Bill Text: GA HB470 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Registered professional nurse; requirements for preceptorship for applicants; revise [Track Bill]

Status: 2012-01-09 - Senate Recommitted [HB470 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB470-Comm_Sub.html

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11 LC 33 4236S

The Senate Heath and Human Services Committee offered the following substitute to HB 470:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Code Section 43-26-7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to requirements for licensure as a registered professional nurse, so as to revise requirements for preceptorships for certain applicants; to revise requirements relating to nontraditional nursing education programs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Code Section 43-26-7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to requirements for licensure as a registered professional nurse, is amended by revising subsections (b), (c), and (e) as follows:

"(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 the applicant entered the nontraditional nursing education program as a licensed practical nurse and had an academic education as a licensed practical nurse that included clinical training in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, medical-surgical, and mental illness, have with at least three two years of clinical experience in the five years preceding the date of the application in a health care facility an acute care inpatient facility, a long-term acute care facility, or a skilled nursing facility, if such facility has 60 beds or more and provides health care to patients with similar heath care needs to those patients in a long-term acute care facility, as approved by the board, 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 the applicant entered the nontraditional nursing education program as a paramedic and is certified by a nationally recognized certifying organization for paramedics, as identified by the board, have at least two years of experience in the five years preceding the date of the application in an acute care inpatient facility, a long-term acute care facility, or a skilled nursing facility, if such facility has 60 beds or more and provides health care to patients with similar heath care needs to those patients in a long-term acute care facility, as approved by the board;

(III) If the applicant entered the nontraditional nursing education program as a licensed practical nurse, had an academic education as a licensed practical nurse that included clinical training in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, medical-surgical, and mental illness, and has at least two years of experience as a licensed practical nurse in any setting but less than two years of experience in the five years preceding the date of the application in an acute care inpatient facility or a long-term acute care facility, as approved by the board, have completed a 320 hour postgraduate preceptorship arranged by the applicant under the close supervision 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. The preceptorship shall be in an acute care inpatient facility or a long-term acute care facility; provided, however, that the board may authorize a preceptorship pursuant to this subdivision in a skilled nursing facility, if such facility has 60 beds or more and such facility can ensure that the applicant will be providing health care to patients with similar health care needs as those patients in a long-term acute care facility under the close supervision of a registered professional nurse;

(II)(IV) If the applicant entered the nontraditional nursing education program as (1) a military medical corpsman or paramedic with at least two years of experience as a paramedic or (2) a licensed practical nurse with less than three two years of clinical experience in the five years preceding the date of the application in a health care facility an acute care inpatient facility or a long-term acute 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 480 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 an acute care inpatient facility or a long-term acute care facility; provided, however, that the board may authorize a preceptorship pursuant to this subdivision in other facilities to obtain specialized experience in certain areas. Such preceptorship shall be in the area or areas as determined by the board on a case-by-case basis, which may include 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.;

(V) If the applicant entered the nontraditional nursing education program as a military medical corpsman and has at least two years of experience as a military medical corpsman, have completed a postgraduate preceptorship of at least 320 hours but not more than 640 hours, as determined by the board, arranged by the applicant and under the supervision 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. The preceptorship shall be in an acute care inpatient facility or a long-term acute care facility; provided, however, that the board may authorize a preceptorship pursuant to this subdivision in other facilities to obtain specialized experience in certain areas; or

(VI) If the applicant does not meet the requirements of subdivision (I) through (V) of this division and the applicant Applicants who, before July 1, 2008, entered a nontraditional nursing education program before July 1, 2008, which meets the requirements of subsection (e) of this Code section and complete completes such program, have completed a 640 hour postgraduate preceptorship arranged by the applicant under the supervision 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. The preceptorship shall be in an acute care inpatient facility or a long-term acute care facility; provided, however, that the board may authorize a preceptorship pursuant to this subdivision in other facilities to obtain specialized experience in certain areas 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.

The board shall make the determinations required by this division in accordance with its established guidelines;

(3) Pass a board recognized licensing examination; provided, however, that such examination may 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;

(B) If the applicant graduated from entered a nontraditional nursing education program as:

(i) 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; or

(ii) A paramedic,

have practiced nursing as a registered professional nurse in a health care facility an acute care inpatient facility or a long-term acute 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; or

(C) If the applicant entered a nontraditional nursing education program as anything other than:

(i) A 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; or

(ii) A paramedic,

and have graduated from such program and practiced nursing as a registered professional nurse in a health care facility an acute care inpatient facility or a long-term acute care facility for less than one year at least three years in the three five 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."

"(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 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 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.