Cebu City – The Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) College of Nursing actively participated in the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) two-day Public Consultation and Orientation on Nursing Education, held on May 27–28, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City. The event served as a platform for academic leaders and policymakers to deliberate on critical reforms in nursing education and training across the country.
The first day of the consultation focused on the proposed Policies, Standards, and Guidelines (PSGs) for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program and the reorientation of the BS Nursing Program Outcomes to integrate Primary Health Care (PHC) competencies.
Representing NwSSU were College of Nursing Dean Dr. Bianca Genel B. Bedio and Program Chair Mr. Carl Neill M. Del Rosario. Their participation underscored the university’s commitment to educational advancement and its support for nationwide academic reforms. The NwSSU delegation engaged in curriculum discussions for both the academic and professional tracks of the MSN program and exchanged insights with prominent figures in nursing education, including Hon. Dr. Leah Primitiva G. Samaco-Paquiz, Chairperson of the PRC Board of Nursing.
The consultation opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Maura Consolacion D. Cristobal, Director of CHED Regional Office VII, followed by a statement of purpose from Dr. Cherrie Melanie Ancheta-Diego, Director of the Office of Programs and Standards Development. Both speakers emphasized the importance of institutional collaboration in implementing new standards that respond to the evolving needs of nursing education.
The Technical Panel for Nursing Education led the sessions, presenting the proposed PSGs and facilitating interactive open forums that allowed participants to provide feedback and raise pertinent concerns.
On the second day, the focus shifted to the accreditation process for health facilities used for the Related Learning Experience (RLE). The Technical Panel presented the proposed guidelines and led a comprehensive discussion on how higher education institutions and their partner healthcare facilities can meet the quality benchmarks set by CHED and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).