CS/HB 1337
1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to nursing; amending s. 456.014, F.S.;
3authorizing the disclosure of certain confidential
4information required of nursing license applicants to
5certain persons; amending s. 464.003, F.S.; providing and
6revising definitions; amending s. 464.008, F.S.; revising
7requirements for graduation from certain nursing education
8programs for nursing license applicants seeking to take
9the licensing examination; amending s. 464.015, F.S.;
10revising restrictions on nursing graduates who may use
11certain titles and abbreviations; amending s. 464.019,
12F.S.; revising requirements for the approval of nursing
13education programs by the Board of Nursing, including
14application requirements and procedures for the review and
15approval or denial of applications; revising requirements
16for the approval of nursing education programs meeting
17certain requirements before a specified date; providing
18for retroactive application; revising requirements for the
19submission of annual reports by approved programs;
20revising requirements for the information published on the
21board's Internet website; revising accountability
22requirements for an approved program's graduate passage
23rates on a certain licensing examination; revising
24procedures for placing programs on, and removing such
25programs, from probationary status; requiring termination
26of programs under certain circumstances; requiring certain
27representatives of programs that fail to submit annual
28reports to appear before the board; requiring the
29Department of Health to disclose certain confidential
30information about a program's graduates to the program
31director under certain circumstances; requiring program
32directors to maintain the confidentiality of such
33information; providing penalties for unlawful disclosure
34of confidential information; revising the board's
35authority to adopt rules; exempting accredited programs
36from specified requirements; conforming provisions;
37deleting obsolete provisions; revising requirements for
38the Florida Center for Nursing's evaluation of the board's
39implementation of certain accountability provisions;
40conforming cross-references; amending s. 464.022, F.S.;
41conforming provisions; amending ss. 458.348, 459.025,
42464.012, and 960.28, F.S.; conforming cross-references;
43providing an effective date.
44
45Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
46
47 Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 456.014, Florida
48Statutes, is amended to read:
49 456.014 Public inspection of information required from
50applicants; exceptions; examination hearing.-
51 (1) All information required by the department of any
52applicant shall be a public record and shall be open to public
53inspection pursuant to s. 119.07, except financial information,
54medical information, school transcripts, examination questions,
55answers, papers, grades, and grading keys, which are
56confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and shall not be
57discussed with or made accessible to anyone except the program
58director of an approved program or accredited program as
59provided in s. 464.019(7), members of the board, the department,
60and staff thereof, who have a bona fide need to know such
61information. Any information supplied to the department by any
62other agency which is exempt from the provisions of chapter 119
63or is confidential shall remain exempt or confidential pursuant
64to applicable law while in the custody of the department or the
65agency.
66 Section 2. Section 464.003, Florida Statutes, is reordered
67and amended to read:
68 464.003 Definitions.-As used in this part, the term:
69 (1) "Accredited program" means a program for the
70prelicensure education of professional or practical nurses that
71is conducted in the United States at an educational institution,
72whether in this state, another state, or the District of
73Columbia, and that is accredited by a specialized accrediting
74agency that is nationally recognized by the United States
75Secretary of Education to accredit nursing education programs.
76 (13)(1) "Department" means the Department of Health.
77 (5)(2) "Board" means the Board of Nursing.
78 (20)(3)(a) "Practice of professional nursing" means the
79performance of those acts requiring substantial specialized
80knowledge, judgment, and nursing skill based upon applied
81principles of psychological, biological, physical, and social
82sciences which shall include, but not be limited to:
83 (a)1. The observation, assessment, nursing diagnosis,
84planning, intervention, and evaluation of care; health teaching
85and counseling of the ill, injured, or infirm; and the promotion
86of wellness, maintenance of health, and prevention of illness of
87others.
88 (b)2. The administration of medications and treatments as
89prescribed or authorized by a duly licensed practitioner
90authorized by the laws of this state to prescribe such
91medications and treatments.
92 (c)3. The supervision and teaching of other personnel in
93the theory and performance of any of the above acts described in
94this subsection.
95
96A professional nurse is responsible and accountable for making
97decisions that are based upon the individual's educational
98preparation and experience in nursing.
