§ 63-7-207 — Powers and duties

The board has the following powers and duties in addition to the powers and duties granted to or imposed upon it by other sections of this chapter: (1) (A) (i) (a) Employ, in consultation with the governor, an executive director, who must not be a member of the board, although the board is not bound by any recommendation of the governor. Once appointed, the executive director shall operate under the supervision and control of the division of health related boards. (b) The board may dismiss the executive director without having to consult with the governor; and (ii) Employ such other personnel as may be necessary for the effective and efficient discharge of the duties of the board; (B) Such executive director and other employees shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter; (2) Maintain an office in Nashville; (3) Adopt a seal that shall bear the words "Tennessee Board of Nursing" and the imprint thereof shall be placed upon all official papers of the board; (4) Adopt and from time to time revise such rules and regulations as may be necessary to govern its proceedings and to carry into effect the purpose of this chapter; (5) Make an annual report to the governor the first week in July, together with a statement of the receipts and disbursements of the board and maintain such records as may be required by the applicable laws and regulations of the state; (6) Cause the prosecution of persons violating this chapter; (7) Prescribe the minimum curricular and minimum standards for schools of nursing and for courses of training preparing persons for licensure under this chapter and provide for surveys of such schools or an affiliation of schools and courses. For practical nursing programs offered by a public institution of higher education, the board shall require a minimum of one thousand two hundred ninety-six (1,296) clock hours or an equivalent number of credit hours; (8) Approve such schools and courses as meet the requirements of this chapter and the rules and regulations of the board; (9) Conduct examinations to ascertain the qualifications and fitness of applicants and issue licenses to applicants who successfully pass the examination for the practice of professional nursing or practical nursing; (10) Conduct hearings upon charges of suspension or revocation of a license or approval of a school of nursing or course of training and deny, suspend or revoke for proper cause licenses or approval of schools or course of training as provided in this chapter. Any action of or ruling or order made or entered by the board shall be subject to review by the courts of this state in the same manner and subject to the same powers and conditions as now provided by law in regard to the rulings, orders and findings of other quasi-judicial bodies in Tennessee, where not otherwise specifically provided; (11) Promote nursing education and nursing service through the state through surveys, institutes, conferences or such other means as may result in improved nursing education and nursing services in the state; (12) Determine the state, national and other meetings to be attended by the employees or individual members of the board in the interest of the advancement of nursing in this state; (13) Annually publish a directory listing all persons licensed to practice as a professional or practical nurse in Tennessee. The board shall have the authority to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations governing the distribution of such directories. Such regulations may establish a reasonable price, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per directory, to be charged for the directories. The directories shall be available free of charge to nonprofit health agencies operating in the state of Tennessee, federal and state governmental agencies, local health departments and individual licensees; (14) Establish and examine the qualifications, competencies, training, education and experience required of a registered nurse applying for a certificate of fitness as a nurse practitioner, as defined by the board, sufficient to prepare such person to write and sign prescriptions and/or issue drugs in accordance with the limitations and provisions of § 63-1-132 ; (15) [Deleted by 2024 amendment.] (16) By January 1, 2002, the board of nursing shall implement a plan to assure continuing competence of licensees, using educationally sound methods to promote learning and assess outcomes pertinent to contemporary standards of nursing practice; (17) Compile and disseminate demographic data collected on all licensees; and (18) Enter into grants, agreements, scholarships or other arrangements with statewide nonprofit agencies or other state agencies for the purpose of evaluating and guiding the development of the education, distribution, and availability of the nursing workforce to provide a basis for improving the delivery of quality health care.

Legislative History

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 944,s 6, eff. 7/1/2024. Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 891,s 1, eff. 6/30/2024. Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 606,s 2, eff. 3/27/2024. Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 953, s 2, eff. 4/29/2022. Acts 1967, ch. 78, § 8; 1976, ch. 501, § 2; 1976, ch. 806, § 1(114); 1980, ch. 851, § 3; T.C.A., § 63-736; Acts 1985, ch. 120, § 10; 1998, ch. 1047, §§ 2, 3; 1999, ch. 439, § 3; 2001, ch. 314, § 1.