Senate Bill No. 423–Committee on Human
Resources and Facilities

 

March 19, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions governing issuance of license to practice as professional nurse or practical nurse or certificate to practice as nursing assistant to person who has been issued corresponding license or certificate in another jurisdiction. (BDR 54‑1081)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: No.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to nursing; eliminating the statutory requirements for the issuance of a license to practice as a professional nurse or practical nurse or a certificate to practice as a nursing assistant to a person who has been issued a corresponding license or certificate in another jurisdiction; authorizing the state board of nursing to issue such a license or certificate in accordance with requirements adopted by the board; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. Chapter 632 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

1-2  new section to read as follows:

1-3    1.  The board may provide for the issuance of a license to practice as

1-4  a professional nurse or practical nurse or a certificate to practice as a

1-5  nursing assistant, without examination, to a person who has been issued

1-6  a corresponding license or certificate in another jurisdiction.

1-7    2.  If the board provides for the issuance of such licenses and

1-8  certificates, it shall adopt, by regulation, the qualifications required of an

1-9  applicant to obtain, and the procedures for obtaining, such a license or

1-10  certificate. The board may provide for the issuance of such licenses and

1-11  certificates:

1-12    (a) Only if the appropriate regulatory authority of the other

1-13  jurisdiction has entered into a written agreement with the board for the

1-14  recognition of such licenses and certificates; or

1-15    (b) By any other procedure deemed appropriate by the board.

1-16    3.  The regulations adopted pursuant to subsection 2 must:

2-1    (a) Ensure that all persons who are issued a license or certificate

2-2  pursuant to this section are professionally qualified to practice nursing

2-3  in this state.

2-4    (b) Include procedures for verifying that a person who is issued a

2-5  license or certificate pursuant to this section is licensed or certified in

2-6  good standing in another jurisdiction.

2-7    (c) Provide for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the

2-8  residents of this state.

2-9    4.  The board shall not issue a license to practice as a professional

2-10  nurse or practical nurse or a certificate to practice as a nursing assistant

2-11  to a person who has been issued a corresponding license or certificate in

2-12  another jurisdiction pursuant to this section unless the board determines

2-13  that the requirements for licensure or certification in that jurisdiction are

2-14  substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure or certification

2-15  in this state.

2-16    Sec. 2.  NRS 632.270 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-17    632.270  Each applicant for a license to practice as a practical nurse

2-18  [shall] must submit to the board written evidence, under oath, that he:

2-19    1.  Is of good moral character.

2-20    2.  Has a high school diploma or its equivalent as determined by the

2-21  state board of education.

2-22    3.  Is at least 18 years of age.

2-23    4.  Has[:

2-24    (a) Successfully] successfully completed the prescribed course of study

2-25  in an accredited school of practical nursing or professional nursing, and

2-26  been awarded a diploma by the school . [; or

2-27    (b) Been registered or licensed as a registered nurse under the laws of

2-28  another jurisdiction.]

2-29    5.  Meets any other qualifications prescribed in regulations of the

2-30  board.

2-31    Sec. 3.  NRS 632.280 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-32    632.280  The board shall grant a license to practice as a practical nurse

2-33  in this state to each applicant who has the preliminary qualifications set

2-34  forth in NRS 632.270 and who[:

2-35    1.  Passes] passes the practical nurses examination, which examination

2-36  must be given by the board not less than once each calendar year . [; or

2-37    2.  Holds a license as a practical nurse under the laws of another

2-38  jurisdiction after passing an examination required by that jurisdiction, if it

2-39  appears to the board that the requirements and scope of the required

2-40  examination were at least equivalent to those prescribed by this chapter for

2-41  examinations. If the applicant was trained as a nurse in a jurisdiction where

2-42  English is not the prevalent language, the board shall require that the

2-43  applicant pass an examination testing his proficiency in reading, writing

2-44  and speaking English.]

2-45    Sec. 4.  NRS 632.2852 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-46    632.2852  1.  An applicant for a certificate to practice as a nursing

2-47  assistant must submit to the board written evidence under oath that he:

2-48    (a) Is of good moral character;

2-49    (b) Is in good physical and mental health;

3-1    (c) Is at least 16 years of age; and

3-2    (d) Meets such other reasonable requirements as the board prescribes.

3-3    2.  An applicant may be certified by examination if he:

3-4    (a) Submits a completed written application and the fee required by this

3-5  chapter;

3-6    (b) Completes a training program approved by the board and supplies a

3-7  certificate of completion from the program;

3-8    (c) Passes the certification examination approved by the board; and

3-9    (d) Has not committed any acts which would be grounds for

3-10  disciplinary action if committed by a nursing assistant, unless the board

3-11  determines that sufficient restitution has been made or the act was not

3-12  substantially related to nursing.

3-13    3.  [An applicant who is licensed or certified as a nursing assistant in

3-14  another state may be certified by endorsement if he:

3-15    (a) Submits a completed written application and the fee required by this

3-16  chapter;

3-17    (b) Submits proof of successful completion of a training program

3-18  approved by the appropriate agency of another state;

3-19    (c) Has passed a certification examination approved by the board to be

3-20  equivalent to the examination required in this state; and

3-21    (d) Has not committed any acts which would be grounds for

3-22  disciplinary action if committed by a nursing assistant, unless the board

3-23  determines that sufficient restitution has been made or the act was not

3-24  substantially related to nursing.

3-25    4.] The board shall issue a certificate to practice as a nursing assistant to

3-26  each applicant who meets the requirements of this section.

3-27    Sec. 5.  NRS 632.300 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-28    632.300  1.  Upon application and payment of the required fee, the

3-29  board may without examination grant a:

3-30    (a) Temporary license to practice professional nursing or practical

3-31  nursing; or

3-32    (b) Temporary certificate to practice as a nursing
assistant,

3-33  to a person whose corresponding license or certificate from another

3-34  jurisdiction is in good standing[.] in accordance with any regulations

3-35  adopted pursuant to section 1 of this act.

3-36    2.  Only one temporary license or certificate may be issued pursuant to

3-37  this section to any one person during any 12-month period.

3-38    Sec. 6.  NRS 632.160 is hereby repealed.

 

3-39  TEXT OF REPEALED SECTION

 

3-40    632.160  Admission to practice without examination. The board

3-41   shall, without examination, issue a license to practice nursing as a

3-42   professional nurse to any applicant who otherwise meets the qualifications

3-43   required of professional nurses in this state and who has been duly

3-44   licensed

4-1  or registered as a registered nurse under the laws of any other jurisdiction

4-2  after passing an examination required by that jurisdiction, if it appears to

4-3   the board that the requirements and scope of the required examination

4-4   were at least equivalent to those prescribed by this chapter for

4-5   examinations. If the applicant was trained as a nurse in a jurisdiction

4-6   where English is not the prevalent language, the board shall require that

4-7   the applicant pass an examination testing his proficiency in reading,

4-8   writing and speaking English.

 

4-9  H