99 (19)(b) "Practice of practical nursing" means the
100performance of selected acts, including the administration of
101treatments and medications, in the care of the ill, injured, or
102infirm and the promotion of wellness, maintenance of health, and
103prevention of illness of others under the direction of a
104registered nurse, a licensed physician, a licensed osteopathic
105physician, a licensed podiatric physician, or a licensed
106dentist. A The professional nurse and the practical nurse is
107shall be responsible and accountable for making decisions that
108are based upon the individual's educational preparation and
109experience in nursing.
110 (7)(c) "Clinical nurse specialist practice" means the
111delivery and management of advanced practice nursing care to
112individuals or groups, including the ability to:
113 (a)1. Assess the health status of individuals and families
114using methods appropriate to the population and area of
115practice.
116 (b)2. Diagnose human responses to actual or potential
117health problems.
118 (c)3. Plan for health promotion, disease prevention, and
119therapeutic intervention in collaboration with the patient or
120client.
121 (d)4. Implement therapeutic interventions based on the
122nurse specialist's area of expertise and within the scope of
123advanced nursing practice, including, but not limited to, direct
124nursing care, counseling, teaching, and collaboration with other
125licensed health care providers.
126 (e)5. Coordinate health care as necessary and appropriate
127and evaluate with the patient or client the effectiveness of
128care.
129 (2)(d) "Advanced or specialized nursing practice" means,
130in addition to the practice of professional nursing, the
131performance of advanced-level nursing acts approved by the board
132which, by virtue of postbasic specialized education, training,
133and experience, are appropriately performed by an advanced
134registered nurse practitioner. Within the context of advanced or
135specialized nursing practice, the advanced registered nurse
136practitioner may perform acts of nursing diagnosis and nursing
137treatment of alterations of the health status. The advanced
138registered nurse practitioner may also perform acts of medical
139diagnosis and treatment, prescription, and operation which are
140identified and approved by a joint committee composed of three
141members appointed by the Board of Nursing, two of whom must be
142advanced registered nurse practitioners; three members appointed
143by the Board of Medicine, two of whom must have had work
144experience with advanced registered nurse practitioners; and the
145State Surgeon General or the State Surgeon General's designee.
146Each committee member appointed by a board shall be appointed to
147a term of 4 years unless a shorter term is required to establish
148or maintain staggered terms. The Board of Nursing shall adopt
149rules authorizing the performance of any such acts approved by
150the joint committee. Unless otherwise specified by the joint
151committee, such acts must be performed under the general
152supervision of a practitioner licensed under chapter 458,
153chapter 459, or chapter 466 within the framework of standing
154protocols which identify the medical acts to be performed and
155the conditions for their performance. The department may, by
156rule, require that a copy of the protocol be filed with the
157department along with the notice required by s. 458.348.
158 (17)(e) "Nursing diagnosis" means the observation and
159evaluation of physical or mental conditions, behaviors, signs
160and symptoms of illness, and reactions to treatment and the
161determination as to whether such conditions, signs, symptoms,
162and reactions represent a deviation from normal.
163 (18)(f) "Nursing treatment" means the establishment and
164implementation of a nursing regimen for the care and comfort of
165individuals, the prevention of illness, and the education,
166restoration, and maintenance of health.
167 (22)(4) "Registered nurse" means any person licensed in
168this state to practice professional nursing.
169 (16)(5) "Licensed practical nurse" means any person
170licensed in this state to practice practical nursing.
171 (6) "Clinical nurse specialist" means any person licensed
172in this state to practice professional nursing and certified in
173clinical nurse specialist practice.
174 (3)(7) "Advanced registered nurse practitioner" means any
175person licensed in this state to practice professional nursing
176and certified in advanced or specialized nursing practice,
177including certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified
178nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners.
179 (4)(8) "Approved program" means a nursing program for the
180prelicensure education of professional or practical nurses that
181is conducted in the state at an educational institution and that
182is in a school, college, or university which is approved under
183s. 464.019 for the education of nurses. The term includes such a
184program placed on probationary status.
185 (10)(9) "Clinical training" means direct nursing care
186experiences with patients or clients which offer the student the
187opportunity to integrate, apply, and refine specific skills and
188abilities based on theoretical concepts and scientific
189principles.
190 (8)(10) "Clinical preceptor" means a registered nurse or
191licensed practical nurse who is employed by a clinical training
192facility to serve who serves as a role model and clinical
193resource person for a specified period to students an individual
194enrolled in an approved program.
195 (9)(11) "Clinical simulation" means a strategy used to
196replicate clinical practice as closely as possible to teach
197theory, assessment, technology, pharmacology, and skills.
