Section 4November 21, 1991, Sec./Art. 4

Power and Duties of the Board. – The Board shall have following powers, duties and functions:

(a) Supervise and regulate the practice of the nursing profession;

(b) Describe the subjects in the licensure examination, determine the syllabi of the subjects, and their relative weight, construct the test questions, in the licensure examination, and score and rate the examination paper. The Board shall within one hundred twenty (120) days after the examination, submit a report of the examination result which shall contain the weighted average rating of each examinee to the Office of the President for release and publication;

(c) Issue, suspend, or revoke certificates of registration for the practice of nursing;

(d) Study the condition affecting the nursing practice in the Philippines and exercise the powers necessary to ensure the maintenance of efficient, ethical, technical, moral and professional standards in the practice of nursing, taking into account the health needs of the nation;

(e) Examine the prescribed facilities of universities or colleges seeking permission to open colleges of nursing or departments of nursing education in order to ensure that standards and essential requirements for a qualified dean and faculty and adequate budget are property complied with and maintained at all times. The authorization to open colleges of nursing shall be based upon the favorable written recommendation of both the Board and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports;

(f) Require nurses who graduate from state colleges and universities to render, after being issued the necessary board licenses, at least one (1) year of nursing service in the Philippines before they are allowed to leave for overseas jobs;

(g) Investigate violations of this Act. For this purpose it may through its Chairman, with the approval of the Board, issue summons, subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to violators of this Act and witnesses thereof and to compel their attendance by the power of contempt; and

(h) Promulgate decisions or adopt measures as may be necessary for the improvement of the nursing practice, for the advancement of the profession, and for the proper and full enforcement of this Act.