Competency

Standards for Nursing

Practice in the
Philippines
-The board of nursing created the committee on
core competency standards development in
collaboration with the commission on higher
education technical committee on nursing
education with the primary goal to develop the
competency standards for nursing practice in
the country.

-the committee was composed of leaders from

nursing education,nursing practice and nursing
regulation.
 Legal Basis
Article 3 Sec 9 of RA 9173 known as the
“Philippine Nursing Act of 2002” states that the
board shall monitor and enforce quality standards
of nursing practice necessary to ensure the
maintenance of efficient, ethical and technical,
moral and professional standards in the practice
of nursing taking into account the health needs of
the nation.

It is incumbent upon the board of nursing

therefore to take the lead in the development and
implementation of the competency standards to
warrant the health of the public, maintain public
trust and promote the integrity of the nursing
profession.
 The Naturalistic Model: Phases of
Developing Competency Standards

First phase: identifying the competencies

through Developing A Curriculum (DACUM)
workshop and a series of focus group
discussions with the participation of nurse
experts, and consumers of nursing practice
such as administrator, doctors and clients
Second phase: verification of the identified
competencies among nursing experts from the
different regions of the country.
Third phase: was pilot testing the competencies
among senior nursing students of eight colleges of
nursing
Fourth phase: was benchmarking with existing
standards from 3 countries as well as with the
International Council of Nurses
This model was adopted from the
Naturalistic Model in Curriculum
Development which was developed by
Decker Walker
 Significance of the Core Competency
Standards
Competency standards will serve as a unifying framework for
nursing education, regulation and practice.
It will serve as:
1. A guide in developing curriculum in nursing
2. A framework in developing test syllabus for entrants into the
nursing profession
3.A tool for performance evaluation among nurses
4.A basis for advanced practice and specialization
5. A framework for developing a training curriculum for nurses
6. To protect the public from incompetent practitioners
7. A yardstick for unethical and unprofessional practice of
nursing
 The Core Competences for the Entry-Level
1. Safe and quality nursing care
2. Management of resources and environment
3. Health education
4. Legal responsibility
5. Ethico-moral responsibility
6. Personal and professional development
7. Quality improvement
8. Research
9. Record management
10.Communication
 KEY AREAS OF
RESPONSIBILITY, CORE
COMPETENCIES AND
INDICATORS
 KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY, CORE COMPETENCIES AND INDICATORS

KEY AREA OF CORE COMPETENCY INDICATORS

RESPONSIBILITY

A. SAFE AND QUALITY 1. Demonstrates knowledge base •Identifies the health needs of the
NURSING CARE on the health/illness status of patients/groups
individual/groups. •Explains the health status of the
patients/groups.
2. Provides sound decision •Identifies the problem
making on the care of individuals •Gathers data related to the problem
considering their beliefs and •Analyzes the data gathered
values.
•Selects appropriate action
•Monitors the progress of the action taken

3. Promotes safety and comfort of •Performs age-specific safety and comfort

patients measures in all aspects of patient care

4. Sets priorities in nursing care •Identifies the priority needs of patients

based on patients’ needs •Analyzes the needs of patients
•Determines appropriate nursing care to be
provided

5. Ensures continuity of care •Refers identified problem to appropriate

individuals/agencies
•Establishes means of providing continuous
patient care

6. Administers medications and •Conforms to the 10 golden rules in medication

other health therapeutics administration and health therapeutics.
 KEY AREA OF CORE COMPETENCY INDICATORS
RESPONSIBILITY
7. Utilizes the nursing process as •Obtains consent
framework for nursing •Completes appropriate assessment forms
•Performs comprehensive and •Performs effective assessment techniques
systematic nursing assessment •Obtains comprehensive client information
•Maintains privacy and confidentiality
•Identifies health needs

8. Formulates a plan of care in •Includes patient and his family in care

collaboration with patients and planning
other members of the health team •States expected outcomes of nursing
intervention
•Develops comprehensive patient care plan
•Accomplishes patient centered discharged
plan
9. Implements planned nursing •Explains interventions to patients and his
care to achieve identified family before carrying them out
outcomes •Implements nursing intervention that is
safe and comfortable
•Acts according to client’s health condition
and needs
•Performs nursing activities effectively and
in a timely manners
10. Evaluates progress toward •Monitors effectiveness of nsg interventions
expected outcomes •Revises care plan when necessary
11. Responds to the urgency of the •Identifies sudden changes in the px’s
patients condition health conditions.
•Implements immediate and appropriate
intervention.
KEY AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY CORE COMPETENCY INDICATORS

B. MANAGEMENT OF 1. Organizes workload to facilitate •Identifies tasks of activities that need

RESOURCES AND patient care to be accomplished
ENVIRONMENT •Plans the performance of tasks or
activities based on priorities
•Finishes work assignment on time

2. Utilizes resources to support •Determines the resources needed to

patient care deliver patient care
•Controls the use of supplies and
equipment
3. Ensures functioning of resources •Checks proper functioning of
equipment
•Refers malfunctioning equipment to
appropriate unit

4. Checks proper functioning of •Determines tasks and procedures that

equipment can be safely assigned to other member
of the team
•Verifies the competency of the staff
prior to delegating tasks

