H-1273.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1819
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By Representatives Thibaudeau, Dellwo, Cooke, Sommers, Valle, Morris, Bray, J. Kohl and Anderson
Read first time 02/10/93. Referred to Committee on Health Care.
AN ACT Relating to increasing the availability of advanced registered nurse practitioners; and amending RCW 18.88.175.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 18.88.175 and 1991 c 3 s 217 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Recognizing the need to increase the pool of available nursing resources to meet the new demands of the reformed health care delivery system and the present lack of master's-level academic programs, the legislature finds that requiring a master's degree for advanced registered nurse practitioner licensure, could be an unnecessary barrier to entry into the profession that limits access to health care and contributes to the escalating costs of health care in Washington state.
The board shall define by rule the criteria for training to be licensed as an advanced registered nurse practitioner, in accordance with this chapter.
Any requirement for a master's degree for advanced registered nurse practitioner licensure must be preceded by a study by the board, in consultation with the department, the legislative budget committee, and health care providers that assesses the following:
(a) The cost impact that a master's degree requirement would have on the health care delivery system;
(b) The availability of accredited master's-level nursing academic programs;
(c) The impact on the supply of advanced registered nurse practitioners throughout the state of Washington and, therefore, access of the public to nursing services;
(d) The impact on efforts to recruit culturally and geographically diverse students into the profession; and
(e) The financial assistance programs available to help low and middle-income students to offset the educational costs associated with a master's degree requirement.
The findings and recommendations of the study must be submitted to the legislature before the adoption of any rule requiring a master's degree for advanced registered nurse practitioners.
(2) Upon approval by the board and following verification of satisfactory completion of an advanced formal education, the department of health shall issue an interim permit authorizing the applicant to practice specialized and advanced nursing practice pending notification of the results of the first certification examination. If the applicant passes the examination, the department shall grant advanced registered nurse practitioner status. If the applicant fails the examination, the interim permit shall expire upon notification and is not renewable. The holder of the interim permit is subject to chapter 18.130 RCW.
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