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S.B. 157

             1      S [

NURSE ] NURSING s PRACTICE S [ ACT ] s AMENDMENTS

             2     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Paula F. Julander

             5      AN ACT RELATING TO OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS; AMENDING THE
             6      MAKE-UP OF THE BOARD OF NURSING; ELIMINATING THE STATUTORY
             7      REQUIREMENT THAT EXAMINATIONS BE TAKEN WITHIN A PRESCRIBED TIME
             8      PERIOD; AMENDING THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS OF A NURSE WHO
             9      GRADUATES FROM A NONAPPROVED NURSING PROGRAM; AMENDING THE
             10      RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS OF ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES;
             11      AMENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR SUSPENDING A LICENSE
             12      BECAUSE OF IMPAIRMENT; S AMENDING THE QUALITY REVIEW PROGRAM REQUIRED OF
             12a      NURSES AND NURSE MIDWIVES; s AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
             13      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             14      AMENDS:
             15          58-31b-201, as enacted by Chapter 288, Laws of Utah 1998
             16          58-31b-302, as enacted by Chapter 288, Laws of Utah 1998
             17          58-31b-303, as enacted by Chapter 288, Laws of Utah 1998
             18          58-31b-305, as enacted by Chapter 288, Laws of Utah 1998
             19          58-31b-401, as last amended by Chapter 65, Laws of Utah 1999
             19a      S 58-44a-303, as last amended by Chapter 288, Laws of Utah 1998 s
             20      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             21          Section 1. Section 58-31b-201 is amended to read:
             22           58-31b-201. Board.
             23          (1) There is created the Board of Nursing that consists of the following [13] nine
             24      members[, whose appointments shall provide broad representation of the various interests and
             25      constituencies in the nursing profession]:
             26          [(a) six persons licensed as registered nurses:]
             27          [(i) three of whom are actively involved in approved nursing education programs and


             28      represent various types of education programs; and]
             29          [(ii) one of whom is employed in a nursing administrative position within a licensed health
             30      care facility;]
             31          [(b) two persons licensed as licensed practical nurses;]
             32          [(c) three persons licensed as advanced practice registered nurses or certified registered
             33      nurse anesthetists, one of whom also holds a controlled substance license; and]
             34          [(d) two members of the public who are not licensed health care providers.]
             35          (a) seven nurses in a manner as may be further defined in division rule; and
             36          (b) two members of the public.
             37          (2) The board shall be appointed and serve in accordance with Section 58-1-201 .
             38          (3) The board shall carry out the duties and responsibilities in Sections 58-1-202 and
             39      58-1-203 and shall:
             40          (a) (i) recommend to the division minimum standards for educational programs qualifying
             41      a person for licensure under this chapter;
             42          (ii) recommend to the division denial, approval, or withdrawal of approval regarding
             43      educational programs that meet or fail to meet the established minimum standards; and
             44          (iii) designate one of its members on a permanent or rotating basis to:
             45          (A) assist the division in reviewing complaints concerning the unlawful or unprofessional
             46      conduct of a licensee; and
             47          (B) advise the division in its investigation of these complaints.
             48          (b) A board member who has, under Subsection (3)(a)(iii), reviewed a complaint or
             49      advised in its investigation may be disqualified from participating with the board when the board
             50      serves as a presiding officer in an adjudicative proceeding concerning the complaint.
             51          (4) (a) The director shall appoint an individual to serve as the executive administrator of
             52      the Board of Nursing. Except when the board serves as a presiding officer in an adjudicative
             53      procedure, the executive administrator shall serve as an ex officio member of the board and shall
             54      represent the position of the division in matters considered by the board.
             55          (b) The executive administrator shall be a licensed registered nurse, shall have earned a
             56      masters degree in nursing, and shall have a minimum of five years of experience working in
             57      nursing administration or nursing education.
             58          Section 2. Section 58-31b-302 is amended to read:


