Assembly Bill No. 22–Assemblywoman Koivisto

 

Prefiled January 29, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

SUMMARY—Revises requirements for licensure of nurses. (BDR 54‑240)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: No.

 

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

 

AN ACT relating to nursing; defining certain terms related to the regulation of nursing; revising the requirements for the licensure of nurses; 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

1-2  thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this

1-3  act.

1-4  Sec. 2.  “Accredited school of practical nursing” means a

1-5  school of practical nursing which is accredited by a nationally

1-6  recognized association or an agency authorized by law to accredit

1-7  schools of practical nursing in the state in which the school is

1-8  located.

1-9  Sec. 3.  “Accredited school of professional nursing” means a

1-10  school of professional nursing which is accredited by a nationally

1-11  recognized association or an agency authorized by law to accredit

1-12  schools of professional nursing in the state in which the school is

1-13  located.

1-14      Sec. 4.  “Approved school of practical nursing” means a

1-15  school of practical nursing that is approved by the Board as

1-16  meeting the standards for practical nursing education established

1-17  by the Board pursuant to NRS 632.430.

2-1  Sec. 5.  “Approved school of professional nursing” means a

2-2  school of professional nursing that is approved by the Board as

2-3  meeting the standards for professional nursing education

2-4  established by the Board pursuant to NRS 632.440 to 632.470,

2-5  inclusive.

2-6  Sec. 6.  NRS 632.010 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-7  632.010  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise

2-8  requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 632.011 to 632.0195,

2-9  inclusive, and sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act have the

2-10  meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

2-11      Sec. 7.  NRS 632.011 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-12      632.011  “Accredited school of nursing” means a school of

2-13  nursing which is accredited by a nationally recognized association

2-14  or an agency authorized by law to accredit [or approve] schools of

2-15  nursing in the state in which the school is located.

2-16      Sec. 8.  NRS 632.120 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-17      632.120  1.  The Board shall:

2-18      (a) Adopt regulations establishing reasonable standards:

2-19          (1) For the denial, renewal, suspension and revocation of,

2-20  and the placement of conditions, limitations and restrictions upon, a

2-21  license to practice professional or practical nursing or a certificate to

2-22  practice as a nursing assistant.

2-23          (2) Of professional conduct for the practice of nursing.

2-24          (3) For prescribing and dispensing controlled substances and

2-25  dangerous drugs in accordance with applicable statutes.

2-26      (b) Prepare and administer examinations for the issuance of a

2-27  license or certificate under this chapter.

2-28      (c) Investigate and determine the eligibility of an applicant for a

2-29  license or certificate under this chapter.

2-30      (d) Carry out and enforce the provisions of this chapter and the

2-31  regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

2-32      2.  The Board may adopt regulations establishing reasonable:

2-33      (a) Qualifications for the issuance of a license or certificate

2-34  under this chapter.

2-35      (b) Standards for the continuing professional competence of

2-36  licensees or holders of a certificate. The Board may evaluate

2-37  licensees or holders of a certificate periodically for compliance with

2-38  those standards.

2-39      3.  The Board may adopt regulations establishing a schedule of

2-40  reasonable fees and charges, in addition to those set forth in NRS

2-41  632.345, for:

2-42      (a) Investigating licensees or holders of a certificate and

2-43  applicants for a license or certificate under this chapter;

2-44      (b) Evaluating the professional competence of licensees or

2-45  holders of a certificate;

3-1  (c) Conducting hearings pursuant to this chapter;

3-2  (d) Duplicating and verifying records of the Board; and

3-3  (e) Surveying, evaluating and approving schools of practical

3-4  nursing, and schools and courses of professional nursing,

3-5  and collect the fees established pursuant to this subsection.

3-6  4.  For the purposes of this chapter, the Board shall, by

3-7  regulation, define the term “in the process of obtaining

3-8  accreditation.”

3-9  5.  The Board may adopt such other regulations, not

3-10  inconsistent with state or federal law, as may be necessary to carry

3-11  out the provisions of this chapter relating to nursing assistant

3-12  trainees and nursing assistants.

3-13      [5.] 6.  The Board may adopt such other regulations, not

3-14  inconsistent with state or federal law, as are necessary to enable it

3-15  to administer the provisions of this chapter.

