Roles and Functions of a Nurse: Salary and Career Outlook [Updates 2025]

Nursing is more than just a job; it is both a science and an art of providing compassionate care to promote a person’s healing and well-being. Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, defined nursing as “the act of utilizing the patient’s environment to assist him in his recovery.” In this statement, she emphasized the importance of factors like fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness, and proper nutrition in facilitating the body’s natural healing process.

While Nightingale’s environmental theory laid a crucial foundation, nursing has expanded significantly over the past century. Modern nursing encompasses a holistic approach, considering the patient’s physical, psychological, emotional, and social needs. Nurses today are not just caregivers; they are also educators, advocates, and critical thinkers who play a vital role in healthcare teams across various settings. They administer medications, monitor patient conditions, provide emotional support, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement comprehensive care plans.

In essence, nursing is a dynamic and evolving profession that integrates different nursing theories and principles with advanced knowledge and skills to meet the complex healthcare needs of individuals, families, and communities in today’s world. Before we dive deeper into the roles and functions of nurses, let us first understand what it takes to become a registered nurse.

Requirements to Be a Registered Nurse in the Philippines

The Philippines is globally known as a home for the most compassionate and skilled nurses. Filipino nurses are celebrated for their exceptional care, flexibility, and dedication to their profession, making them highly sought after in the healthcare industry worldwide. If you want to become one and are wondering what the requirements and steps are towards becoming a registered nurse in the Philippines, then be guided by the following information.

1. Get a BSN Degree

The first step is to enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program in college. The BSN is a four-year course that combines theoretical knowledge with skills training (Related Learning Experience) in various nursing disciplines. This course equips you with the necessary skills to provide quality care. As part of your studies, you’ll also gain clinical training and practical experience through exposure to various healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and mental hospitals, which helps develop critical thinking, patient care skills, and teamwork abilities.

2. Take the Nurse Licensure Examination

After completing your degree, you need to pass the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE), administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), where you must achieve a general average of at least 75% and no less than 60% in any subject. The Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) is conducted twice a year, and it assesses the graduates’ competencies to practice nursing safely and effectively. This comprehensive exam covers a range of nursing disciplines, including medical-surgical, community health, and maternal-child nursing, among others. It evaluates the knowledge and skills that candidates have acquired during their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) studies. Successfully passing the NLE is important for obtaining the license needed to practice nursing in the Philippines and for advancing one’s nursing career.

To successfully apply for the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE), applicants must prepare and submit the required documents to ensure their eligibility. These documents serve as proof of identity, academic qualifications, and compliance with examination protocols. Below is the list of mandatory documentary requirements based on the Professional Regulation Commission:

Documentary Requirements:

1. Birth certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
2. PSA marriage certificate/contract (for married female applicants)
3. Transcript of records with scanned picture and remarks “For Board Examination Purposes”
4. Notarized certificate of undertaking signed by the dean and the registrar

3. Pursue a Nursing Job and Take Specializations and Other Opportunities for Professional Growth

After obtaining your nursing license, the next step is to pursue a nursing job and explore opportunities for professional growth. The Philippines offers a wide range of nursing positions, from staff nurses in hospitals, community health nurses, school nurses, and private duty nurses to company nurses in corporate settings, with competitive salaries and benefits. You can also consider specializing in areas like dialysis nursing, which can enhance your skills and open doors to new opportunities with good benefits and compensation. By taking on these roles and pursuing further education or certifications, you can advance your career, increase your earning potential, and become a leader in the nursing profession.

Salary and Career Outlook

Nursing is a vital profession that offers diverse career paths and varying salaries depending on the country. Nurses can work in different healthcare settings, such as hospitals, rural health units, schools, companies, private clinics, and NGOs. In the Philippines, nurses face a significant wage gap between the public and private sectors. As of 2025, public sector nurses are categorized under Salary Grade 15, earning a minimum of ₱40,208 per month. Nurses with higher positions, such as Nurse VI,I are expected to earn up to ₱109,431 monthly. In contrast, private sector nurses typically earn between ₱12,000 and ₱15,000 monthly, highlighting the need for wage standardization. Despite these challenges, nursing remains a respected and essential profession in the Philippines.

In the United States of America, nursing is a highly sought-after career with competitive salaries and benefits. The average salary for registered nurses is approximately $94,480, with top-paying states like California and New York offering up to $133,000 annually. Many Filipino nurses seek opportunities abroad due to better pay and benefits, leading to a steady demand for nursing graduates. The country continues to produce a high number of nursing graduates, but local job opportunities remain competitive, pushing many to work overseas for career growth.

There is a growing demand for nurses in the US due to an aging population and shortages of healthcare workers. Many programs are being offered to those nurses who wish to work abroad, such as the NCLEX and visa sponsorship programs. With better wages, benefits, and career advancement opportunities, the US indeed offers a more lucrative path. If you are determined to work outside the country, the process will require additional exams, certifications, and adjustments to a new healthcare system. Overall, nursing remains a promising career in both countries, but the US provides far greater financial rewards.

