Section 9. Powers and Duties of the Board. —

The Board shall supervise and regulate the practice of the nursing profession and shall have the following powers, duties and functions:

1. Conduct the licensure examination for nurses;

2. Issue, suspend or revoke certificates of registration for the practice of nursing;

3. Monitor and enforce quality standards of nursing practice in the Philippines and exercise the powers 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;

4. Ensure quality nursing education by examining the prescribed facilities of universities or colleges of nursing or departments of nursing education and those seeking permission to open nursing courses to ensure that standards of nursing education are properly complied with and maintained at all times. The authority to open and close colleges of nursing and/or nursing education programs shall be vested on the Commission on Higher Education upon the written recommendation of the Board;

5. Conduct hearings and investigations to resolve complaints against nurse practitioners for unethical and unprofessional conduct and violations of this Act, or its rules and regulations and in connection therewith, issue subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to secure the appearance of respondents, and witnesses and the production of documents and punish with contempt persons obstructing, impeding and/or otherwise interfering with the conduct of such proceedings, upon application with the court;

6. Promulgate a Code of Ethics in coordination and consultation with the accredited professional organization of nurses within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act;

7. Recognize nursing specialty organizations in coordination with the accredited professional organization; and

8. Prescribe, adopt, issue and promulgate guidelines, regulations, measures and decisions as may be necessary for the improvement of the nursing practice, advancement of the profession and for the proper and full enforcement of this Act subject to the review and approval by the Commission.