Bill Text: GA SB187 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act; revise nursing education requirements for licensure as a registered nurse; provisions
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-04-11 - House Committee Unfavorably Reported [SB187 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SB187-Engrossed.html
11
LC 36 1801ER
Senate
Bill 187
By:
Senators McKoon of the 29th, Butterworth of the 50th, Thompson of the 5th and
Chance of the 16th
AS
PASSED SENATE
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN
ACT
To
amend Article 1 of Chapter 26 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, the "Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act," so as to
revise the nursing education program requirements for licensure as a registered
nurse; to revise certain provisions relating to the requirements for registered
professional nurses in nontraditional nursing education programs; to provide for
related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
1 of Chapter 26 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the
"Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act," is amended by adding a new
paragraph to Code Section 43-26-3, relating to definitions, to read as
follows:
"(3.1)
'Health care facility' shall have the same meaning as defined in paragraph (17)
of Code Section 31-6-2."
SECTION
2.
Said
article is further amended by revising Code Section 43-26-7, relating to
requirements for licensure as a registered professional nurse, as
follows:
"43-26-7.
(a)
Any applicant who meets the requirements of this Code section shall be eligible
for licensure as a registered professional nurse.
(b)
An applicant for licensure by examination shall:
(1)
Submit a completed written application and fee;
(2)(A)
Have graduated from an approved nursing education program, as defined in Code
Section 43-26-3; or
(B)(i)
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, have graduated from a
nontraditional nursing education program approved by the board which meets the
requirements in subsection (e) of this Code section; and
(ii)(I)
If entered
the nontraditional nursing education program as a licensed practical nurse with
at least three years of clinical experience in a health care facility as a
licensed practical nurse whose academic education as a licensed practical nurse
included clinical training in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology,
medical-surgical, and mental illness, have completed a 350 hour postgraduate
preceptorship arranged by the applicant under the oversight of a registered
professional nurse where such applicant is transitioned from the role of a
licensed practical nurse to a registered professional nurse. The preceptorship
shall have prior approval of the board and successful completion of the
preceptorship shall be verified in writing by the preceptor; or
(II)
If entered the nontraditional nursing education program as (1) a military
medical corpsman or paramedic or (2) a licensed practical nurse with less than
three years of clinical experience in a health care facility as a licensed
practical nurse whose academic training as a licensed practical nurse did not
include clinical training in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology,
medical-surgical, and mental illness, have completed a 700 hour postgraduate
preceptorship arranged by the applicant under the oversight of a registered
professional nurse and approved by the board. Such preceptorship shall include
clinical practice in a health care facility in pediatrics, obstetrics and
gynecology, medical-surgical, mental illness, and transition into the role of a
registered professional nurse. The preceptorship shall have prior approval of
the board and successful completion of the preceptorship shall be verified in
writing by the preceptor.
Applicants
who
Have,
before July 1, 2008, entered a nontraditional nursing education program which
meets the requirements
of
in
subsection (e) of this Code section
and
complete such program no later than June 30, 2011, shall be deemed to meet the
criteria of this paragraph; provided, however, that the board shall have the
discretion to require additional clinical hours of experience of applicants who
(i) did not enter the nontraditional nursing education program as a licensed
practical nurse, or (ii) entered the nontraditional nursing education program as
a licensed practical nurse but does not have at least one year of clinical
experience in a health care facility as a licensed practical nurse, if such
applicant's clinical experience is deemed lacking by the
board;
(II)
Have entered a nontraditional nursing education program which meets the
requirements in subsection (e) of this Code section after July 1, 2008, as a
licensed practical nurse with at least one year of clinical experience in a
health care facility as a licensed practical nurse;
(III)
Have entered a nontraditional nursing education program which meets the
requirements of subsection (e) of this Code section after July 1, 2008, as a
paramedic with at least one year of experience as a paramedic; or
(IV)
Have entered a nontraditional nursing education program which meets the
requirements of subsection (e) of this Code section after July 1, 2008, as a
licensed practical nurse with less than one year of clinical experience in a
health care facility as a licensed practical nurse, a paramedic with less than
one year of experience as a paramedic, or a military medical corpsman.
Applicants seeking licensure pursuant to this subdivision may be required to
complete a 350 hour postgraduate preceptorship arranged by the applicant under
the oversight of a registered professional nurse and approved by the board. If
required, such preceptorship shall include clinical nursing practice in a health
care facility and may be completed in a single type of health care facility.
The board shall consider the applicant's professional experience when deciding
whether to require a postgraduate preceptorship. If required, the preceptorship
shall have the prior approval of the board, and successful completion of the
preceptorship shall be verified in writing by the preceptor;
(3)
Pass a board recognized licensing examination; provided, however, that such
examination
may
shall
not be taken prior to graduation from the approved nursing education program.