Roles and Functions of a Nurse

1. Care Provider – As a nurse, he or she is responsible for rendering services in which the patient or client can feel that his or her needs are being met. The use of the term “care” means that the nurse is concerned about the welfare of the patient. He or she views the patient as a person who needs not only physical care but also emotional, psychological, spiritual, and biological support.
2. Communicator – A nurse is an agent of communication. Communication is very important in the field of nursing as it is the means of giving and receiving information. Therapeutic communication is studied by nurses to provide better nursing care. As a communicator, he or she must be a good listener to address the needs of the client or patient and interact with various healthcare personnel. As the one who provides bedside care, the nurse is often the first to observe updates and progress in the patient’s condition. It is his or her task to relay this information to other medical professionals.
3. Teacher – A nurse is also expected to be a teacher in daily practice. Providing nursing care is geared toward better health practices, which can be achieved by teaching proper methods and habits. In addition, the nurse is not only concerned with educating the patient but also with the significant others who will care for the patient after discharge. Health teachings aim to promote wellness and maintain a healthy lifestyle, thus preventing unnecessary hospital admissions.
4. Counselor – Being a counselor means that the nurse helps the client develop healthy coping mechanisms. Since each client experiences different levels of stress, the nurse must facilitate the patient’s recognition of how to adapt to changes in daily life brought on by health-related challenges. The role encompasses emotional, intellectual, and psychological support.
5. Change Agent – The nurse catalyzes change that is needed for the patient’s improvement. Using the nursing process, the nurse identifies problem areas and develops a plan of action to help the patient recognize the need for change and adopt new behaviors. As a change agent, the nurse assists the patient in leaving behind harmful habits, embracing positive ones, and adjusting to new health routines.
6. Client Advocate – As a client advocate, the nurse represents the patient when he or she cannot represent himself or herself. To be an effective advocate, the nurse must listen attentively and empathize with the patient’s situation. This understanding enables the nurse to voice the patient’s concerns to the healthcare team and help determine appropriate interventions.
7. Leader – As a nurse, he or she must be able to go a step beyond other personnel. This means having a broader perspective, setting attainable goals, and guiding the team toward achieving them. Leading in nursing involves influencing others to work collaboratively toward shared objectives.
8. Manager – A nurse can be both a leader and a manager, though the two roles differ. While leadership involves influence and vision, management requires the ability to direct, organize, plan, and implement tasks. A nurse manager is empowered to facilitate the operations of a unit or patient case effectively.
9. Role Model – Nurses serve as role models for their colleagues, patients, and communities. They embody the values of the nursing profession, demonstrating compassion, integrity, and professionalism in all their interactions. By adhering to ethical principles and best practices, nurses inspire others to strive for excellence in patient care. They “walk the talk,” exhibiting the behaviors they encourage in others.
10. Researcher – Nursing practice constantly evolves, and nurses play a critical role in advancing the science of nursing through research. They identify clinical problems, conduct studies, and apply findings to improve patient care. Through research, nurses contribute to the development of evidence-based practices that enhance care quality and outcomes.

Expanded and Emerging Roles of Nurses

1. Care Coordinator – In today’s complex healthcare system, nurses serve as care coordinators, ensuring smooth transitions across healthcare settings. They collaborate with patients, families, and healthcare teams to implement individualized care plans, arrange home care services, and provide ongoing support. The goal is to improve outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions.
2. Informatics Specialist – With the rise of healthcare technology, nurses play key roles in informatics. They use their clinical expertise to help design and evaluate healthcare information systems that are efficient and supportive of patient care. Nurse informaticists also analyze data and develop strategies to enhance decision-making and patient safety.
3. Disaster Responder – Nurses are frontliners during natural disasters and public health crises. They provide emergency care, assess community needs, and coordinate disaster relief. Nurse disaster responders are trained to work under pressure, quickly adapt to changes, and offer compassionate care during emergencies.
4. Entrepreneurs – Nurses who use their expertise to launch and manage healthcare-related businesses are known as nurse entrepreneurs. They address unmet needs by offering services like direct care, consultation, legal advice, education, or by developing healthcare products. Their innovations support healthcare improvement across many sectors.
5. Clinical Specialists – Registered nurses who hold a master’s or doctoral degree in a specialized field of nursing possess advanced clinical expertise. They deliver specialized care, educate healthcare teams, and promote evidence-based practice. Clinical nurse specialists also provide expert consultation and guidance within their specialty areas.

The Future of Nursing

The nursing profession is on the verge of dynamic transformation, driven by rapid technological advancement, evolving healthcare systems, and a growing emphasis on holistic, patient-centered care. As nurses and student nurses on the front lines, you’ll witness firsthand how innovations like telehealth, artificial intelligence (AI), and wearable technology redefine care delivery, improve outcomes, and streamline workflows.

Looking ahead, several key trends are shaping the future of nursing. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth has expanded and will continue to grow, allowing nurses to conduct remote consultations and monitor patients virtually. AI is becoming an increasingly valuable tool, enhancing clinical judgment with data-driven insights, predicting health risks, and automating tasks. Personalized medicine will allow nurses to tailor care to individual genetic and lifestyle factors, improving treatment effectiveness. Ongoing education will be essential to stay prepared for future challenges.

However, the global nursing workforce faces critical challenges, including staffing shortages and burnout. To ensure the profession’s sustainability, we must advocate for nurses well-being, support better systems, and embrace continuous learning. By addressing these issues and leveraging innovation, nurses can lead the way in delivering exceptional care and building healthier communities worldwide.

Conclusion

As you embark on your nursing journey, whether in the Philippines or abroad, remember that your role has a profound impact on others’ lives. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, offering compassionate care, advocating for patient rights, and educating communities. Your dedication and expertise extend beyond individuals to influence entire societies. Wherever your path leads, be proud of your profession and know that your work is a testament to kindness, service, and the power of healing.

References:

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