 24: Laundry Allowance SECTION 25: Remote Assignment Allowance SECTION 26: Housing SECTION 27: Medical Examination SECTION 28: Compensation for Injuries SECTION 29: Leave Benefits for Public Health Worker SECTION 30: Higher Basic Salary Upon Retirement SECTION 31: Right to Self-Organization SECTION 32: Freedom from Interference of Coercion SECTION 33: Health Human Resources Development/Management Study SECTION 35: Rules and Regulations SECTION 36: Prohibition Against Double Recovery of Benefits SECTION 37: Prohibition Against Elimination and Diminution SECTION 38: Budgetary Estaimates

SECTION SECTION SECTION SECTION

39: 40: 41: 42:

Penal Vision Seperability Clause Repealing Clause Effectivity