(Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service)
was launched by DOH to address the need of qualifed and experienced nurses in the rural areas, especially those communities which hardly felt the health services from the government is a program spearheaded by the Department of Health and Department of Social Welfare Development !he pro"ect will deploy nurses in rural areas and undeserved communities for a period of one year# $urses under the program will undergo special training and development in accordance with the roles and functions required by the pro"ect# % certifcate of competency and employment will be given to those who have satisfactorily completed their engagement with the pro"ect# While on the pro"ect, nurses will be given an allowance to cover for their meals, transportation and other incidental expenses# RNHeals program will address the following: &mprove access of poor communities to quality healthcare' &ncreate nurses( employability with enhanced clinical and preventive health management competencies' provide income generating opportunities for currently unemployed registered nurses' %ddress the shortage of s)illed and experienced nurses through a competency based learning and development pro"ect' %ddress the inadequate nursing wor)force in rural and un served*underserved communities and health facilities' %ddress the proliferation of the so+called ,volunteer nurses- .i#e#, wor)ing in hospitals without being paid, albeit, they themselves pay the hospital to obtain a certifcate of wor) experience/# TARET AREAS 0ommunity based volunteer nurses will be deployed in all regions and provinces nationwide where DSWS(s 1antawid 1amilyang 1ilipino 1rogram .21s/ or 0onditional 0ash !ransfer .00!/ is being implemented as well as DOH 3asic 4mergency 5aternal Obstetric and $eonatal 0are .345O$0/ facilities are being upgraded*strengthened# !ENE"#$#AR#ES !en thousand registered nurses will undergo learning and development during their deployment 6#7 million household will beneft from delivery of health services A#N provide the registered nurses with an allowance of 1hp8, 999#99 per month % total of :9,999 nurses shall undergo learning and development during the deployment period to enhance their community and clinical health competencies to increase their employability will address the shortage of s)illed and experienced nurses, both domestic and international through a structured competencydevelopment program 00! and 345O$0 areas will beneft from improved health care services augment the nursing wor)force of health facilitiesfrom identifed 00! and 345O$0 areas of needed clinical and public health nurses %R&'E$T #(%LE(ENTERS DOH shall; <ead in the implementation of the learning, development and deployment of nurses %ssess the quality of healthcare in the identifed communities 0raft the Orientation and !raining 5odule for community based volunteer +nurses in collaboration with partner agencies for the 345O$0 areas <ead in the formulation of policies and implementation guidelines of the pro"ect in collaboration with partner agencies <ead in the orientation and exit conference of the trainee nurses <ead in the monitoring and evaluation of the community based volunteer nurse DSWD shall; &dentify participating communities and health facilities .00! areas/ 0ollaborate with DOH in the formulation of policies and implementation guidelines of the pro"ect 0raft the orientation and !raining 5odule for community based volunteer nurses in collaboration with partner agencies for the 00! areas Overseas and monitoring the pro"ect implementation DO<4 shall; <ead in the recruitment activities for the pro"ect =eceive applications and screen nurse applicants for training 1articipate in the monitoring and evaluation of the pro"ect 1=0+3O$ shall; >alidate license of nurse applicants %ssist in the formulation of orientation and training modules and related learning and development activities Development code of discipline for the nurse in the pro"ect &n collaboration with 1$%, conduct periodic competency assessment of the nurses 1articipate in the monitoring and evaluation of the community based volunteer nurses 1hilippine $urses %ssociation shall; 0ollaborate with partner agencies in the development of modules Develop "ournal templates and competency assessment tool for nurses 0onduct periodic competency assessment of the nurses 1articipate in the monitoring and evaluation of the community based volunteer nurses =egional*1rovincial O?ces of DSWD, DO<4, DOH, 1=0+3O$ shall; 4xercise administrative and technical supervision over the community based volunteer nurses Support nursing activities in the areas <ocal @overnment Anits shall; 4nsure the safety and security of the community based volunteer nurses 1rovide modes board and lodging 4xercise administrative and technical supervision over the community based volunteer nurses A%%L#$AT#&N RE)*#RE(ENTS Anemployed registered nurses who are physically and mentally ft and willing to serve in their hometowns and who meet the following requirements may qualify under =$heals; With valid 1=0 license' =esident of the identifed 00! area*s' 5edical certifcate issued by government hospitals stating that the applicant is ft to wor)' and $%=S 1ro"ect benefciaries and its drop+outs will not be considered RN HEALS ## =$heals && see)s to augment the inadequate nursing wor)force in DOH hospitals and a number of <ocal @overnment Anit .