Philippine Nursing Law Overview

What are the three essential characteristics of law?

What is the definition of the term "law" as related to nursing?

What is Nursing Jurisprudence?

What are the two main functions of law in the nursing profession?

The first Nursing Law in the Philippines was passed in 1915.

The first board examination for nurses in the Philippines was held in 1920.

Republic Act 877 was passed in 1953 and regulated nursing practice in the Philippines.

What is the reason for designating the last week of October as Nurses' Week in the Philippines?

Republic Act 7164, passed in 1991, replaced Republic Act 4704.

Republic Act 9173, known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, replaced Republic Act 7164.

What are the legal liabilities that a nurse might encounter in their profession?

What is the main source of legal guidance for nurses in the Philippines?

Nurses are expected to be familiar with the Philippine Nursing Law, standards of nursing care, and other related laws that affect their practice, and their code of ethics.

Nurses working in institutions or hospitals directly report to their supervisor.

Private duty nurses are independent practitioners and are held to the same standard of conduct as nurses working in institutions or hospitals.

What does the term "responsibility" refer to in the context of nursing?

What does the term "accountability" refer to in the context of nursing?

What is "liability" in the context of nursing?

What is "professional negligence" in the context of nursing?

Which of the following is NOT an element of professional negligence?

What does the term "malpractice" usually imply in the context of nursing?

Who is authorized to prescribe drugs in the Philippines according to R.A. 6675?

A prescription for drugs must always include the patient's name, age, sex, and the date of the prescription.

According to R.A. 6675, drugs should be written in their generic names in prescriptions.

A nurse can legally follow verbal orders from a physician if they are clear and specific and the physician has signed the corresponding document.

A nurse is ethically obligated to carry out a physician's order even if they believe it may harm the patient.

Before administering any medication, a nurse must understand the action of the drug, its minimum and maximum dosages, the route of administration, and possible side effects.

A nurse is obligated to explain tests and treatments to the patient so they can understand the procedure and provide informed consent.

Any unfavorable psychological or physical reaction to treatment must be immediately reported to the physician for appropriate action.

Patients have the right to refuse medical treatment, even if the refusal may have negative consequences for their health.

Telephone orders pose legal risks because they can be misunderstood or misinterpreted and lack the physician's signature for verification.

Nurses who administer intravenous therapy do not need special training and can give injections according to established protocol.

If a nurse is administering intravenous therapy, they are only obligated to follow the policies established by their agency.

A nurse is not legally obligated to conduct intravenous therapy if the hospital does not allow them to do so.

According to the Board of Nursing Resolution No. 8, any registered nurse who administers intravenous injections without specific training is liable for either criminal or administrative charges, or both, even if no injury or death occurs.

What is informed consent in the context of medical and surgical procedures?

What are the three essential elements of informed consent?

Consent for medical or surgical procedures can only be obtained at the time of admission.

Consent for initial assessment and treatment upon admission can be given by the patient, their legal guardian, or their authorized representative.

If a patient is unconscious and requires emergency medical care, consent for the procedure is not required.

The patient must be fully informed about the procedure and treatment, including the potential risks and consequences, before they can provide informed consent.

The intentional touching or unlawful beating of another person without authorization is a form of battery.

Who is typically responsible for obtaining informed consent from a patient?

It is legal for a nurse to perform procedures or administer treatment without obtaining informed consent if the patient is over 18 years old.

A signed consent form from a patient at the time of admission covers all subsequent procedures and treatments.

A patient can legally refuse any medical treatment without providing a reason.

If a patient refuses to consent to a medical or surgical procedure, a nurse should try to convince them to change their mind.

A patient can legally refuse a blood transfusion if they have religious beliefs against it.

The legal framework in the Philippines requires a signed, individualized consent form for procedures such as x-rays, blood transfusions, operations, cobalt therapy, or chemotherapy.

The person giving consent for procedures on a minor can be the minor's parent or guardian.

A minor can legally consent to a medical procedure if they are married or emancipated.

A mentally incompetent person can legally consent to medical or surgical procedures.

In emergency situations, consent for immediate medical treatment is not required as inaction in such situations could cause greater harm.

A patient can legally refuse a medical or surgical procedure, even if there is a significant risk to their life or health, if they are of legal age and sound mind.

Nurses are required to provide information beyond diagnosis and the explanation of the condition to ensure a patient's informed consent.

Sterilization is the permanent termination of the ability to produce offspring and requires consent from both the patient and their legal guardian.

In cases of abruptioplacenta, ectopic pregnancies, or ruptured uterus, where sterilization is medically necessary and an incidental outcome, the patient's consent alone is sufficient; consent from the legal guardian or partner is not required.

Medical records are valuable only for legal purposes.

Medical records serve as a legal protection for hospitals, doctors, and nurses by documenting the patient's condition and treatment.

Nurses are expected to record only medications and treatments given, not observations, in patient's medical records.

Patient records are not confidential and can be accessed by anyone who requests them.

Nurses must gain permission from hospital authorities before accessing a patient's chart for any information.

Nursing students in the Philippines are fully responsible for the quality of care they provide during their clinical rotations and are held to the same standards as registered nurses.

Nursing students are never expected to perform procedures for the first time without their clinical instructor present.

A nursing student should seek guidance from their clinical instructor if they are uncertain about a procedure.

Frequent assessment of nursing students' performance during clinical rotations helps identify their strengths and weaknesses, allowing for improvement.

Regular conferences with nursing students during clinical rotations provide a space for open discussions about their experiences and potential challenges. This helps address any doubts or concerns and promotes effective learning.

When a clinical instructor countersigns a student's chart, they are verifying that they have personally reviewed the information and that it is accurate and authentic.

What is the primary purpose of incident reports?

An incident report indicates that a mistake has been made.

The term "nonmaleficence" refers to the principle of "do no harm".

The principle of "nonmaleficence" encompasses physical, psychological, social, mental, spiritual, and symbolic harm to a patient.

The principle of "nonmaleficence" is a positive action.

According to Hippocrates, what is the primary ethical duty of a healthcare provider?

The principle of "beneficence" emphasizes doing good and preventing or removing harm.

In healthcare, "beneficence" involves actions that benefit the patient, such as providing care and compassion.

Beneficence is an extraordinary action that is only undertaken in extreme circumstances.

The urgency for taking action based on beneficence should be proportionate to the relationship between the doer and the person at risk.

What is law?

What is nursing jurisprudence?

What are the functions of law in nursing?

When did the first Philippine law related to nursing exist?

What is the significance of R.A. 877?

What is Act 2808?

What is the current law governing nursing practice in the Philippines?

When does a nurse's legal responsibility commence?

What does having a nursing license signify?

What does responsibility mean for a nurse?

What is accountability in nursing?

What is liability for a nurse?

What is professional negligence?

What is malpractice?

What is the rule regarding medical orders for a nurse?

Why should verbal medical orders be limited?

When is consent not always needed in healthcare?

What are the nurse's responsibilities regarding medications?

What is consent?

What is informed consent?

Why is written consent important?

Who gives consent for medical treatment?

Does consent for minors always come from their parents?

How does consent differ for mentally incompetent persons?

What are the key considerations for a nurse administering IV injections?

What is the nurse's responsibility regarding patient records?

What is important for nurses to document?

What are the responsibilities of nursing students?

What are the guidelines for tasks performed by nursing students?

What is respondeat superior?

What is the rationale behind respondeat superior?

What is the purpose of tort law?