PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-840-010, 246-840-020, 246-840-030, 246-840-040, 246-840-050, 246-840-060, 246-840-070, 246-840-080, 246-840-090, 246-840-565, 246-840-760, and 246-840-920, nursing definitions, applications and licensure.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.79.110.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: During a rules review process the commission identified these rules as needing amendment to be clearer and in compliance with the statute. The definition rules, as well as all application and licensure rules, are outdated. Some existing rules contain requirements that are no longer necessary or can be obtained in other less restrictive ways. Also additional clarity in the rule would benefit practitioners. In 2004, chapter 262, Laws of 2004, passed which requires an official transcript for licensure as a nurse and allows a practical nurse who has completed a nontraditional registered nurse program to obtain the required clinical experience needed for a registered nurse license. As a result, rules need to be amended to ensure they accurately reflect the statute.
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 writing. A public rules writing workshop will be held with interested members of the public. Video conferencing will be utilized to involve stakeholders from various locations across the state. An invitation will be mailed to all persons who have asked to be on the interested persons mailing list. In addition, other identified individuals will be added to the e-mail list serve mailing and all will receive an invitation to participate in the rules writing.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kendra Pitzler, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 236-4723, fax (360) 236-4738, e-mail Kendra.Pitzler@doh.wa.gov.
September 13, 2004
Paula R. Meyer, RN, MSN
Executive Director
Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission