Nurses who rendered essential services during COVID-19 pandemic get up to 45 CPD units

Good news for nurses who rendered essential services this Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. You will earn up to 45 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units!

The CPD Council of Nursing issued Resolution No. 2 series of 2021 entitled "GUIDELINES ON THE EVALUATION AND GRANTING OF CPD CREDIT UNITS TO REGISTERED AND LICENSED NURSES WHO PROVIDED ESSENTIAL SERVICES DURING THE STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DUE TO CORONA VIRUS DISEASE 2019 PURSUANT TO COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 1239" on October 15, 2021.

PRC Resolution No. 1239 (s.2020) entitled "Granting Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Credit Units to All Professionals Providing Essential Services during the State of Public Health Emergency due to Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019)" provides for the guidelines on how professionals can earn CPD credit units.

In the Resolution No. 2, the CPD Council of Nursing stated that LOCAL and OVERSEAS Filipino nurses will get up to 45 units depending on the 'essential services' they rendered during this pandemic. The Council will evaluate and grant the corresponding CPD units.

What 'essential services' will give nurses CPD units? The Council issued the following matrix of activities conducted by all professionals who provided essential services during the State of Public Health Emergency brought about by the COVID-19 crisis. Again, this is applicable for local and overseas Filipino nurses.

Essential Services with CPD Units for Nurses

1. TAKING CARE OF COVID-19 PATIENT

This refers to professionals who directly took essential care to:

• Patients contracted with COVID-19 who are admitted in the Hospital/ Quarantine Facility.
• Immediate family member who contracted COVID-19 who are Isolated at home. 
• Nurses providing services in a Non-COVID ward in any health facilities.
• Nurses providing services in the community such as public health, community health nurses, Member of the Barangay Health and Emergency Response Team nurses. 
• Nurses providing services as volunteers in the vaccination designated centers or facilities.

CPD Units: 45 units for 1 month or more of service; 30 units for 3 weeks of services; 15 units for 1-2 weeks of service within the three (3) year period maximum of 45 CPD units.

Supporting Documents: 

• Certification or Declaration (Template found in Annex “A” or “B” of Resolution No. 1239 s. 2020). 
• Narrative Report of Nursing care activity
• Certificate of Recognition of service rendered signed by the immediate head of office or facility. 

2. PARTICIPATES IN CONTACT TRACING

Professionals who perform contact tracing of individuals who have been exposed to suspect, probable, and confirmed cases of COVID-19.

CPD Units: 45 units for 1 month or more of service; 30 units for 3 weeks of services; 15 units for 1-2 weeks of service within the three (3) year period maximum of 45 CPD units.

Supporting Documents: 

• Certification or Declaration (Template found in Annex “A” or “B” of Resolution No. 1239 s. 2020). 
• Narrative Report of Nursing care activity
• Certificate of Recognition of service rendered signed by the immediate head of office or facility. 

3. RESPONDS TO QUERIES ABOUT COVID-19 WHEN DESIGNATED AS INFORMATION OFFICER

Assignment/Task includes compiling reference materials and Providing information to individuals and the public in general about COVID-19.

CPD Units: 45 units for 1 month or more of service; 30 units for 3 weeks of services; 15 units for 1-2 weeks of service within the three (3) year period maximum of 45 CPD units.

Supporting Documents: 

• Certification or Declaration (Template found in Annex “A” or “B” of Resolution No. 1239 s. 2020). 
• Narrative Report of Nursing care activity
• Certificate of Recognition of service rendered signed by the immediate head of office or facility. 

4. PARTICIPATES IN DISTRIBUTION OF PPE AND OTHER MATERIALS, SUPPLIES AND RELIEF GOODS 

Preparation and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), other materials, supplies and relief goods. Participation in the activities to provide assistance to frontliners and families in distress due to the impact of COVID19.

CPD Units: 45 units for 1 month or more of service; 30 units for 3 weeks of services; 15 units for 1-2 weeks of service within the three (3) year period maximum of 45 CPD units.

Supporting Documents: 

• Certification or Declaration (Template found in Annex “A” or “B” of Resolution No. 1239 s. 2020). 
• Narrative Report of Nursing care activity
• Certificate of Recognition of service rendered signed by the immediate head of office or facility. 

5. CONDUCTS PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION ON COVID-19

Designing infographics and publication materials about the nature and effects of Covid-19 approved by the COVID-19 Task Force (IATF, DOH, WHO, CDC). 

• Within the duration of Community Quarantine status  - 5 credit units per infographic/publication material

Set-up public or community assembly on awareness to Covid-19 prevention and control. 

CPD Units: 45 units for 1 month or more of service; 30 units for 3 weeks of services; 15 units for 1-2 weeks of service within the three (3) year period maximum of 45 CPD units.

Supporting Documents: 

• Certification or Declaration (Template found in Annex “A” or “B” of Resolution No. 1239 s. 2020). 
• Narrative Report of Nursing care activity
• Certificate of Recognition of service rendered signed by the immediate head of office or facility. 
• Copy of the Infographic/Published materials.

6. OTHER FORM OF HEALTH EDUCATION RELATED TO COVID-19

• Giving online lectures and presentations (live webinars or recorded presentations) as Lecturer or Resource Person on topics related to COVID-19. 
• Discuss Health and Safety protocols to prevent and control spread of Covid-19. 
• Discuss the importance of vaccine for Covid-19
• Within the duration of Community Quarantine status 
• Within the three (3) year period maximum of 45 CPD units.

CPD Units: 5 credit units per presentation

Supporting Documents: 

•  Certification or Declaration (Template found in Annex “A” or “B” of Resolution No. 1239 s. 2020). 
• Photographs of the webinars. 
• Certificate as Lecturer or Resource Person. 
•  Program of Activity. 

8. CONDUCTS RELEVANT STUDIES ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 TO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Conduct studies related to COVID-19 like: Perception of healthcare worker of the impact of Covid19 to the quality of their holistic work life. 

• Within the duration of Community Quarantine status 
• Within the three (3) year period maximum of 45 CPD units.

CPD Units: Maximum of 45 credit units per study.

Supporting Documents: 

• Certification or Declaration (Template found in Annex “A” or “B” of Resolution No. 1239 s. 2020). 
• Manuscript of the completed study. 

8. PARTICIPATES IN THE DESIGN, AND/OR MAINTENANCE OF COVID-19 HEALT-RELATED FACILITIES OR STRUCTURES.

Member of the Committee or Task Force that designs and maintain health facilities or structures related to COVID-19.

CPD Units: 45 units for 1 month or more of service; 30 units for 3 weeks of services; 15 units for 1-2 weeks of service within the three (3) year period maximum of 45 CPD units.

Supporting Documents: 

• Certification or Declaration (Template found in Annex “A” or “B” of Resolution No. 1239 s. 2020). 
• Narrative Report of the activity
• Pictures of the COVID-19 facility or structures.

Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) started to require CPD units for renewal after Republic Act 10912 or the CPD of 2016 was enacted. PRC then issued Resolution No. 1032 or Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for CPD Law.