ROLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE AND HISTORY

Prepared by: QKCC

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PUBLIC HEALTH WORKER (PHW)

PHW-member of the health team who are professionals, namely:

- Medical officer (MO)

- PHN (RN)
- Rural health midwife (RHM),RM
- Dentist
- Nutritionist
- Medtech
- Pharmacist
- Rural sanitary inspector (RSI)-must be a sanitary engineer
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TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER

Efficient

Efficient
plans with the people, organizes, conducts, directs health
education activities according to the needs of the community
knowledgeable about everything relevant to his practice; has the
necessary skills expected of him

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TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER

Good listener

• hears what’s being said and what’s behind the words

• always available for the participant to voice out their
sentiments and needs

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TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER

Keen observer

keep an eye on the proceedings, process and participants’

behavior

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TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER

Systematic

knows how to put in sequence or logical order the parts of the

session

Creative/Resourceful

uses available resources

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TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER

Analytical/Critical thinker

decides on what has been analyzed

Tactful

brings about issues in smooth subtle manner

does not embarrass but gives constructive criticisms
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TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER

Knowledgeable

able to impart relevant, updated and sufficient input

Open

invites ideas, suggestions, criticisms

involves people in decision making
accepts need for joint planning and decision relative to health
care in a particular situation; not resistant to change 8
TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER

Sense of humor

knows how to place a touch of humor to keep

audience alive

Change agent

involves participants actively in assuming the responsibility

for his own learning
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TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER

brings into consonance of harmony the community’s

Coordinator
health care activities

Objective unbiased and fair in decision making

Flexible able to cope with different situations

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ROLES OF THE PHN
Clinician
-health care provider, taking care of the sick people at home or at
the RHU

Health educator
- Aims toward health promotion & illness prevention

Facilitator
- Established multi-factoral linkages

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ROLES OF THE PHN

Collaborator
- Work with other health care team

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OTHER SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF A
NURSE, SPELLED BY THE IMPLEMENTING
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF RA 7164
(PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 1991) INCLUDES:

Supervision and care of women during pregnancy, labor and

puerperium

Performance of internal examination and delivery of babies

Suturing lacerations in the absence of a physician

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OTHER SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF A
NURSE, SPELLED BY THE IMPLEMENTING
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF RA 7164
(PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 1991) INCLUDES:

Provision of first aid measures and emergency care

Recommending herbal and symptomatic meds…etc

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OTHER SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF A
NURSE, SPELLED BY THE IMPLEMENTING
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF RA 7164
(PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 1991) INCLUDES:

In the care of the families

Provision of primary health care services

Developmental/Utilization of family nursing care plan in the

provision of care
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OTHER SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF A
NURSE, SPELLED BY THE IMPLEMENTING
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF RA 7164
(PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 1991) INCLUDES:

In the care of the communities:

Community organizing mobilization, community development and

people empowerment

Case finding and epidemiological investigation

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OTHER SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF A
NURSE, SPELLED BY THE IMPLEMENTING
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF RA 7164
(PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 1991) INCLUDES:

In the care of the communities:

Program planning, implementation and evaluation

Influencing executive and legislative individuals or bodies

concerning health and development
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHN

be a part in developing an overall health plan, its implementation

and evaluation for communities

provide quality nursing services to the three levels of clientele

maintain coordination/linkages with other health team members,

NGO/government agencies in the provision of public health services

conduct researches relevant to CHN services to improve provision

of health care

provide opportunities for professional growth and continuing

education for staff development 18
BRIEF HISTORY
Date Event
1901
Act # 157 (Board of Health of the Philippines);
Act # 309 (Provincial and Municipal Boards of
Health) were created.

1905
Board of Health was abolished; functions were
transferred to the Bureau of Health.
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• 1912
• Act # 2156 or Fajardo Act created the Sanitary
Divisions, the forerunners of present MHOs;
male nurses performs the functions of doctors
• 1919
• Act # 2808 (Nurses Law was created) – Carmen
del Rosario, 1st Filipino Nurse supervisor under
Bureau of Health

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BRIEF HISTORY
Oct. 22, 1922
Filipino Nurses Organization (Philippine Nurses’
Organization) was organized.

1923
Zamboanga General Hospital School of Nursing & Baguio
General Hospital were established; other government
schools of nursing were organized several years after.

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• 1928
• 1st Nursing convention was held

• 1940
• Manila Health Department was created.

• 1941
• Dr. Mariano Icasiano became the first city health officer;
Office of Nursing was created through the effort of
Vicenta Ponce (chief nurse) and Rosario Ordiz
(assistant chief nurse)
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BRIEF HISTORY
Dec. 8, 1941
Victims of World War II were treated by the nurses of
Manila.

July 1942
Nursing Office was created; Dr. Eusebio Aguilar helped
in the release of 31 Filipino nurses in Bilibid Prison as
prisoners of war by the Japanese.

Feb. 1946
Number of nurses decreased from 556 – 308. 23
• 1948
• First training center of the Bureau of Health was
organized by the Pasay City Health Department.
Trinidad Gomez, Marcela Gabatin, Costancia
Tuazon, Ms. Bugarin, Ms. Ramos, and Zenaida
Nisce composed the training staff.

• 1950
• Rural Health Demonstration and Training Center
was created.
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BRIEF HISTORY

1953
The first 81 rural health units were organized.

1957
RA 1891 amended some sections of RA
1082 and created the eight categories of
rural health unit causing an increase in the
demand for the community health personnel.
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• 1958-1965
• Division of Nursing was abolished
(RA 977) and Reorganization Act
(EO 288)
• 1961
• Annie Sand organized the National
League of Nurses of DOH.
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1967
• Zenaida Nisce became the nursing
program supervisor and consultant on
the six special diseases (TB, leprosy,
V.D., cancer, filariasis, and mental
health illness).

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BRIEF HISTORY

1975
Scope of responsibility of nurses and
midwives became wider due to restructuring
of the health care delivery system.

1976-1986
The need for Rural Health Practice Program
was implemented.
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1990- 1992
• Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160)

1993-1998
• Office of Nursing did not materialize in spite
of persistent recommendation of the
officers, board members, and advisers of
the National League of Nurses Inc.

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BRIEF HISTORY
Jan. 1999

Nelia Hizon was positioned as the nursing adviser at the

Office of Public Health Services through Department
Order # 29.

May 24, 1999

EO # 102, which redirects the functions and operations of

DOH, was signed by former President Joseph Estrada.
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• END of HISTORY! ☺

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