316 The shared experience of pro1-iding consulting services dcmonstratec] the Poss ii ·u. that are open lo a nurse who has the preparal'ion, t:xperience and tl1e attitude to Ji hes du... explor a 111erent avenue on independent nursmg practice. · e THE HEALTH PROMOTION NURSING CLINIC The Department of Health has recently launched lbeir program on the Prom. of Healthy Lifestyle. This includes risk as~essmcnt on hypertension, alcohol afhon physica I inactivity, smoking and family history of <l i seas es (for a sa m pie tool, sec Ch Jtise, ~ Table 2. 1 on Assessment Database for Family ~~irsing Practice). _ The intcrven~fote~ mclude the promotion and reinforcement of pos1t!ve ~ealt~ _practices. Counseli ~s also provided for clients al-risk of the obesity, physical mac Liv1ly, smoking and.,1 "1 s abuse. 111ese clients a re also referred to the pl1ysician, as needed. ' co 101 Jn,January 2000, U1e Health Promotion Nursing Clinic based in the Univers· the Phi Jippine s Manila College of Nursing formally accepted clients with con~ty of such as nutrition, health maintenance, mobility and sleep patterns. There,~rns !WO p,~actitioners, a_faculty member a~d-:-in apprentice 7ra~ua~e studenr doing~;~ intensive field experience. !twas an exc111ng prosped because Lh1s was an opportu. to demonstrat e imlepem. lenl 11ursi J1g practice. On lhe basis of pre-formulated prc1c~!ty guidelines, general estimates on consultation fees and confidence on its success t~e clinic formally opened to the public. It would later offer regular service to clie t Je seeking assistance i11 making lifestyle changes n s There are many ways of maki?g sure ~hat nur~in~ care is delivcr~d with high level of competence. The firnt requirement 1s establishmg the legal basis for the practice This makes $Urc that the nurses who deliver the care have advanced cornpelencie~ and capability for decision-making. Recent development in the Philippines is U1e move towards credentialing. The Maternal Child Nursing Association of the Philippines (MCNAP) will serve. as the accrediting orgaufaation for mother child nursing practitioners. The levels of specialization,tre as follows: Generalis t (level l) Nurse Clinician I (Level TT), Nurse Clinician JI (Level HI) and Clinica J Nurse Specialist. (Level TV). The requirements for specialization combine educational preparation work experience am. I µ. issing the specialty qualifying examination (MCNAP zoot; 45). Promulgated Inst October 20. 01, this development is a good s Lep towards the establishment of credentialing for advance nursing practice. Credentialing is always linked to a country's resources and regulatory practices. rt can be done by licensure, certi. fication, registration, and recognition (Schober and Affara 2006: 89). Another way of ensuring quality care is the development or utilization of standards of care. Johns (2004: 228) defines a standard of care as a local practice situation that is professiona lly agreed and both desirable and achievable. For the nursing clink, it was done in the form of the following concerns: Defining the type of nursing services to be provided Listing the criteria for admission, enrollment, discharge from tl1e program or services Delineati. ng the ai:eas of responsibilities; functions of the health team members Establishing a system of documentation Setting up a system of reimbursement, payment Mrs Feda Llon·to lsaloc was a former faculty men,l,,,r of the. Notre Dome U11iuersity, College of Nursing and a graduate srvdcnr of clw M. A. Nursing of UPCN. 