198 (11)(12) "Community-based clinical experience" means
199activities consistent with the curriculum and involving
200individuals, families, and groups with the intent of promoting
201wellness, maintaining health, and preventing illness.
202 (12)(13) "Curriculum" means a planned sequence of course
203offerings and learning experiences that comprise a nursing
204education program.
205 (21)(14) "Probationary status" means the status of an
206approved a nursing education program that is placed on such
207status pursuant subject to s. 464.019(2)(a)2. or (5)(a) or (b).
208 (14) "Educational institution" means a school, college, or
209university.
210 (15) "Graduate passage rate" means the percentage of a
211program's graduates who, as first-time test takers, pass the
212National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing
213Examination during a calendar year, as calculated by the
214contract testing service of the National Council of State Boards
215of Nursing.
216 (23) "Required passage rate" means the graduate passage
217rate required for an approved program pursuant to s.
218464.019(6)(a)1.
219 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 464.008, Florida
220Statutes, is amended to read:
221 464.008 Licensure by examination.-
222 (1) Any person desiring to be licensed as a registered
223nurse or licensed practical nurse shall apply to the department
224to take the licensure examination. The department shall examine
225each applicant who:
226 (a) Has completed the application form and remitted a fee
227set by the board not to exceed $150 and has remitted an
228examination fee set by the board not to exceed $75 plus the
229actual per applicant cost to the department for purchase of the
230examination from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
231or a similar national organization.
232 (b) Has provided sufficient information on or after
233October 1, 1989, which must be submitted by the department for a
234statewide criminal records correspondence check through the
235Department of Law Enforcement.
236 (c) Is in good mental and physical health, is a recipient
237of a high school diploma or the equivalent, and has completed
238the requirements for:
239 1. Graduation from an approved program;
240 2. Graduation from a prelicensure nursing education
241program that the board determines is, or its equivalent to an
242approved program;
243 3. Graduation on or after July 1, 2009, from an accredited
244program; or
245 4. Graduation before July 1, 2009, from a prelicensure
246nursing education program whose graduates at that time were
247eligible for examination as determined by the board, for the
248preparation of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses,
249whichever is applicable.
250
251Courses successfully completed in a professional nursing
252education program that which are at least equivalent to a
253practical nursing education program may be used to satisfy the
254education requirements for licensure as a licensed practical
255nurse.
256 (d) Has the ability to communicate in the English
257language, which may be determined by an examination given by the
258department.
259 Section 4. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 464.015,
260Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
261 464.015 Titles and abbreviations; restrictions; penalty.-
262 (3) Only persons who are graduates of prelicensure nursing
263education approved programs listed in s. 464.008(1)(c) or the
264equivalent may use the term "Graduate Nurse" and the
265abbreviation "G.N.," pending the results of the first licensure
266examination for which they are eligible.
267 (4) Only persons who are graduates of prelicensure nursing
268education approved programs listed in s. 464.008(1)(c) or the
269equivalent may use the term "Graduate Practical Nurse" and the
270abbreviation "G.P.N.," pending the results of the first
271licensure examination for which they are eligible.
272 Section 5. Section 464.019, Florida Statutes, is reordered
273and amended to read:
274 464.019 Approval of nursing education programs.-
275 (1) PROGRAM APPLICATIONS.-An educational institution that
276wishes to conduct a program in this state for the prelicensure
277education of professional or practical nurses must shall submit
278to the department a program application and a program review fee
279of $1,000 for each prelicensure nursing education program to be
280offered at the institution's main campus, branch campus, or
281other instructional site the department. Within 90 days after
282receipt of a program application and program review fee, the
283board shall approve the program application if it documents
284compliance with the standards in paragraphs (a)-(h). If the
285program application is incomplete or does not document
286compliance, the board shall follow the procedures in subsection
287(3). a program application is deemed approved by the board if
288the board does not act on the application within the timeframes
289specified in subsection (3) or this subsection. Each program
290application must document that:
291 (a)1. For a professional nursing education program, the
292program director and at least 50 percent of the program's
293faculty members are registered nurses who have, at a minimum, a
294master's or higher bachelor's degree in nursing or a bachelor's
295and a master's degree in nursing and a master's or higher degree
296in a field or a related to nursing field.
