WSR 14-09-117

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed April 23, 2014, 9:32 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-840-300 through 246-840-455, amend advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) rules to recognize clinical nurse specialists (CNS) and add licensure requirements for CNS.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.79.110, 18.79.050, and 18.79.160.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The nursing care quality assurance commission (commission) received a petition to amend the ARNP rules to include CNS. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has adopted a consensus model for advanced practice registered nurses, which recognizes the CNS category. The consensus model provides a framework for regulation for advanced practice roles in all states and territories. The commission supports the consensus model. Recognizing CNS would bring Washington into alignment with the consensus model.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested parties may add their e-mail address to the commission's listserv to receive notices for rules writing workshops and drafts as they are written. Listserv: http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=NURSING-QAC. Interested parties may also write, call or send e-mails to Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504-7864, phone (360) 236-4751 or nursing@doh.wa.gov, web site http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/Professions/Nursing/RulesInProgress.htm.

April 23, 2014

Paula R. Meyer, MSN, RN

Executive Director