HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESHB 1404
BYHouse Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Bristow, Brooks, McLean, Holm, Braddock, Lux, Peery, Cooper and Day)
Revising provisions relating to licensure of nursing.
House Committe on Health Care
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. (10)
Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Bristow, Brooks, Cantwell, Lewis, Lux, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Vekich.
House Staff:Antonio Sanchez (786-7383)
AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1988
BACKGROUND:
The State Board of Nursing is currently required to approve nursing curricula, schools of nursing, and establish minimum education standards. The board may adopt regulations in response to questions by professional groups and individuals, but are not authorized to issue advisory opinions. Current provisions in the law allow registered nurses from other states to gain licensure to work in this state by endorsement, however these provisions are unclear regarding the ability for licensed practical nurses from other states to be licensed in this state by endorsement.
The board is required to establish proof of currency of knowledge and skill after a licensed nurse has not practiced in three years. Renewal of the license is dependent on the applicant completing the established requirements of continuing nursing education. Licensed nurses that wish to retire temporarily are required to submit a written notice to the director and are then placed on a non-practicing list. They are exempt from the payment of any renewal fees and unable from practicing nursing in this state.
Recent data indicate that the health care industry is facing a significant shortage of licensed nursing staff. The current lack of nursing staff has resulted in critical understaffing of some medical/surgical areas and in certain geographical locations around the state. These conditions have raised concerns about the possible compromise in the quality of care in addition to contributing to the upwardly spiraling health care costs because of the need to fill vacancies by recruiting higher cost temporary nurses from staffing agencies.
SUMMARY:
The State Board of Nursing is required to conduct a study which investigates the scope of all nursing education programs in the state, to develop a model for articulation and career mobility and also provide support for innovative nursing education programs. The board will report to the legislature by January 1, 1989 on these standards.
The State Board of Nursing is required to issue an interim permit that allows applicants to practice as a practical nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner, while waiting on the results of their first licensing examination.
The board is authorized to issue licenses by endorsement to applicants for licensure as a registered or practical nurse holding a credential to practice nursing in another state that has been determined by the board to have standards equal to those in Washington State.
The board may issue advisory opinions in response to questions from professional groups and individuals.
Applicants for licensure or license renewal must indicate whether their status is active or inactive upon payment of license fee. Nurses on inactive status for three years or more must provide to the board evidence of knowledge and skill of current practice. Nurses on inactive status may not practice nursing.
The need for proof of continuing nursing education as a condition of nursing license renewal is repealed.
A conditional scholarship program for nurses is established. The program is administered by the higher education coordinating board. The conditional scholarship is a loan that is forgiven, in whole or in part, if the recipient works up to five years in a geographic or medical specialty nurse shortage area.
EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): Removes conditional scholarship for nurses.
Fiscal Note: Requested January 21, 1988.
House Committee ‑ Testified For: Lorraine Overmyer, Washington State Board of Nursing; Beverly Jacobson, Seattle Area Hospital Council; Joyce Pashley, Washington State Nurse Association; Sue Hegyvary, University of Washington School of Nursing; Kathe Dobbs, Washington Organization of Nurse Executives; Donna Hinrichs, Visiting Nurse Services; Hilke Faber, Nursing Home Coalition.
House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.
House Committee - Testimony For: This bill will facilitate the time it takes for nurses to begin working after taking the licensure examination and for nurses from other states to begin working in this state. It will also provide a number of other provisions that will improve the ability for nurses to move from the less skilled positions up to the higher levels of nursing.
House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.
VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:
Yeas 97; Excused 1
Excused: Representative Taylor