297 2.(b) For a practical nursing education program, the
298program director and at least 50 percent of the program's
299faculty members are registered nurses who have, at a minimum, a
300bachelor's or higher degree in nursing.
301
302The educational degree requirements of this paragraph may be
303documented by an official transcript or by a written statement
304from the educational institution verifying that the institution
305conferred the degree.
306 (b)(c) The program's nursing major curriculum consists of
307at least:
308 1. Fifty percent clinical training for a practical nursing
309education program, an associate degree professional nursing
310education program, or a professional diploma nursing education
311program.
312 2. Forty percent clinical training for a bachelor's degree
313professional nursing education program.
314 (c)(d) No more than 25 percent of the program's clinical
315training consists of clinical simulation.
316 (d)(e) The program has signed agreements with each agency,
317facility, and organization included in the curriculum plan as
318clinical training sites and community-based clinical experience
319sites.
320 (e)(f) The program has written policies for faculty which
321include provisions for direct or indirect supervision by program
322faculty or clinical preceptors for students in clinical training
323consistent with the following standards:
324 1. The number of program faculty members equals at least
325one faculty member directly supervising every 12 students unless
326the written agreement between the program and the agency,
327facility, or organization providing clinical training sites
328allows more students, not to exceed 18 students, to be directly
329supervised by one program faculty member.
330 2. For a hospital setting, indirect supervision may occur
331only if there is direct supervision by an assigned clinical
332preceptor, a supervising program faculty member is available by
333telephone, and such arrangement is approved by the clinical
334facility.
335 3. For community-based clinical experiences that involve
336student participation in invasive or complex nursing activities,
337students must be directly supervised by a program faculty member
338or clinical preceptor and such arrangement must be approved by
339the community-based clinical facility.
340 4. For community-based clinical experiences not subject to
341subparagraph 3., indirect supervision may occur only when a
342supervising program faculty member is available to the student
343by telephone.
344
345A program's policies established under this paragraph must
346require a clinical preceptor, if supervising students in a
347professional nursing education program, to be a registered nurse
348or, if supervising students in a practical nursing education
349program, to be a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
350 (f)(g) The professional or practical nursing curriculum
351plan documents clinical experience and theoretical instruction
352in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric
353nursing. A professional nursing curriculum plan shall also
354document clinical experience and theoretical instruction in
355psychiatric nursing. Each curriculum plan must document clinical
356training experience in appropriate settings that include, but
357are not limited to, acute care, long-term care, and community
358settings.
359 (g)(h) The professional or practical nursing education
360program provides theoretical instruction and clinical
361application in personal, family, and community health concepts;
362nutrition; human growth and development throughout the life
363span; body structure and function; interpersonal relationship
364skills; mental health concepts; pharmacology and administration
365of medications; and legal aspects of practice. A professional
366nursing education program shall also provide theoretical
367instruction and clinical application in interpersonal
368relationships and leadership skills; professional role and
369function; and health teaching and counseling skills.
370
371Upon the board's approval of a program application, the program
372becomes an approved program under this section.
373 (3)(2) STATUS OF CERTAIN PROGRAMS.-
374 (a) A professional or practical nursing education program
375becomes an approved program if that, as of June 30, 2009, the
376program:
377 (a)1. Has full or provisional approval from the board or,
378except as provided in paragraph (b), is on probationary status,
379except as provided in subparagraph 2., becomes an approved
380program under this section. In order to retain approved program
381status, such program shall submit the report required under
382paragraph (c) to the board by November 1, 2009, and annually
383thereafter.
384 (b)2. Is on probationary status because the program did
385not meet the board's requirement for program graduate passage
386rates. Such program on the National Council of State Boards of
387Nursing Licensing Examination, shall remain on probationary
388status until it the program achieves a graduate passage rate for
389calendar year 2009 or 2010 that equals or exceeds the required
390passage rate for the respective calendar year and compliance
391with the program graduate passage rate requirement in paragraph
392(5)(a). A program that is subject to this subparagraph must
393disclose its probationary status in writing to the program's
394students and applicants submit the report required under
395paragraph (c) to the board by November 1, 2009, and annually
396thereafter and must comply with paragraph (5)(c). If the program
397does not achieve the required passage rate compliance by July 1,
3982011, the board shall terminate the program pursuant to chapter
399120 as provided in paragraph (5)(d).
400 (b) Each professional or practical nursing program that
401has its application approved by the board under subsection (1)
402on or after July 1, 2009, shall annually submit the report
403required under paragraph (c) to the board by November 1 of each
404year following initial approval of its application.
