(1) The board shall keep a record of all of its proceedings and make such reports to the governor as may be required. The board shall define by rules what constitutes specialized and advanced levels of nursing practice as recognized by the medical and nursing profession. The board may adopt rules or issue advisory opinions in response to questions put to it by professional health associations, nursing practitioners, and consumers in this state concerning the authority of various categories of nursing practitioners to perform particular acts.
(2) The board shall approve curricula and shall establish criteria for minimum standards for schools preparing persons for licensing as registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and licensed practical nurses under this chapter. The board shall approve such schools of nursing as meet the requirements of this chapter and the board, and the board shall approve establishment of basic nursing education programs and shall establish criteria as to the need for and the size of a program and the type of program and the geographical location. The board shall establish criteria for proof of reasonable currency of knowledge and skill as a basis for safe practice after three years' inactive or lapsed status. The board shall establish criteria for licensing by endorsement. The board shall determine examination requirements for applicants for licensing as registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and licensed practical nurses under this chapter, and shall certify to the secretary for licensing duly qualified applicants. The board shall adopt rules which allow for one hour of simulated learning to be counted as equivalent to two hours of clinical placement learning, with simulated learning accounting for up to a maximum of 50 percent of the required clinical hours.
(3) The board shall adopt rules on continuing competency. The rules must include exemptions from the continuing competency requirements for registered nurses seeking advanced nursing degrees. Nothing in this subsection prohibits the board from providing additional exemptions for any person credentialed under this chapter who is enrolled in an advanced education program.
(4) The board shall adopt such rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as are necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
(5) The board is the successor in interest of the board of nursing and the board of practical nursing. All contracts, undertakings, agreements, rules, regulations, decisions, orders, and policies of the former board of nursing or the board of practical nursing continue in full force and effect under the board until the board amends or rescinds those rules, regulations, decisions, orders, or policies.
(6) The members of the board are immune from suit in an action, civil or criminal, based on its disciplinary proceedings or other official acts performed in good faith as members of the board.
(7) Whenever the workload of the board requires, the board may request that the secretary appoint pro tempore members of the board. When serving, pro tempore members of the board have all of the powers, duties, and immunities, and are entitled to all of the emoluments, including travel expenses, of regularly appointed members of the board.
Expiration date — 2025 c 58 ss 5004, 5005, 5006, 5010, 5012, 5013, 5014, 5016, 5017, 5018, 5019, 5020, 5024, 5029, 5030, 5043, 5044, 5045, 5047, 5048, 5049, 5051, 5052, 5053, and 5055: See note following RCW 18.79.040 .
Explanatory note — 2025 c 58: See note following RCW 1.16.050 .
Findings — 2023 c 126: See note following RCW 28B.50.800 .
(1) The board shall keep a record of all of its proceedings and make such reports to the governor as may be required. The board shall define by rules what constitutes specialized and advanced levels of nursing practice as recognized by the medical and nursing profession. The board may adopt rules or issue advisory opinions in response to questions put to it by professional health associations, nursing practitioners, and consumers in this state concerning the authority of various categories of nursing practitioners to perform particular acts.
(2) The board shall approve curricula and shall establish criteria for minimum standards for schools preparing persons for licensing as registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses under this chapter. The board shall approve such schools of nursing as meet the requirements of this chapter and the board, and the board shall approve establishment of basic nursing education programs and shall establish criteria as to the need for and the size of a program and the type of program and the geographical location. The board shall establish criteria for proof of reasonable currency of knowledge and skill as a basis for safe practice after three years' inactive or lapsed status. The board shall establish criteria for licensing by endorsement. The board shall determine examination requirements for applicants for licensing as registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses under this chapter, and shall certify to the secretary for licensing duly qualified applicants. The board shall adopt rules which allow for one hour of simulated learning to be counted as equivalent to two hours of clinical placement learning, with simulated learning accounting for up to a maximum of 50 percent of the required clinical hours.
(3) The board shall adopt rules on continuing competency. The rules must include exemptions from the continuing competency requirements for registered nurses seeking advanced nursing degrees. Nothing in this subsection prohibits the board from providing additional exemptions for any person credentialed under this chapter who is enrolled in an advanced education program.
(4) The board shall adopt such rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as are necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
(5) The board is the successor in interest of the board of nursing and the board of practical nursing. All contracts, undertakings, agreements, rules, regulations, decisions, orders, and policies of the former board of nursing or the board of practical nursing continue in full force and effect under the board until the board amends or rescinds those rules, regulations, decisions, orders, or policies.
(6) The members of the board are immune from suit in an action, civil or criminal, based on its disciplinary proceedings or other official acts performed in good faith as members of the board.
(7) Whenever the workload of the board requires, the board may request that the secretary appoint pro tempore members of the board. When serving, pro tempore members of the board have all of the powers, duties, and immunities, and are entitled to all of the emoluments, including travel expenses, of regularly appointed members of the board.
Effective date — 2024 c 239: See note following RCW 18.79.030 .
Findings — 2023 c 126: See note following RCW 28B.50.800 .