Public Health Nursing in the Philippines – Core Vocabulary

A set of 75 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, laws, roles, programs and structures related to public health nursing and the Philippine health care system.

Section of Public Health Nursing

Unit created in 1927 within the Philippine Health Service to oversee public health nursing activities.

Mrs. Genara de Guzman

Key Filipino nurse leader; first Chief of the Division of Nursing (1947) and advocate for a DOH Nursing Office.

Reorganization Act No. 4007

1933 law that moved Maternal & Child Health services to the Bureau of Health, reshaping nursing supervision.

Division of Nursing

Central DOH division (1947-1958) responsible for policy, education, public health and staff development in nursing.

Executive Order No. 94 (1947)

Order that reorganized government offices, creating the DOH Division of Nursing directly under the Secretary.

Nursing Division

Renamed Section of Nursing (1930) that guided hospital, public-health, and educational nursing services.

Rural Health Demonstration and Training Center (RHDTC)

WHO/UNICEF-assisted Quezon City field lab (1950) for training health workers in community settings.

Office of Health Education and Personnel Training

1953 DOH office (forerunner of Health Manpower Development Service) focusing on staff development.

Republic Act No. 1082

1953 Rural Health Law that created the first 81 Rural Health Units with core health teams.

Rural Health Unit (RHU)

City/municipal primary-care facility staffed by a physician, nurse, midwife, sanitary inspector and clerk.

Republic Act 1891

1957 law that expanded RA 1082, creating eight RHU categories and more nurse/midwife posts.

Executive Order 288 (1959)

De-centralized health services into regional offices and integrated preventive-curative programs.

Regional Nurse Supervisor

Position created in 1959 to oversee hospital nursing within a DOH regional health office.

Supervising Public Health Nurse (SPHN)

Provincial-level nurse who supervises RHU nurses and district hospital chief nurses.

Bureau of Health and Medical Services

Merged bureau (1959) combining preventive and curative DOH functions, including nursing programs.

Nursing Program Supervisor

Senior Nurse VI role managing disease-specific programs and supervising regional implementation.

Bureau of Disease Control

DOH bureau where nurses supervise programs on TB, leprosy, cancer, STDs, filariasis and mental health.

Rizal Operations Research

WHO-assisted 1970s study that redefined roles of RHU team members and expanded nurse duties.

Rural Health Practice Program

1976-1986 service requirement sending new MDs and nurses to rural areas before licensure.

Nursing Consultant

Top DOH nursing adviser position responsible for policy, representation and issue resolution.

Executive Order No. 119 (1987)

Reorganized Ministry back to Department of Health; clustered services into four main offices.

Nurse VI

Civil-service grade for senior Nursing Program Supervisors at DOH central and regional levels.

Noncommunicable Disease Control Service (NCDCS)

DOH office where nurses lead cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes and disability prevention programs.

Communicable Disease Control Service (CDCS)

Service where nurses plan, train and monitor leprosy, STD, rabies, filariasis and dengue control.

Community Health Service

DOH office overseeing primary-health-care planning; staffed by nurse program supervisors.

Department Order No. 29 (1999)

DOH order naming a Nursing Adviser to channel all matters affecting nurses and nursing.

Executive Order No. 102 (1999)

Redirected DOH functions toward policy, regulation and technical assistance post-devolution.

Rationalization Plan

Ongoing program (2005-2006) to streamline DOH bureaucracy and redistribute nursing posts.

Health Sector Reform Agenda (HSRA)

1999-2004 blueprint for improving financing, regulation, local systems, public health and hospitals.

Public Health Nurse (PHN)

Registered nurse delivering promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative care in communities.

Management function (PHN)

Planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling nursing or program services.

Supervisory function (PHN)

Guiding midwives and auxiliaries via planned visits, coaching and performance evaluation.

Nursing care function

Using the nursing process to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for individuals, families or communities.

Health promotion and education function

PHN role creating supportive environments and empowering clients through teaching.

Collaboration and coordination function

Building linkages with agencies, NGOs, LGUs and sectors to address community health needs.

Nursing Law 2002

Philippine legislation defining scope, standards and ethical-legal framework of nursing practice.

Sentrong Sigla Program

DOH quality-assurance initiative providing supervisory tools and checklists for health facilities.

National League of Philippine Government Nurses (NLPGN)

Professional group founded 1961; author of 2005 Standards of Public Health Nursing.

Standards of Public Health Nursing 2005

NLPGN document outlining qualifications, functions and competencies of PHNs.

Primary Health Care (PHC)

Essential, universally accessible care delivered with community participation at affordable cost.

Four Cornerstones of PHC

Active community participation, inter-sectoral linkages, appropriate technology, support mechanisms.

Barangay Health Worker (BHW)

Trained community volunteer serving as front-line village health helper in PHC.

Program Manager (PHN role)

Nurse responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating specific public-health programs.

Home visit

PHN activity providing assessment, education and care in clients’ residences.

Referral system

Structured transfer of clients to appropriate service levels for problems beyond PHN scope.

Philippine Health Care Delivery System

Framework of public and private sectors providing services at national and local levels.

Public Sector

Tax-funded national and LGU facilities offering largely free health services at point of care.

Private Sector

For-profit and non-profit providers delivering market-oriented, fee-for-service health care.

Department of Health (DOH)

Lead national agency for health policy, regulation, and selected service administration.

Local Government Units (LGUs)

Provincial, city and municipal governments responsible for devolved health services.

Local Health Board

LGU advisory body on health, chaired by the local chief executive.

Specialty hospitals

National referral centers like the Philippine Heart Center operated by DOH.

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)

Agency managing the National Health Insurance Program; key lever in FOURmula ONE.

FOURmula ONE for Health

Implementation framework bundling financing, regulation, service delivery and governance reforms.

Health financing

FOURmula ONE pillar aiming for greater, better and sustained investments in health.

Health regulation

Pillar focused on ensuring quality, safety, and affordability of health goods and services.

Health service delivery

Pillar aimed at improving accessibility and availability of basic and essential health care.

Good governance

FOURmula ONE pillar enhancing system performance at national and local levels.

National Objectives for Health 2005-2010

Roadmap setting targets, indicators and strategies for all Philippine health stakeholders.

Inter-Local Health Zone (ILHZ)

Cluster of LGUs sharing a referral hospital and primary facilities for integrated services.

District Health System

WHO concept of coordinated referral care within a defined population (100-500 k).

Barangay Health Station (BHS)

Village-level facility providing basic preventive and promotive services.

Rural Sanitary Inspector

Environmental-health worker responsible for water, waste and sanitation in RHU areas.

Provincial Health Office

LGU unit supervising provincial hospitals and coordinating health programs.

Provincial and District Hospitals

LGU-run secondary facilities providing inpatient and outpatient services.

Regional Health Office

DOH field office overseeing health programs across a geographic region.

Primary care

First-contact, community-level services delivered at BHS or RHU.

Secondary care

Services by physicians in infirmaries or district hospitals, handling minor surgeries and referrals.

Tertiary care

Specialist services in regional medical centers and specialized hospitals for complex cases.

Maternal and Child Health Division

DOH unit where nurses supervise programs on maternal, infant and child well-being.

Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)

National program ensuring universal vaccination of children and mothers.

Control of Diarrheal Diseases Program

DOH initiative promoting ORS, breastfeeding and sanitation to reduce diarrheal deaths.

Control of Acute Respiratory Infections (CARI)

Program training health workers in early detection and treatment of pneumonia in children.

National Tuberculosis Program (NTP)

DOH program using DOTS strategy; often managed at local level by the PHN.

Public Health Nursing Process

Application of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation to populations.