3-16      Sec. 9.  NRS 632.140 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-17      632.140  1.  Every applicant for a license to practice as a

3-18  professional nurse in the State of Nevada [shall] must submit to the

3-19  Board written evidence under oath that he:

3-20      (a) Is of good moral character.

3-21      (b) Is in good physical and mental health.

3-22      (c) Has completed a course of study in [an] :

3-23          (1) An accredited school of professional nursing and holds a

3-24  diploma therefrom[.] ; or

3-25          (2) An approved school of professional nursing in the

3-26  process of obtaining accreditation and holds a diploma therefrom.

3-27      (d) Meets such other reasonable preliminary qualification

3-28  requirements as the Board may from time to time prescribe.

3-29      2.  Each applicant [shall] must remit the fee required by this

3-30  chapter with his application for a license to practice as a

3-31  professional nurse in this state.

3-32      Sec. 10.  NRS 632.270 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-33      632.270  Each applicant for a license to practice as a practical

3-34  nurse [shall] must submit to the Board written evidence, under oath,

3-35  that he:

3-36      1.  Is of good moral character.

3-37      2.  Has a high school diploma or its equivalent as determined by

3-38  the State Board of Education.

3-39      3.  Is at least 18 years of age.

3-40      4.  Has:

3-41      (a) Successfully completed the prescribed course of study in an

3-42  accredited school of practical nursing or an accredited school of

3-43  professional nursing, and been awarded a diploma by the school;

3-44  [or]

4-1  (b) Successfully completed the prescribed course of study in an

4-2  approved school of practical nursing in the process of obtaining

4-3  accreditation or an approved school of professional nursing in the

4-4  process of obtaining accreditation, and been awarded a diploma by

4-5  the school; or

4-6  (c) Been registered or licensed as a registered nurse under the

4-7  laws of another jurisdiction.

4-8  5.  Meets any other qualifications prescribed in regulations of

4-9  the Board.

4-10      Sec. 11.  NRS 632.343 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-11      632.343  1.  The Board shall not renew any license issued

4-12  under this chapter until the licensee has submitted proof satisfactory

4-13  to the Board of completion, during the 2-year period before renewal

4-14  of the license, of 30 hours in a program of continuing education

4-15  approved by the Board. The licensee is exempt from this provision

4-16  for the first biennial period after graduation from [an] :

4-17      (a) An accredited school of professional nursing [or] ;

4-18      (b) An accredited school of practical nursing[.] ;

4-19      (c) An approved school of professional nursing in the process

4-20  of obtaining accreditation; or

4-21      (d) An approved school of practical nursing in the process of

4-22  obtaining accreditation.

4-23      2.  The Board shall review all courses offered to nurses for the

4-24  completion of the requirement set forth in subsection 1. The Board

4-25  may approve nursing and other courses which are directly related to

4-26  the practice of nursing as well as others which bear a reasonable

4-27  relationship to current developments in the field of nursing or any

4-28  special area of practice in which a licensee engages. These may

4-29  include academic studies, workshops, extension studies, home study

4-30  and other courses.

4-31      Sec. 12.  NRS 632.430 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-32      632.430  1.  The Board may prescribe standards and curricula

4-33  for schools of practical nursing, visit, survey and approve those

4-34  schools, and remove those schools from a list of approved schools

4-35  of nursing for just cause.

4-36      2.  A school of practical nursing in this state must be:

4-37      (a) An accredited school of practical nursing; or

4-38      (b) An approved school of practical nursing in the process of

4-39  obtaining accreditation.

4-40      Sec. 13.  NRS 632.440 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-41      632.440  1.  The Board shall prescribe curricula and standards

4-42  for schools and courses of professional nursing. The Board shall

4-43  provide for surveys of such schools and courses at such times as it

4-44  may deem necessary. It shall approve such schools and courses as

4-45  meet the requirements of this chapter and of the Board. It shall

5-1  evaluate and approve courses for affiliation with approved schools

5-2  of nursing in this state or with schools of nursing which have

5-3  applied for such approval.

5-4  2.  A school of professional nursing in this state must be:

5-5  (a) An accredited school of professional nursing; or

5-6  (b) An approved school of professional nursing in the process

5-7  of obtaining accreditation.

5-8  Sec. 14.  This act becomes effective upon passage and

5-9  approval.

 

5-10  H