<@A/ health facilities to improve patient care and health services# <i)ewise, the program aims to create a pool of registered nurses with enhanced clinical and public health competencies towards the improvement of the delivery of health services Department Order $o# 69::+967B dated September C, 69:: confrms earlier report of the second batch of =$ heals order are the implementing mechanisms, guidelines on recruitment, selection, roles and responsibilities of DOH hospitals, 0enter for Development .0HD/ and other sta)eholders# Similarly, midwives shall also be deployed to maintain focus on the integrated basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care as part of the DOH(s =ural Health 5idwives .=H5/ 1lacement 1rogram# !his expects to improve maternal and neonatal care in far Dung areas where labor+ related maternal morbidity and mortality rates are highest# O3E40!&>4S %# @eneral Ob"ective !he nurses and midwives learning and deployment aims to create a pool of registered health professionals with enhanced clinical and public health competencies towards the improvement of health care service delivery# 3# Specifc Ob"ectives &mprove access to quality health care services# &ncrease nurses( and midwives employability through the provision of learning and development opportunities# Foster independence in the community(s health care delivery system# %ddress the inequitable distribution and augment the nursing and midwifery wor)force in DOH hospitals and health facilities specially rural, underserved, hardship communities# &mprove the current nurse to patient ratio in accordance to DOH standard sta?ng patterns# &mprove local health systems that will support the country(s attainment of universal health care or ,Galusugan 1ang)alahatan-# S0O14 OF %11<&0%!&O$ !his department order shall apply to DOH hospitals and other health facilities involved in the implementation of nurses and midwives learning and deployment, and the nurses and midwives under the pro"ect# &51<454!&$@ @A&D4<&$4S %# @eneral @uidelines !he nurses and midwives shall undergo learning and development in clinical and public health competencies during their one .:/ year of deployment# $urses assigned in the hospitals shall be provided with competencies through rotations in the diHerent specialty departments in the hospitals as much as possible# $urses and midwives assigned in the rural health unit shall be abreast with public health programs and services# DOH hospitals and other health facilities shall be supplemented with ::,I99 nurses and :,999 midwives to augment their wor)force# !he 0enters for Health Development .0HD/ through with their respective cluster heads in close collaboration with the Health Human =esources Development 3ureau .HH=D3/ shall identify DOH recipient hospitals and other health facilities# % distribution list shall be provided by the HH=D3 to all 0HDs through their cluster heads# !he 0HD shall validate the list with the recipient hospitals and other health facilities based on the standard sta?ng requirements# !he re+validated list shall be the basis for the allocation of nurses and midwives within their catchment areas and in the respective regions# !he nurses will receive an allowance of 1hp8,999 per month while midwives will receive 1hpJ,999 per month# 3oth will be provided with 1hilhealth insurance of 1hp:,699 per year, @roup accident insurance enrolment of 1hpI99 per year, and a 0ertifcate of 0ompletion after a satisfactory completion of the pro"ect# !he DOH hospitals shall provide meals for the nurses during their tour of duty# !his shall be equivalent to at least 1hp6,999 per month# $urses and midwives assigned in the =ural health units shall follow the provision of Eoint 5emorandum 0ircular $o# 69:: K 9922 dated 2 %ug, 69:: specifcally the additional allowance of at least 1hp6,999 per month# $urses and midwives with 0ertifcates of 0ompletion shall be considered for priority employment in government health facilities where vacation post exists# $urses and midwives shall be evaluated on a regular basis during the one .:/ year period# %bsences, tardiness, or under time shall be deducted from the nurses( and midwives( monthly allowances# !he accomplished daily time records .D!=s/, duly approved by the 0hief $urse shall be the basis for the allowances# 3# 1rocedures in the =ecruitment, Selection and Deployment of applicants :# =ecruitment and Selection %pplicants shall apply directly to the DOH recipient hospitals or through the 0HDs# !he registry of nurse applicants from the DO<4 shall also be a source of candidates to the pro"ect# Only nurses and midwives with o?cial and validated 1rofessional =egulation 0ommission .1=0/ license are eligible to apply# >erifcation shall be done via the internet at www#prc#gov#ph 1reference shall be given to nurses and midwives residing in the localities where the recipient DOH hospitals or health facilities are sited# $urse and midwife volunteers, trainees or those exposed in the recipient hospitals and other health facilities shall be given priority# $urses and midwives must be physically and mentally ft# % medical certifcate from a government hospital is required# 6# Deployment %n orientation will be conducted by the recipient DOH hospitals or 0HDs and health facilities prior to assumption to duty# Schedule for rotations shall be for the various specialty departments of the DOH hospitals as available# Schedules for those assigned at the =HAs shall be done with the respective heads of units# !o enhance and provide focus for the clinical and public health rotations# 0ompetencies shall be anchored on courses geared towards specialty modules with continuing professional units as required by the 1=0# =eplacements shall be allowed in case of drop+outs but will only complete the remaining period of the pro"ect#