NEW RULES FOR NURSE EXAM SET
By Shianee Mamanglu
February 5, 2010

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) is set to 
issue new guidelines for the convenience of all graduating 
students in nursing.

The new rules include the implementation of a separate 
deadline for nursing board repeaters, new schedules for 
the nursing licensure examination and the zoning scheme 
for board takers.

We are coming out with the schedule this early to guide 
those graduating this March, Dr. Ruth Padilla, PRC 
Commissioner, said in an interview.

These (innovations) are all for the convenience of the 
applicants. They all reflect the recommendations of the 
Board of Nursing, the deans of nursing colleges all over 
the country and the Commission, she added.

Instead of June and November, she said the nursing board 
for 2010 will be conducted on July 3 and 4 and on Dec. 12 
and 13 to allow the graduates to complete their documents 
after their commencement exercises.

The zoning scheme, which was pilot-tested in Angeles 
City and San Fernando, La Union in 2009, will also be in 
full swing this year, according to Padilla.

She said more schools have expressed interest to help in 
the registration of applicants for the nursing board.

As to the deadline for repeaters, Padilla said the Board is 
yet to come up with the date but is already certain there 
will be a separate cut-off date for them.

She said the PRC will issue all colleges in nursing with the 
new schedules.

It will also publish the new guidelines for the information of 
everybody.

Moreover, Padilla said the Commission is also planning to 
have all applications for the nursing exam made online to 
facilitate transfer of records and avoid as well the 
hassles of travelling and spending for both the applicants 
and the PRC staff.