405 (4) ANNUAL REPORT.-By November 1 of each year, each
406approved program shall submit to the board an
407 (c) The annual report comprised of required by this
408subsection must include an affidavit certifying continued
409compliance with paragraphs (1)(a)-(g) subsection (1), must
410provide a summary description of the program's compliance with
411paragraphs (1)(a)-(g) with subsection (1), and documentation
412must document for the previous academic year that, to the extent
413applicable, sets forth for each professional and practical
414nursing program:
415 (a)1. The number of student applications received, the
416number of qualified applicants, applicants and the number of
417students accepted, accepted applicants who enroll in the
418program, students enrolled in the program, and.
419 2. the number of program graduates.
420 3. The program's graduate passage rate on the National
421Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination.
422 (b)4. The program's retention rates for students tracked
423from program entry to graduation.
424 (c)5. The program's accreditation status, including
425identification of the accrediting agency if such agency is not
426an accrediting agency described in s. 464.003(1) body.
427 (2)(3) PROGRAM APPROVAL.-
428 (a) Upon receipt of a If an institution's program
429application and review fee, the department shall examine the
430application to determine whether it is complete. If a program
431application is not complete incomplete, the department board
432shall notify the educational institution in writing of any
433apparent errors or omissions within 30 days after the
434department's receipt of the application and follow the
435procedures in s. 120.60. A program application is deemed
436complete upon the department's receipt of:
437 1. The initial application, if the department does not
438notify the educational institution of any errors or omissions
439within the 30-day period; or
440 2. A revised application that corrects each error and
441omission of which the department notifies the educational
442institution within the 30-day period.
443 (b) Within 90 days after the department's receipt of a
444complete program application, the board shall:
445 1. Approve the If an institution's program application if
446it documents does not document compliance with paragraphs
447(1)(a)-(g); or the standards in subsection (1), within 90 days
448after the board's receipt of the program application, the board
449shall
450 2. Provide the educational institution with a notice of
451intent to deny the program application if it does not document
452compliance with paragraphs (1)(a)-(g) that sets forth written
453reasons for the denial. The notice must set forth written
454reasons for the board's denial of the application. The board may
455not deny a program application because of an educational
456institution's failure to correct any error or omission of which
457the department does not notify the institution within the 30-day
458notice period under paragraph (a). The educational institution
459may request a hearing on the notice of intent to deny the
460program application pursuant to chapter 120.
461 (c) A program application is deemed approved if the board
462does not act within the 90-day review period provided under
463paragraph (b).
464 (d) Upon the board's approval of a program application,
465the program becomes an approved program.
466 (5)(4) INTERNET WEBSITE.-The board shall publish the
467following information on its Internet website:
468 (a) A list of each accredited program conducted in the
469state and the program's graduate passage rates for the most
470recent 2 calendar years, which the department shall determine
471through the following sources:
472 1. For a program's accreditation status, the specialized
473accrediting agencies that are nationally recognized by the
474United States Secretary of Education to accredit nursing
475education programs.
476 2. For a program's graduate passage rates, the contract
477testing service of the National Council of State Boards of
478Nursing.
479 (b) The following data for each approved program, which on
480nursing programs located in the state. The data shall include,
481to the extent applicable:
482 1.(a) All documentation provided by the program in its
483applicant for each approved nursing program application if
484submitted on or after July 1, 2009.
485 2.(b) The summary description of the each program's
486compliance as submitted under subsection (4) paragraph (2)(c).
487 (c) A comprehensive list of each practical and
488professional nursing program in the state.
489 3.(d) The program's accreditation status for each program,
490including identification of the accrediting agency if such
491agency is not an accrediting agency described in s. 464.003(1)
492body.
493 4.(e) The Each program's approval or probationary status.
494 5.(f) The Each program's graduate passage rates for the
495most recent 2 calendar years rate on the National Council of
496State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination.
497 (g) The national average for passage rates on the National
498Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination.
499 6.(h) Each program's retention rates for students tracked
500from program entry to graduation.
501 (c) The average passage rates for United States educated
502first-time test takers on the National Council of State Boards
503of Nursing Licensing Examination for the most recent 2 calendar
504years, as calculated by the contract testing service of the
505National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The average passage
506rates shall be published separately for each type of comparable
507degree program listed in sub-subparagraphs (6)(a)1.a.-d.
