§ 61-3-8 — Board created; members; qualifications; terms; vacancies;

removal. A. There is created a seven-member "board of nursing". The board shall consist of four licensed nurses, one preferably a licensed practical nurse, and three members who shall represent the public and shall not have been licensed as registered or licensed practical nurses, nor shall the public members have any significant financial interest, direct or indirect, in the profession regulated. Not more than two board members shall be appointed from any one county, and not more than two registered nurse members shall be from any one field of nursing. Members of the board shall be appointed by the governor for staggered terms of four years each. Nurse members shall be appointed from lists submitted to the governor by any generally recognized organization of nurses in this state. Appointments shall be made in such manner that the terms of no more than two board members expire on July 1 of each year. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the unexpired term within sixty days of the vacancy. Board members shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified. B. Members of the board shall be citizens of the United States and residents of this state. Registered nurse members shall be licensed in this state, shall have had, since graduation, at least five years' experience in nursing, shall be currently engaged in professional nursing and shall have been actively engaged in professional nursing for at least three years immediately preceding appointment or reappointment. The licensed practical nurse member shall be licensed in this state, shall have been graduated from an approved licensed practical nursing education program, shall have been licensed by examination, shall have had at least five years' experience since graduation, shall be currently engaged in licensed practical nursing and shall have been actively engaged in licensed practical nursing for at least three years immediately preceding appointment or reappointment. C. No board member shall serve more than two full or partial terms, consecutive or otherwise. D. Any board member failing to attend seventy percent of meeting days annually, either regular or special, shall automatically be removed as a member of the board. E. The governor may remove any member from the board for neglect of any duty required by law, for incompetency or for unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the board. F. In the event of a vacancy on the board for any reason, the secretary of the board shall immediately notify the governor, the board members and any generally recognized nursing organization of the vacancy, the reason for its occurrence and the action taken by the board, so as to expedite the appointment of a new board member.

Legislative History

1953 Comp., § 67-2-5, enacted by Laws 1968, ch. 44, § 5; 1977, ch. 220, § 3;