Existing law generally provides for the licensure and regulation of nurses in this State. (Chapter 632 of NRS) This bill enacts the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows a person who is licensed as a nurse in a state that is a party of 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 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; (4) pass an NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN Examination; (5) have or be eligible for 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; (8) not have been convicted or found guilty of a misdemeanor related to nursing; (9) not be currently enrolled in certain monitoring programs; (10) 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 (11) have a valid social security number. The Compact authorizes a party state to take adverse action against a nurse practicing in the party state under the Compact. The Compact creates the coordinated licensure information system, which provides for the storing of certain information concerning investigations and disciplinary action among party states. The Compact requires that the states who are parties of the Compact create and establish a joint public agency called the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators to carry out the Compact, and provides for the governance of the Commission, including, without limitation, authorizing the Commission to levy and collect assessments from party states to cover the cost of its operations. Section 2 of this bill makes a conforming change 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: 632.405