508
509The information data required to be published under this
510subsection shall be made available in a manner that allows
511interactive searches and comparisons of individual specific
512nursing education programs selected by the website user. The
513board shall publish the data by December 31, 2009, and update
514the Internet website at least quarterly with the available
515information data.
516 (6)(5) ACCOUNTABILITY.-
517 (a)1. An approved program must achieve a graduate passage
518rate that is not lower than 10 percentage points less than the
519average passage rate for graduates of comparable degree programs
520who are United States educated first-time test takers on the
521National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing
522Examination during a calendar year, as calculated by the
523contract testing service of the National Council of State Boards
524of Nursing. For purposes of this subparagraph, an approved
525program is comparable to all degree programs of the same program
526type from among the following program types:
527 a. Professional nursing education programs that terminate
528in a bachelor's degree.
529 b. Professional nursing education programs that terminate
530in an associate degree.
531 c. Professional nursing education programs that terminate
532in a diploma.
533 d. Practical nursing education programs.
534 2. Beginning with graduate passage rates for calendar year
5352010, if an approved a professional or practical nursing
536program's average graduate passage rates do not equal or exceed
537the required passage rates rate for first-time test takers on
538the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing
539Examination falls 10 percent or more below the national average
540passage rate for first-time test takers educated in the United
541States, as annually published by the contract testing service of
542the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, for 2
543consecutive calendar years, the board shall place the program on
544probationary status pursuant to chapter 120 probation and the
545program director must shall be required to appear before the
546board to present a plan for remediation. The program shall
547remain on probationary status until it achieves a compliance
548with the graduate passage rate that equals or exceeds the
549required passage rate for any one calendar year.
550 3. Upon the program's achievement of a graduate passage
551rate that equals or exceeds the required passage rate,
552requirement and shall be terminated by the board, at its next
553regularly scheduled meeting following release of the program's
554graduate passage rate by the National Council of State Boards of
555Nursing, shall remove the program's probationary status.
556However, under paragraph (d) if the program, during the 2
557calendar years following its placement on probationary status,
558does not achieve the required passage rate for any one
559compliance within 2 calendar year, the board shall terminate the
560program pursuant to chapter 120 years.
561 (b) If an approved a program fails to submit the annual
562report required in subsection (4) (2), the board shall notify
563the program director and president or chief executive officer of
564the educational institution in writing within 15 days after the
565due date of the annual report. The program director must appear
566before the board at the board's next regularly scheduled meeting
567to explain the reason for the delay place the program on
568probation. The board program shall terminate the program
569pursuant to chapter 120 remain on probationary status until it
570submits the annual report and shall be terminated by the board
571under paragraph (d) if it does not submit the annual report
572within 6 months after the report's due date.
573 (c) An approved A program placed on probationary status
574shall disclose its probationary status in writing to the
575program's students and applicants.
576 (d) The board shall terminate a program that fails to
577comply with subparagraph (2)(a)2., paragraph (a), or paragraph
578(b) pursuant to chapter 120.
579 (7) DISCLOSURE OF GRADUATE PASSAGE RATE DATA.-
580 (a) For each of an approved program's or accredited
581program's graduates included in the calculation of the program's
582graduate passage rate, the department shall disclose to the
583program director, upon his or her written request, the name,
584examination date, and determination of whether each graduate
585passed or failed the National Council for State Boards of
586Nursing Licensing Examination, to the extent that such
587information is provided to the department by the contract
588testing service of the National Council for State Boards of
589Nursing. The written request must specify the calendar years for
590which the information is requested.
591 (b) A program director to whom confidential information
592exempt from public disclosure pursuant to s. 456.014 is
593disclosed under this subsection must maintain the
594confidentiality of the information and is subject to the same
595penalties provided in s. 456.082 for department employees who
596unlawfully disclose confidential information.
597 (8)(6) PROGRAM CLOSURE.-Each approved program and
598accredited a nursing program conducted in the state that closes
599shall notify the board in writing and advise the board of the
600arrangements for storage of permanent records.