             59           58-31b-302. Qualifications for licensure.
             60          (1) An applicant for licensure as a licensed practical nurse shall:
             61          (a) submit to the division an application in a form prescribed by the division;
             62          (b) pay to the division a fee determined under Section 63-38-3.2 ;
             63          (c) have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
             64          (d) be in a condition of physical and mental health that will permit the applicant to practice
             65      safely as a licensed practical nurse;
             66          (e) have completed an approved practical nursing education program or an equivalent as
             67      determined by the board;
             68          (f) have passed the examinations [prescribed] as required by division rule made in
             69      collaboration with the board [within two years after completion of the approved practical nursing
             70      education program required under Subsection (1)(e) and within three years of the date of
             71      application for a Utah license]; and
             72          (g) meet with the board, if requested, to determine the applicant's qualifications for
             73      licensure.
             74          (2) An applicant for licensure as a registered nurse shall:
             75          (a) submit to the division an application form prescribed by the division;
             76          (b) pay to the division a fee determined under Section 63-38-3.2 ;
             77          (c) have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
             78          (d) be in a condition of physical and mental health that will allow the applicant to practice
             79      safely as a registered nurse;
             80          (e) have completed an approved registered nursing education program;
             81          (f) have passed the examinations [prescribed] as required by division rule made in
             82      collaboration with the board [within two years after completion of the approved registered nursing
             83      education program required under Subsection (2)(e) and within three years of the date of
             84      application for a Utah license]; and
             85          (g) meet with the board, if requested, to determine the applicant's qualifications for
             86      licensure.
             87          (3) Applicants for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse shall:
             88          (a) submit to the division an application on a form prescribed by the division;
             89          (b) pay to the division a fee determined under Section 63-38-3.2 ;


             90          (c) be in a condition of physical and mental health which will allow the applicant to
             91      practice safely as an advanced practice registered nurse;
             92          (d) hold a current registered nurse license in good standing issued by the state or be
             93      qualified at the time for licensure as a registered nurse;
             94          (e) have earned a graduate degree in nursing or a related area of specialized knowledge as
             95      determined appropriate by the division in collaboration with the board;
             96          (f) have completed course work in patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and
             97      pharmacotherapeutics from an education program approved by the division in collaboration with
             98      the board;
             99          (g) have successfully completed clinical practice in psychiatric and mental health nursing,
             100      including psychotherapy as defined by division rule, after completion of the masters degree
             101      required for licensure, to practice within the psychiatric and mental health nursing specialty;
             102          (h) have passed the examinations [prescribed] as required by division rule made in
             103      collaboration with the board [within two years after completion of the approved education program
             104      required under Subsection (3)(f)];
             105          (i) be currently certified by a program approved by the division in collaboration with the
             106      board and submit evidence satisfactory to the division of the certification; and
             107          (j) meet with the board, if requested, to determine the applicant's qualifications for
             108      licensure.
             109          (4) An applicant for licensure as a certified registered nurse anesthetist shall:
             110          (a) submit to the division an application on a form prescribed by the division;
             111          (b) pay to the division a fee determined under Section 63-38-3.2 ;
             112          (c) be in a condition of physical and mental health which will allow the applicant to
             113      practice safely as a certified registered nurse anesthetist;
             114          (d) hold a current registered nurse license in good standing issued by the state or be
             115      qualified at the time for licensure as a registered nurse;
             116          (e) complete a nurse anesthesia program which is approved by the Council on
             117      Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs;
             118          (f) be currently certified by a program approved by the division in collaboration with the
             119      board and submit evidence satisfactory to the division of the certification; and
             120          (g) meet with the board, if requested, to determine the applicant's qualifications for


             121      licensure.
             122          Section 3. Section 58-31b-303 is amended to read:
             123           58-31b-303. Qualifications for licensure -- Graduates of nonapproved nursing
             124      programs.
             125          An applicant for licensure as a practical nurse or registered nurse who is a graduate of a
             126      nursing education program not approved by the division in collaboration with the board must
             127      comply with the requirements of this section.
             128          (1) An applicant for licensure as a licensed practical nurse shall:
             129          (a) meet all requirements of Subsection 58-31b-302 (1), except Subsection (1)(e); and
             130          (b) produce evidence acceptable to the division and the board that the nursing education
             131      program completed by the applicant is equivalent to the minimum standards established by the
             132      division in collaboration with the board for an approved licensed practical nursing education
             133      program.
             134          (2) An applicant for licensure as a registered nurse shall:
             135          (a) meet all requirements of Subsection 58-31b-302 (2), except Subsection (2)(e); and
             136          (b) (i) pass the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
             137      Examination; or
             138          (ii) produce evidence acceptable to the division and the board that the applicant is currently
             139      licensed as a registered nurse in one of the states, territories, or the District of Columbia of the
             140      United States and has [practiced satisfactorily as a licensed registered nurse in that jurisdiction for
             141      a period of not less than 4,000 hours] passed the NCLEX-RN examination.
             142          Section 4. Section 58-31b-305 is amended to read:
             143           58-31b-305. Term of license -- Expiration -- Renewal.
             144          (1) The division shall issue each license under this chapter in accordance with a two-year
             145      renewal cycle established by rule. The division may by rule extend or shorten a renewal period
             146      by as much as one year to stagger the renewal cycles it administers.
             147          (2) At the time of renewal, the licensee shall show satisfactory evidence of each of the
             148      following renewal requirements:
             149          (a) complete and submit an application for renewal in a form prescribed by the division
             150      and pay the renewal fee determined under Section 63-38-3.2 ; and
             151          (b) meet continuing competency requirements as established by rule.


