WSR 18-06-009 PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission) [Filed February 23, 2018, 9:04 a.m.] Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-840 WAC, Practical and registered nursing, the nursing care quality assurance commission (commission) is considering permanently adopting the current emergency rule adopted on December 15, 2017, in WSR 18-01-079 regarding interim permits for graduates of nontraditional nursing programs.
In addition, the commission is considering rule making to establish interim permits for advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) applicants to allow for completion of supervised clinical practice hours. Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 18.79.380 (Licensed practical nurse/nontraditional registered nurse program) was repealed by HB 1721 (chapter 203, Laws of 2017). The prior law allowed graduates of registered nurse (RN) programs, who did not complete clinical practice instruction during their degree program, to practice under the license of a preceptor RN to gain those clinical hours. With the repeal of RCW 18.79.380, a student currently enrolled in a nontraditional program can no longer practice under the license of another nurse, therefore no mechanism exists for these students to complete the required clinical practice experience to become licensed as an RN in Washington. The commission adopted an emergency rule on December 15, 2017 (WSR 18-01-079), to repeal WAC 246-840-035, since it is no longer authorized in statute, and to establish standards to ensure a student is able to complete the required clinical practice experience. The commission is considering making this rule permanent.
In addition, the commission is considering rule making to establish interim permits for ARNP applicants to allow for completion of supervised clinical practice hours. Currently, ARNP applicants who graduated more than one year prior to their licensure application must obtain supervised practice hours. ARNP interim permits would allow these applicants to practice at the full scope of an ARNP to obtain required clinical practice hours. 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 by contacting Amber Zawislak, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504-7864, phone 360-236-4785, fax 360-236-4738, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email amber.zawislak@doh.wa.gov, web site https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/NursingCommission.
Additional comments: Interested stakeholders may sign up to receive commission rule-making notices at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. February 23, 2018 Paula R. Meyer, MSN, RN, FRE Executive Director
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