601 (9)(7) RULEMAKING.-The board does not have any rulemaking
602authority to administer this section, except that the board
603shall adopt a rule that prescribes the format for submitting
604program applications under subsection (1) and annual reports
605submitting summary descriptions of program compliance under
606subsection (4) paragraph (2)(c). The board may not impose any
607condition or requirement on an educational institution
608submitting a program application, an approved program, or an
609accredited program, a program on probationary status except as
610expressly provided in this section. The board shall repeal all
611rules, or portions thereof, in existence on July 1, 2009, that
612are inconsistent with this subsection.
613 (10) APPLICABILITY.-Subsections (1)-(4), paragraph (5)(b),
614and subsection (6) do not apply to an accredited program. An
615accredited program on probationary status before July 1, 2010,
616ceases to be subject to the probationary status. If an
617accredited program ceases to be accredited, the program may
618apply under this section to become an approved program.
619 (8) The Florida Center for Nursing and the Office of
620Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall
621each:
622 (a) Monitor the administration of this section and
623evaluate the effectiveness of this section in achieving quality
624nursing programs with a higher production of quality nursing
625graduates.
626 (b) Report its findings and make recommendations, if
627warranted, to improve the effectiveness of this section to the
628Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
629House of Representatives by February 1, 2010.
630 (11)(9) IMPLEMENTATION STUDY.-The Florida Center for
631Nursing and the education policy area of the Office of Program
632Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall study the 5-
633year administration of this section and submit reports to the
634Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
635House of Representatives by January 30, 2011, and annually
636thereafter through January 30, 2015. The annual reports shall
637address the previous academic year; set forth data on the
638measures specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) for each
639prelicensure practical and professional nursing program in the
640state, as such data becomes available; and include an evaluation
641of such data for purposes of determining whether this section is
642increasing the availability of nursing education programs and
643the production of quality nurses. The department and each
644approved program or accredited program shall comply with
645requests for data from the Florida Center for Nursing and the
646education policy area of the Office of Program Policy Analysis
647and Government Accountability.
648 (a) The education policy area of the Office of Program
649Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall evaluate
650program-specific data for each approved program and accredited
651program conducted in the state, including, but not limited to:
652 1. The number of nursing education programs and student
653slots available.
654 2. The number of student applications submitted, the
655number of qualified applicants, and the number of students
656accepted.
657 3. The number of program graduates.
658 4. Program retention rates of students tracked from
659program entry to graduation.
660 5. Graduate passage rates on the National Council of State
661Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination.
662 6. The number of graduates who become employed as
663practical or professional nurses in the state.
664 (b) The Florida Center for Nursing shall evaluate the
665board's implementation of the:
666 1. Program application approval process, including, but
667not limited to, the number of program applications submitted
668under subsection (1); the number of program applications
669approved and denied by the board under subsection (2)
670subsections (1) and (3); the number of denials of program
671applications reviewed under chapter 120; and a description of
672the outcomes of those reviews.
673 2. Accountability Probation and termination processes,
674including, but not limited to, the number of programs placed on
675probationary status, the number of approved programs for which
676the program director is required to appear before the board
677under subsection (6), the number of approved programs terminated
678by the board under paragraph (5)(d), the number of terminations
679reviewed under chapter 120, and a description of the outcomes of
680those reviews.
681 Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 464.022, Florida
682Statutes, is amended to read:
683 464.022 Exceptions.-No provision of this part shall be
684construed to prohibit:
685 (4) The practice of nursing by graduates of prelicensure
686nursing education approved programs listed in s. 464.008(1)(c)
687or the equivalent, pending the result of the first licensing
688examination for which they are eligible following graduation,
689provided they practice under direct supervision of a registered
690professional nurse. The board shall by rule define what
691constitutes direct supervision.
692 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
693(2) of section 458.348, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
694 458.348 Formal supervisory relationships, standing orders,
695and established protocols; notice; standards.-
696 (1) NOTICE.-
697 (a) When a physician enters into a formal supervisory
698relationship or standing orders with an emergency medical
699technician or paramedic licensed pursuant to s. 401.27, which
700relationship or orders contemplate the performance of medical
701acts, or when a physician enters into an established protocol
702with an advanced registered nurse practitioner, which protocol
703contemplates the performance of medical acts identified and
704approved by the joint committee pursuant to s. 464.003(2)(3)(d)
705or acts set forth in s. 464.012(3) and (4), the physician shall
706submit notice to the board. The notice shall contain a statement
707in substantially the following form:
708 I, ...(name and professional license number of
709physician)..., of ...(address of physician)... have hereby
710entered into a formal supervisory relationship, standing orders,
711or an established protocol with ...(number of persons)...
