Existing law generally provides for the licensure and regulation of nurses in this State. (Chapter 632 of NRS) Section 1 of this bill enacts the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows a person who is licensed as a nurse in a state that is a party to the Compact to obtain a multistate license to practice as a nurse in other states that are parties to the Compact. The Compact regulates the licensure and discipline of nurses who hold multistate licenses through the Compact. To obtain a multistate license, the Compact requires a nurse to: (1) meet the qualifications of his or her home state for licensure; (2) graduate from or be eligible to graduate from a registered nurse or licensed practical/vocational nurse program; (3) pass an English proficiency examination if the applicant is a graduate of a foreign prelicensure education program not taught in English or if English is not the applicant's native language; (4) pass an NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN Examination; (5) hold or be eligible to hold a license in his or her home state; (6) undergo a fingerprint-based criminal background check; (7) not have been convicted or found guilty of a felony or a misdemeanor offense related to nursing; (8) not be currently enrolled in certain monitoring programs; (9) be required to disclose to the licensing authority in his or her home state whether he or she is participating in such a program; and (10) have a valid social security number. The Compact authorizes a party state to take adverse action against a nurse's privilege to practice in the party state under the Compact. The Compact creates the coordinated licensure information system, which provides for the sharing of certain information concerning investigations and disciplinary action among party states. The Compact: (1) requires that the states who are parties to the Compact create and establish a joint public entity known as the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators to carry out the Compact; and (2) provides for the governance of the Commission, including authorizing the Commission to levy and collect assessments from party states to cover the cost of its operations. Sections 2 and 3 of this bill make conforming changes to clarify that the State Board of Nursing may disclose information to the coordinated licensure information system when required by the Compact.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 632.307, 632.405
BDR: 632.307, 632.405