Brief Description: Refining membership of the nursing care quality assurance commission.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Kenney, Campbell, Morrell, Hankins, Cody, Clibborn, Edwards, Armstrong, Ormsby, Conway, Dickerson and Moeller).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

• Increases the membership of the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission from 11 to 15 by adding four more registered nurses, one more public representative, and eliminating the midwife position.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Benson, Campbell, Clibborn, Darneille, Edwards, Moeller, Rodne, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Responsibilities for the regulation of the 57 health care professions is divided between the Secretary of Health, 12 health profession boards, and four health profession commissions. Regulatory responsibilities may include: establishing credentialing standards; approving education and training programs; investigating complaints of unprofessional conduct; conducting disciplinary proceedings and issuing findings based on those proceedings; and ordering sanctions for determinations of unprofessional conduct.

The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (Commission) is responsible for the regulation of advanced registered nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, and registered nursing assistants. The Commission currently has 11 members consisting of advanced registered nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, members of the public, and a midwife. In comparison, the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission has 14 members, the Dental Quality Assurance Commission has 14 members, and the Medical Quality Assurance Commission has 19 members.

The membership of the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (Commission) is increased from 11 to 15 members.

The number of members on the Commission who must be registered nurses is increased from three to seven. Of the members who are registered nurses: at least one must be on the faculty at a four-year university nursing program; at least one must be on the faculty at a two-year college nursing program; at least two must be staff nurses providing direct patient care; at least one must be a nurse manager or nurse executive; and one must have graduated from nursing school within three years of appointment and have less than three years of experience.

Experience requirements for all members of the Commission who are nurses is reduced from five to three years, except for the recent graduate position.

The number of public members on the Commission is increased from two to three. The nonvoting midwife member of the Commission is eliminated.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (Commission) is the smallest health professions commission, yet it regulates more people than any of the other commissions. The Commission needs additional members to meet its workload. It is important to have the perspectives of nursing school faculty on the Commission since one of its duties is to approve nursing programs.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Kenney, prime sponsor; Joanna Boatman, Washington State Nurses Association; and Mary Walker, Seattle University.