712emergency medical technician(s), ...(number of persons)...
713paramedic(s), or ...(number of persons)... advanced registered
714nurse practitioner(s).
715 (2) ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS BY JOINT COMMITTEE.-The
716joint committee created under s. 464.003(2)(3)(d) shall
717determine minimum standards for the content of established
718protocols pursuant to which an advanced registered nurse
719practitioner may perform medical acts identified and approved by
720the joint committee pursuant to s. 464.003(2)(3)(d) or acts set
721forth in s. 464.012(3) and (4) and shall determine minimum
722standards for supervision of such acts by the physician, unless
723the joint committee determines that any act set forth in s.
724464.012(3) or (4) is not a medical act. Such standards shall be
725based on risk to the patient and acceptable standards of medical
726care and shall take into account the special problems of
727medically underserved areas. The standards developed by the
728joint committee shall be adopted as rules by the Board of
729Nursing and the Board of Medicine for purposes of carrying out
730their responsibilities pursuant to part I of chapter 464 and
731this chapter, respectively, but neither board shall have
732disciplinary powers over the licensees of the other board.
733 Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
734459.025, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
735 459.025 Formal supervisory relationships, standing orders,
736and established protocols; notice; standards.-
737 (1) NOTICE.-
738 (a) When an osteopathic physician enters into a formal
739supervisory relationship or standing orders with an emergency
740medical technician or paramedic licensed pursuant to s. 401.27,
741which relationship or orders contemplate the performance of
742medical acts, or when an osteopathic physician enters into an
743established protocol with an advanced registered nurse
744practitioner, which protocol contemplates the performance of
745medical acts identified and approved by the joint committee
746pursuant to s. 464.003(2)(3)(d) or acts set forth in s.
747464.012(3) and (4), the osteopathic physician shall submit
748notice to the board. The notice must contain a statement in
749substantially the following form:
750 I, ...(name and professional license number of osteopathic
751physician)..., of ...(address of osteopathic physician)... have
752hereby entered into a formal supervisory relationship, standing
753orders, or an established protocol with ...(number of
754persons)... emergency medical technician(s), ...(number of
755persons)... paramedic(s), or ...(number of persons)... advanced
756registered nurse practitioner(s).
757 Section 9. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
758464.012, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
759 464.012 Certification of advanced registered nurse
760practitioners; fees.-
761 (3) An advanced registered nurse practitioner shall
762perform those functions authorized in this section within the
763framework of an established protocol that is filed with the
764board upon biennial license renewal and within 30 days after
765entering into a supervisory relationship with a physician or
766changes to the protocol. The board shall review the protocol to
767ensure compliance with applicable regulatory standards for
768protocols. The board shall refer to the department licensees
769submitting protocols that are not compliant with the regulatory
770standards for protocols. A practitioner currently licensed under
771chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter 466 shall maintain
772supervision for directing the specific course of medical
773treatment. Within the established framework, an advanced
774registered nurse practitioner may:
775 (c) Perform additional functions as may be determined by
776rule in accordance with s. 464.003(2)(3)(d).
777 Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 960.28, Florida
778Statutes, is amended to read:
779 960.28 Payment for victims' initial forensic physical
780examinations.-
781 (2) The Crime Victims' Services Office of the department
782shall pay for medical expenses connected with an initial
783forensic physical examination of a victim of sexual battery as
784defined in chapter 794 or a lewd or lascivious offense as
785defined in chapter 800. Such payment shall be made regardless of
786whether the victim is covered by health or disability insurance
787and whether the victim participates in the criminal justice
788system or cooperates with law enforcement. The payment shall be
789made only out of moneys allocated to the Crime Victims' Services
790Office for the purposes of this section, and the payment may not
791exceed $500 with respect to any violation. The department shall
792develop and maintain separate protocols for the initial forensic
793physical examination of adults and children. Payment under this
794section is limited to medical expenses connected with the
795initial forensic physical examination, and payment may be made
796to a medical provider using an examiner qualified under part I
797of chapter 464, excluding s. 464.003(16)(5); chapter 458; or
798chapter 459. Payment made to the medical provider by the
799department shall be considered by the provider as payment in
800full for the initial forensic physical examination associated
801with the collection of evidence. The victim may not be required
802to pay, directly or indirectly, the cost of an initial forensic
803physical examination performed in accordance with this section.
804 Section 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.