(a)The responsibility for enforcement of the provisions
of this act is vested in the board of nursing. The board shall
have all of the duties, powers and authority specifically
granted by and necessary to the enforcement of this act.
(b)The board of nursing may make, adopt, amend, repeal
and enforce reasonable rules and regulations necessary for the
proper administration and enforcement of this act.
(c)Without limiting the foregoing, the board of nursing
may do the following:
(i)Develop by rules and regulations uniform and
reasonable standards for nursing practice;
(ii)Appoint advisory committees to provide expertise
in specific areas of education or practice under consideration
by the board;
(iii)Publish advisory opinions relative to whether
the nursing procedures, policies and othe
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(a) The responsibility for enforcement of the provisions
of this act is vested in the board of nursing. The board shall
have all of the duties, powers and authority specifically
granted by and necessary to the enforcement of this act.
(b) The board of nursing may make, adopt, amend, repeal
and enforce reasonable rules and regulations necessary for the
proper administration and enforcement of this act.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the board of nursing
may do the following:
(i) Develop by rules and regulations uniform and
reasonable standards for nursing practice;
(ii) Appoint advisory committees to provide expertise
in specific areas of education or practice under consideration
by the board;
(iii) Publish advisory opinions relative to whether
the nursing procedures, policies and other practices of any
agency, facility, institution or other organization that employs
individuals licensed or certified under this act complies with
the standards of nursing practice as defined in this act and
board rules and regulations. The board may submit comments,
register complaints or file charges with the appropriate
advisory, certifying or regulatory body governing the agency,
facility, institution or organization that authorizes and
condones violations of this act or board rules and regulations;
(iv) Report alleged violations of this act to the
district attorney of the county where the violation occurred;
(v) Examine, license, renew, relicense and reactivate
the licenses of duly qualified individuals, may grant
individuals a temporary permit to engage in the practice of
professional and practical nursing in this state within the
limits imposed in this act and may develop, by board rules and
regulations, standards for continued competency of licensees
continuing in or returning to practice;
(vi) Deny any applicant a license or temporary permit
to practice professional or practical nursing, whether by
examination, licensure, endorsement, renewal, relicensure or
reactivation, if the applicant fails to meet the requirements of
this act or board rules and regulations;
(vii) Conduct surveys and collect data related to
licensure and educational enrollments and report to the public;
(viii) Conduct investigations, hearings and
proceedings concerning alleged violations of this act and board
rules and regulations and shall request criminal history
background information on license or certificate applicants as
authorized under W.S. 7-19-106(a)(viii);
(ix) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
board may issue administrative subpoenas for the testimony of
any license, certificate or temporary permit holder or other
witness and may issue administrative subpoenas for the
production of evidence relating to any matter under
investigation. The board may compel attendance of witnesses and
administer oaths to those testifying at hearings;
(x) Determine and administer appropriate disciplinary
action against all individuals found guilty of violating this
act and board rules and regulations. The board retains
jurisdiction over the person issued a license, certificate or
temporary permit pursuant to this act, regardless of whether the
license, certificate or permit expired, lapsed or was
relinquished during or after the alleged occurrence of conduct
proscribed by this act;
(xi) Develop and enforce uniform and reasonable
standards for nursing education programs as stated in board
rules and regulations;
(xii) Approve nursing education programs that meet
the prescribed standards of the board;
(xiii) Deny or withdraw approval of nursing education
programs that fail to meet the prescribed standards of the
board;
(xiv) Regulate by board rules and regulations the
qualifications of advanced practice registered nurses;
(xv) Maintain records of proceedings as required by
state law;
(xvi) Conduct conferences, forums, studies and
research on nursing practice and education;
(xvii) Maintain nursing statistics for purposes of
nursing manpower planning and nursing education;
(xviii) Appoint and employ a registered nurse
qualified by nursing experience and a minimum of a master's
degree in nursing to serve as executive director, approve
additional staff positions as may be necessary in the opinion of
the board to administer and enforce the provisions of this act
and determine qualifications for such positions;
(xix) Participate in and pay membership fees to
organizations that develop and regulate the national nursing
licensure examinations and exclusively promote the improvement
of the uniform and reasonable standards for the practice of
nursing for protection of the public health, safety and welfare;
(xx) Submit an annual report to the governor,
summarizing the board's proceedings and activities;
(xxi) Determine and collect reasonable fees not to
exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) as established by board
rules and regulations;
(xxii) Receive and expend funds for the pursuit of
the authorized objectives of the board of nursing. Funds shall
be maintained in a separate account and periodic reports of the
receipt and expenditure of funds shall be submitted to the
governor;
(xxiii) Adopt a seal which shall be in the care of
the executive director and which shall be affixed only in a
manner as prescribed by the board; and
(xxiv) By board rule and regulation, regulate the
qualifications, certification, recertification, examination and
discipline of nursing assistants and nurse aides. For purposes
of carrying out this paragraph, fingerprints and other
information necessary for a criminal history record background
check pursuant to W.S. 7-19-201 shall be provided to the board.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, the
board shall not, by rule or otherwise, limit the right of
licensed nurses to practice with other health professionals or
in an association, partnership, corporation or other lawful
entity, nor limit the right of licensed nurses to practice under
the name "nursing clinic", "nursing center" or other descriptive
terms, provided the term is not misleading regarding the nature
of services provided.
(e) This act does not require the board of nursing to act
upon violations of the provisions of the act whenever, in the
board's opinion, the public interest will be served adequately
by a suitable written notice of warning to affected parties.
(f) The board shall administer the provisions of the Nurse
Licensure Compact pursuant to W.S. 33-21-202, including
factoring the annual assessment required under the compact into
its biennium budget.
(g) The board shall administer the provisions of the
advance practice registered nurse compact pursuant to W.S.
33-21-302, including factoring the annual assessment required
under the compact into its biennium budget.