In no way shall the passage of such examination by a graduate of a
nontraditional nursing education program who does not meet the other
requirements of this subsection be construed to authorize such individual to
practice nursing, to require the board to license such individual as a
registered professional nurse other than to issue in its sole discretion a
temporary permit pursuant to Code Section 43-26-8, or to be endorsed from
another state as a registered professional nurse;
(4)
Have satisfactory results from a fingerprint record check report conducted by
the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as
determined by the board. Application for a license under this Code section
shall constitute express consent and authorization for the board or its
representative to perform a criminal background check. Each applicant who
submits an application to the board for licensure by examination agrees to
provide the board with any and all information necessary to run a criminal
background check, including, but not limited to, classifiable sets of
fingerprints. The applicant shall be responsible for all fees associated with
the performance of such background check; and
(5)
Meet such other criteria as established by the board.
(c)
An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall:
(1)
Submit a completed written application and fee;
(2)(A)
Have passed a board recognized licensing examination following graduation from
an approved nursing education program, as defined in Code Section 43-26-3;
or
(B)
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, have graduated from a
nontraditional nursing education program approved by the board which meets the
requirements in subsection (e) of this Code section;
(3)
Submit verification of initial and current licensure in any other licensing
jurisdiction administering a board recognized licensing
examination;
(4)(A)
Have practiced nursing as a registered professional nurse for a period of time
as determined by the board or have graduated from a nursing education program
within the four years immediately preceding the date of the application;
or
(B)
If the
applicant graduated from a nontraditional
nursing education program
which meets
the requirements in subsection (e) of this Code
section, have practiced nursing as a
registered professional nurse in a health care facility for at least one year in
the three years preceding the date of the application and such practice is
documented by the applicant and approved by the board;
(C)
If entered a nontraditional nursing education program as a licensed practical
nurse and graduated from such program and practiced nursing as a registered
professional nurse in a health care facility for less than one year in the three
years preceding the date of the application, have completed a 350 hour
postgraduate preceptorship arranged by the applicant under the oversight of a
registered professional nurse and where such applicant is transitioned from the
role of a licensed practical nurse to a registered professional nurse. The
preceptorship shall have prior approval of the board and successful completion
of the preceptorship shall be verified in writing by the preceptor;
or
(D)
If entered a nontraditional nursing education program as a military medical
corpsman or paramedic and graduated from such program and practiced nursing as a
registered professional nurse in a health care facility for less than one year
in the three years preceding the date of the application, have completed a 700
hour postgraduate preceptorship arranged by the applicant under the oversight of
a registered professional nurse. Such preceptorship shall include clinical
practice in a health care facility in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology,
medical-surgical, mental illness, and transition into the role of a registered
professional nurse. The preceptorship shall have prior approval of the board
and successful completion of the preceptorship shall be verified in writing by
the preceptor;
(5)
Have satisfactory results from a fingerprint record check report conducted by
the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as
determined by the board. Application for a license under this Code section
shall constitute express consent and authorization for the board or its
representative to perform a criminal background check. Each applicant who
submits an application to the board for licensure by examination agrees to
provide the board with any and all information necessary to run a criminal
background check, including, but not limited to, classifiable sets of
fingerprints. The applicant shall be responsible for all fees associated with
the performance of such background check; and
(6)
Meet such other criteria as established by the board.
(d)
An applicant for reinstatement who has previously held a valid license in
Georgia shall:
(1)
Submit a completed written application and fee;
(2)
Have practiced nursing as a registered professional nurse for a period of time
as determined by the board or have graduated from an approved nursing education
program, as defined in Code Section 43-26-3, within the four years immediately
preceding the date of the application;
(3)
Have satisfactory results from a fingerprint record check report conducted by
the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as
determined by the board. Application for a license under this Code section
shall constitute express consent and authorization for the board or its
representative to perform a criminal background check. Each applicant who
submits an application to the board for licensure by examination agrees to
provide the board with any and all information necessary to run a criminal
background check, including, but not limited to, classifiable sets of
fingerprints. The applicant shall be responsible for all fees associated with
the performance of such background check; and
(4)
Meet such other criteria as established by the board.
(e)
A nontraditional nursing education program shall meet the following
requirements:
(1)
Is part of an institution of higher education that is approved by the
appropriate regulatory authorities of its home state;
(2)
Holds regional and specialty accreditation by an accrediting body or bodies
recognized by the United States Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher
Education Accreditation;
(3)
Requires its program applicants to be a licensed practical/vocational nurse,
military medical corpsman, or paramedic;
(4)(3)
Requires its students to pass faculty determined program
outcomes,
including competency based assessments of nursing knowledge and a summative
performance assessment of clinical competency of a minimum of
2
1/2
two and
one-half days developed by faculty subject
matter experts that follows nationally recognized standards for educational
testing; and
(5))4(
Its graduates pass a board recognized licensing examination at a rate equivalent
to the minimum rate required for board approved traditional nursing education
programs."
SECTION
3.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
