Assembly Bill No. 22–Assemblywoman Koivisto

 

CHAPTER..........

 

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:

 

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

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

 act.

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

 school of practical nursing which is accredited by a nationally

 recognized association or an agency authorized by law to accredit

 schools of practical nursing in the state in which the school is

 located.

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

 school of professional nursing which is accredited by a nationally

 recognized association or an agency authorized by law to accredit

 schools of professional nursing in the state in which the school is

 located.

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

 school of practical nursing that is approved by the Board as

 meeting the standards for practical nursing education established

 by the Board pursuant to NRS 632.430.

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

 school of professional nursing that is approved by the Board as

 meeting the standards for professional nursing education

 established by the Board pursuant to NRS 632.440 to 632.470,

 inclusive.

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

    632.010  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise

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

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

 meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

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

    632.011  “Accredited school of nursing” means a school of

 nursing which is accredited by a nationally recognized association

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

 nursing in the state in which the school is located.

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

    632.120  1.  The Board shall:

    (a) Adopt regulations establishing reasonable standards:

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

and the placement of conditions, limitations and restrictions upon, a

 license to practice professional or practical nursing or a certificate

 to practice as a nursing assistant.

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

        (3) For prescribing and dispensing controlled substances and

 dangerous drugs in accordance with applicable statutes.

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

 license or certificate under this chapter.

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

 license or certificate under this chapter.

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

 regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

    2.  The Board may adopt regulations establishing reasonable:

    (a) Qualifications for the issuance of a license or certificate

 under this chapter.

    (b) Standards for the continuing professional competence of

 licensees or holders of a certificate. The Board may evaluate

 licensees or holders of a certificate periodically for compliance with

 those standards.

    3.  The Board may adopt regulations establishing a schedule of

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

 632.345, for:

    (a) Investigating licensees or holders of a certificate and

 applicants for a license or certificate under this chapter;

    (b) Evaluating the professional competence of licensees or

 holders of a certificate;

    (c) Conducting hearings pursuant to this chapter;

    (d) Duplicating and verifying records of the Board; and

    (e) Surveying, evaluating and approving schools of practical

 nursing, and schools and courses of professional nursing,

and collect the fees established pursuant to this subsection.

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

 regulation, define the term “in the process of obtaining

 accreditation.”

    5.  The Board may adopt such other regulations, not

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

 out the provisions of this chapter relating to nursing assistant

 trainees and nursing assistants.

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

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

 to administer the provisions of this chapter.

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

    632.140  1.  Every applicant for a license to practice as a

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

 Board written evidence under oath that he:

    (a) Is of good moral character.

    (b) Is in good physical and mental health.

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

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

 diploma therefrom[.] ; or

        (2) An approved school of professional nursing in the

 process of obtaining accreditation and holds a diploma therefrom.

    (d) Meets such other reasonable preliminary qualification

 requirements as the Board may from time to time prescribe.

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

 chapter with his application for a license to practice as a

 professional nurse in this state.

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

    632.270  Each applicant for a license to practice as a practical

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

 that he:

    1.  Is of good moral character.

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

 the State Board of Education.

    3.  Is at least 18 years of age.

    4.  Has:

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

 accredited school of practical nursing or an accredited school of

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

 [or]

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

 approved school of practical nursing in the process of obtaining

 accreditation or an approved school of professional nursing in the

 process of obtaining accreditation, and been awarded a diploma

 by the school; or

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

 laws of another jurisdiction.

    5.  Meets any other qualifications prescribed in regulations of

 the Board.

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

    632.343  1.  The Board shall not renew any license issued

 under this chapter until the licensee has submitted proof satisfactory

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

 of the license, of 30 hours in a program of continuing education

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

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

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

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

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

 of obtaining accreditation; or

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

obtaining accreditation.

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

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

 may approve nursing and other courses which are directly related to

 the practice of nursing as well as others which bear a reasonable

 relationship to current developments in the field of nursing or any

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

 include academic studies, workshops, extension studies, home

 study and other courses.

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

    632.430  1.  The Board may prescribe standards and curricula

 for schools of practical nursing, visit, survey and approve those

 schools, and remove those schools from a list of approved schools

 of nursing for just cause.

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

    (a) An accredited school of practical nursing; or

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

 obtaining accreditation.

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

    632.440  1.  The Board shall prescribe curricula and standards

 for schools and courses of professional nursing. The Board shall

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

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

 meet the requirements of this chapter and of the Board. It shall

 evaluate and approve courses for affiliation with approved schools

 of nursing in this state or with schools of nursing which have

 applied for such approval.

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

    (a) An accredited school of professional nursing; or

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

 of obtaining accreditation.

    Sec. 14.  This act becomes effective upon passage and

 approval.

 

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