5. Maintains a safe environment •Observes proper disposal of wastes

•Adheres policies, protocols on
prevention of control of infection
•Defines steps to follow in case of
emergency situations
KEY AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY CORE COMPETENCY INDICATORS

C. HEALTH EDUCATION 1. Assesses the learning needs of the •Obtains learning information through
patient and family interview,observation and validation
•Defines relevant information

2. Develops health education plan •Considers nature of learner in relation

based on assessed and anticipated to social,cultural,political,economic,
needs educational and religious factors

3. Develops learning materials for •Involves the patient, family, significant

health education others
•Provides for feedback to finalize the
plan

4. Implements the health education •Provides for a conducive learning

plan. situation in terms of time and place
•Considers client and family’s
preparedness
•Monitors clients’ response to health
education

5. Evaluates the outcome of health •Utilizes evaluation parameters

education •Documents outcomes of care
•Revises health education plan when
necessary
 KEY AREA OF CORE COMPETENCY INDICATORS
RESPONSIBILITY
D. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY 1. Adheres to practices in •Fulfills legal requirements in nsg practice
accordance with the nsg law •Holds current professional license
and other relevant legislation •Complies w/ required continuing
including contracts and professional education
informed consent
•Confirms given by the doctor for informed
consent
2. Adheres to organizational policies •Articulates the vision,mission of the
and procedures in local and national institution where one belongs
3. Documents care rendered to px •Utilizes appropriate px care records and
reports
E. ETHICO-MORAL 1. Respects the rights of individuals •Renders nsg care consistent w/ the px bill
RESPONSIBILITY of rights
2. Accepts responsibility and •Meets nsg accountability requirement as
accountability for own decisions and embodied in the job description
actions •Justifies basis for nsg actions and
judgment
3. Adheres to the national and •Adheres to the Code of Ethics for Nurses
international code of ethics for and abides by its provision
nurses
F. PERSONAL AND 1. Identifies own learning needs •Verbalizes strengths, weakness, limitations
PROFESSIONAL DEV’T •Determines personal and professional
goals and aspirations
2. Pursues continuing education •Participates in formal and non formal
education
•Applies learned information for the
improvement of care
3. Gets involved in professional •Participates actively in
organizations and civic activities professional,social,civic and religious
activities
KEY AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY CORE COMPETENCY INDICATORS
4. Projects a professional image of the •Demonstrates GMRC at all times
nurse •Dresses appropriately
•Demonstrates congruence of words and
actions
•Behaves appropriately at all times
G. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT 1. Gathers data for quality improvement •Demonstrates knowledge of method
appropriate for the problems identified
•Reports necessary elements of the
bedside to improve px stay at hospital
•Solicits feedback
2. Participates in nsg audits and rounds •Contributes relevant info about px
condition as well as unit condition and px
current reactions
•Shares w/ the team current info about the
px condition
•Encourage the px to speak about what is
relevant to his condition
•Performs daily check of px
records/condition
•Completes px records
3. Identifies and reports variances •Documents observed variance regarding
px care and submits to appropriate group
within 24 hours
•Identifies actual and potential variance to
patient care
4. Recommends solutions to identified •Gives appropriate suggestions on
problems corrective and preventive measures
•Communicates and discusses w/
appropriate groups
KEY AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY CORE COMPETENCY INDICATORS
H. RESEARCH 1. Gathers data using different •Identifies researchable problems
methodologies regarding px care and community
health
•Identifies appropriate methods of
research for a particular px/community
problem
•Combines quantitative and qualitative
nsg design thru simple explanation on
the phenomena observed
•Analyzes data gathered
2. Recommends actions for •Based on the analysis of data gathered,
implementations recommends practical solutions
appropriate for the problem
3. Disseminates results of research •Communicates results of findings to
findings colleagues, px, and significant others
•Submits research findings to own
agencies and others as appropriate
4. Applies research findings in nsg •Utilizes findings in research in the care
practice to individuals
I. RECORDS MANAGEMENT 1. Maintains accurate and updated •Completes updated documentation of
documentation of px care px care
2. Records outcome of px care •Utilizes a record system ex. Kardex or
HIS

3. Observes legal imperatives in •Observes confidentiality and privacy of

record keeping px records
•Maintains an organized system of
filling and keeping px records in a
designated area
KEY AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY CORE COMPETENCY INDICATORS
J. COMMUNICATION 1. Establishes rapport w/ patient, •Creates trust and confidence
significant others and other •Listens to client’s queries and requests
members of the health team •Spends time w/ the client to allow them
express concerns
2. Identifies verbal and non verbal •Interprets and validates client’s body
cues language and facial expressions
3. Utilizes formal and informal •Makes use of available usual aids
channels
4. Responds to needs of individuals, •Provides reassurance through
family, group, community therapeutic touch , warmth and
comforting words of encouragement
•Readily smiles
5. Uses appropriate info tech to •Utilizes telephone, email, internet and
facilitate communication informatics
•Provides “holding” or emergency
numbers for services
K. COLLABORATION AND 1. Establishes collaborative •Contributes to decision making
TEAMWORK relationship w/ colleagues and other •Participates actively in px care mgt
members of the health team •Respect other members
2. Collaborates plan of care w/ other •Refers px to allied health team partners
members of the health team •Acts as patient’s liason or advocate
•Prepares accurate documentations for
efficient communication services