             152          (3) In addition to the renewal requirements under Subsection (2), a person licensed as a
             153      advanced practice registered nurse shall:
             154          (a) be currently certified by a program approved by the division in collaboration with the
             155      board and submit evidence satisfactory to the division of that qualification or if licensed prior to
             156      July 1, 1992, meet the requirements established by rule; and
             157          (b) as a condition precedent for license renewal commencing on and after July 1, 1999,
             158      actively participate on a continuing basis in a quality review program based on criteria established
             159      by the division by rule in collaboration with the board. [A quality review program shall be:]
             160          [(i) based in a hospital or other licensed health care facility, as defined in Section 26-21-2 ,
             161      at which the licensee regularly engages in practice; or]
             162          [(ii) conducted by or under the direction of:]
             163          [(A) a professional association approved by the division in collaboration with the board;
             164      or]
             165          [(B) another organization approved by the division in collaboration with the board as
             166      defined by division rule.]
             167          (4) In addition to the renewal requirements under Subsection (2), a person licensed as a
             168      certified registered nurse anesthetist shall:
             169          (a) actively participate on a continuing regular basis in an anesthesia quality assurance
             170      program approved by the division in collaboration with the board and submit evidence satisfactory
             171      to the division of the participation; and
             172          (b) be currently certified in anesthesia by a program approved by the division in
             173      collaboration with the board and submit evidence satisfactory to the division of the certification.
             174          (5) Each license automatically expires on the expiration date shown on the license unless
             175      renewed in accordance with Section 58-1-308 .
             176          Section 5. Section 58-31b-401 is amended to read:
             177           58-31b-401. Grounds for denial of licensure and disciplinary proceedings.
             178          (1) Grounds for refusal to issue a license to an applicant, for refusal to renew the license
             179      of a licensee, to revoke, suspend, restrict, or place on probation the license of a licensee, to issue
             180      a public or private reprimand to a licensee, and to issue cease and desist orders shall be in
             181      accordance with Section 58-1-401 .
             182          [(2) (a) If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that a nurse is an "incapacitated


             183      person" as defined in Section 75-1-201 , the director shall suspend the license of the nurse upon
             184      entry of the judgment, regardless of the pendency of an appeal.]
             185          [(b) If it appears to the board that there is reasonable cause to believe that a nurse, even
             186      though the nurse has not been judicially determined to be incompetent, mentally incompetent, or
             187      incapable, is unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients because of
             188      illness, drunkenness, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, chemical, or any other type of material, or
             189      as a result of any mental or physical condition, a complaint in the name of the board shall be served
             190      upon the nurse for hearing on the sole issue of the capacity of the nurse to conduct properly the
             191      practice of nursing.]
             192          [(c) (i) Failure of a nurse to submit to a mental or physical examination within 30 days
             193      when directed by the board in connection with a hearing instituted under Subsection (2)(b)
             194      constitutes grounds for immediate suspension of the nurse's license, unless the failure was due to
             195      circumstances beyond the control of the nurse.]
             196          [(ii) A licensee who submits to an examination under this Subsection (2) waives all
             197      objections to the admissibility of an examining physician's testimony or examination report on the
             198      ground that they constitute a privileged communication.]
             199          [(iii) The director may enter an order of suspension of the license without the taking of
             200      testimony or the presentation of evidence upon a finding of reasonable cause to believe that an
             201      order of suspension is necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare, if a hearing is
             202      scheduled to occur within 30 days of the order of suspension.]
             203          [(d) A nurse whose license is suspended under Subsection (2) shall, at reasonable intervals
             204      defined by rule, be afforded the opportunity to demonstrate that the nurse can resume the
             205      competent practice of nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients.]
             206          (2) If a court of competent jurisdiction determines a nurse is an incapacitated person as
             207      defined in Section 75-1-201 or that he is mentally ill as defined in Section 62A-12-202 , and unable
             208      to safely engage in the practice of nursing, the director shall immediately suspend the license of
             209      the nurse upon the entry of the judgment of the court, without further proceedings under Title 63,
             210      Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act, regardless of whether an appeal from the court's
             211      ruling is pending. The director shall promptly notify the nurse, in writing, of the suspension.
             212          (3) (a) If the division and the majority of the board find reasonable cause to believe a
             213      nurse, who is not determined judicially to be an incapacitated person or to be mentally ill, is


