§ 63-7-105 — Registered nurse licensure

(a) By Examination. An applicant for a license to practice professional nursing shall be required to pass an examination in such subjects as the board may determine. The board shall issue a license to practice professional nursing to an applicant who successfully completes the examination. (b) Without Examination. (1) The board may issue a license to practice professional nursing to a professional or registered nurse who has been duly licensed in another state or territory if, in the opinion of the board, the individual meets the professional nurse qualifications that, at the time of the applicant's graduation, were in effect in this state. (2) (A) When the board receives a completed application for licensure from an applicant who is licensed in another state or territory, then the board shall, within forty-five (45) days from the date the board receives the completed application: (i) Render a decision on the application; or (ii) Inform the applicant of the need to appear before the board. (B) As used in this subdivision (b)(2), "completed application" means an application that satisfies all statutory and board rule requirements. (c) Temporary Permits. The board may issue a temporary permit to a professional or registered nurse duly licensed according to the laws of another state and who has made application for permanent licensure in Tennessee. A permit issued under this subsection (c) shall be valid for a single period of six (6) months. (d) (1) Notwithstanding a law to the contrary, a graduate nurse may engage in the practice of professional nursing without a license for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from the date of receipt of the first authorization to take the NCLEX-RN examination if: (A) The graduate nurse's practice occurs in a healthcare institution licensed under title 33 or 68, or an affiliate of the institution; (B) The graduate nurse is at all times working under the supervision of an individual licensed to practice professional nursing pursuant to § 63-7-105 . The graduate nurse must provide the healthcare institution or affiliate of the institution in which they are practicing with: (i) Proof of the first authorization to take the NCLEX-RN examination; and (ii) Proof of graduation from an approved school of nursing within the previous ninety (90) days; and (C) The supervising individual licensed to practice professional nursing pursuant to § 63-7-105 is limited to supervising no more than one (1) graduate nurse at a time. (2) A graduate nurse is prohibited from: (A) Being deemed a qualified registered nurse pursuant to § 63-7-103 ; and (B) Using another title or identifying as anything but a "graduate nurse" in a clinical setting. (3) As used in this subsection (d): (A) "Graduate nurse" means an individual who: (i) Holds a diploma or degree from an approved school of nursing that entitles the individual to take the NCLEX-RN licensing examination; and (ii) Has received authorization to take the NCLEX-RN examination; (B) "NCLEX-RN" means the national council licensure examination for registered nurses; and (C) "Supervision" means that the graduate nurse's supervisor is located in the same unit as the graduate nurse when the graduate nurse is performing duties pursuant to this subsection (d).

Legislative History

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 443, s 3, eff. 5/22/2023. Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 340, s 1, eff. 5/4/2021. Acts 1967, ch. 78, § 14; 1976, ch. 501, §§ 3, 13; 1978, ch. 678, § 1; 1981, ch. 462, § 2; T.C.A., § 63-742; Acts 1982, ch. 712, § 3; 1985, ch. 39, § 11; 2005, ch. 387, § 3.