             214      incapable of practicing nursing with reasonable skill regarding the safety of patients, because of
             215      illness, excessive use of drugs or alcohol, or as a result of any mental or physical condition, the
             216      board shall recommend that the director file a petition with the division, and cause the petition to
             217      be served upon the nurse with a notice of hearing on the sole issue of the capacity of the nurse to
             218      competently, safely engage in the practice of nursing.
             219          (b) The hearing shall be conducted under Section 58-1-109 , and Title 63, Chapter 46b,
             220      Administrative Procedures Act, except as provided in Subsection (4).
             221          (4) (a) Every nurse who accepts the privilege of being licensed under this chapter gives
             222      consent to:
             223          (i) submitting to an immediate mental or physical examination, at the nurse's expense and
             224      by a division-approved practitioner selected by the nurse, when directed in writing by the division
             225      and a majority of the board to do so; and
             226          (ii) the admissibility of the reports of the examining practitioner's testimony or
             227      examination, and waives all objections on the ground the reports constitute a privileged
             228      communication.
             229          (b) The examination may be ordered by the division, with the consent of a majority of the
             230      board, only upon a finding of reasonable cause to believe:
             231          (i) the nurse is mentally ill or incapacitated or otherwise unable to practice nursing with
             232      reasonable skill and safety; and
             233          (ii) immediate action by the division and the board is necessary to prevent harm to the
             234      nurse's patients or the general public.
             235          (c) (i) Failure of a nurse to submit to the examination ordered under this section is a
             236      ground for the division's immediate suspension of the nurse's license by written order of the
             237      director.
             238          (ii) The division may enter the order of suspension without further compliance with Title
             239      63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act, unless the division finds the failure to submit to
             240      the examination ordered under this section was due to circumstances beyond the control of the
             241      nurse and was not related directly to the illness or incapacity of the nurse.
             242          (5) (a) A nurse whose license is suspended under Subsection (2), (3), or (4)(c) has the right
             243      to a hearing to appeal the suspension within ten days after the license is suspended.
             244          (b) The hearing held under this Subsection (5) shall be conducted in accordance with


             245      Sections 58-1-108 and 58-1-109 for the sole purpose of determining if sufficient basis exists for
             246      the continuance of the order of suspension in order to prevent harm to the nurse's patients or the
             247      general public.
             248          (6) A nurse whose license is revoked, suspended, or in any way restricted under this
             249      section may request the division and the board to consider, at reasonable intervals, evidence
             250      presented by the nurse, under procedures established by division rule, regarding any change in the
             251      nurse's condition, to determine whether:
             252          (a) he is or is not able to safely and competently engage in the practice of nursing; and
             253          (b) he is qualified to have his license to practice under this chapter restored completely or
             254      in part.
             255          [(3)] (7) Nothing in Section 63-2-206 may be construed as limiting the authority of the
             256      division to report current significant investigative information to the coordinated licensure
             257      information system for transmission to party states as required of the division by Article VII of the
             258      Nurse Licensure Compact in Section 58-31c-102 .
             258a      S Section 6. Section 58-44a-303 is amended to read:
             258b          58-44a-303. Term of license -- Expiration -- Renewal.
             258c          (1) (a) Each license issued under this chapter shall be issued in accordance with a two-year
             258d      renewal cycle established by rule.
             258e          (b) A renewal period may be extended or shortened by as much as one year to maintain
             258f      established renewal cycles or to change an established renewal cycle.
             258g          (2) At the time of renewal, the licensee shall:
             258h          (a) hold a valid certification from the American College of Nurse Midwives Certification
             258i      Council, Inc.;
             258j          (b) have met continuing competency requirements defined by the division rule in
             258k      collaboration with the board; and
             258l          (c) as a condition precedent for license renewal commencing on and after July 1, 1999,
             258m      actively participate on a continuing basis in a quality review program based on criteria established by
             258n      the division by rule in collaboration with the board. [A quality review program shall be:]
             258o          [(i) based in a hospital or other licensed health care facility, as defined in Section 26-21-2, at
             258p      which the licensee regularly engages in practice; or]
             258q          [(ii) conducted by or under the direction of:]
             258r          [(A) a professional association approved by the division in collaboration with the board; or]
             258s          [(B) another organization approved by the division in collaboration with the board as defined
             258t      by division rule.] s
             259          Section S [ 6 ] 7 s . Effective date.
             260          This act takes effect on July 1, 2000.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-26-00 6:59 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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