HB 1209

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to nursing programs; amending s. 464.003,
3	F.S.; deleting the term "approved program" to conform to
4	the repeal by the act of the Board of Nursing's authority
5	to approve nursing programs; defining the term "eligible
6	program"; amending s. 464.004, F.S.; revising the board's
7	membership to include a nurse educator member of an
8	eligible program; amending s. 464.008, F.S.; requiring
9	applicants for licensure as a registered nurse or licensed
10	practical nurse to be graduates of an eligible program;
11	deleting a provision requiring such applicants to complete
12	the graduation requirements of an approved program to
13	conform to the repeal by the act of the board's authority
14	to approve nursing programs; deleting a provision
15	authorizing the board to approve equivalent requirements
16	for professional nursing preparation; amending s. 464.015,
17	F.S.; requiring that the terms "Graduate Nurse" and
18	"Graduate Practical Nurse" be used only by graduates of
19	eligible programs; conforming provisions to the repeal by
20	the act of the board's authority to approve nursing
21	programs; amending s. 464.022, F.S.; authorizing graduates
22	of eligible programs to practice nursing pending the
23	results of the licensing examination; conforming
24	provisions to changes made by the act; repealing s.
25	464.019, F.S., relating to the board's approval of nursing
26	programs; providing an effective date.
27
28	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30	Section 1.  Subsection (8) of section 464.003, Florida
31	Statutes, is amended to read:
32	464.003  Definitions.--As used in this part, the term:
33	(8)  "Eligible Approved program" means a nursing program
34	offered by:
35	(a)  A school district, public community college, or state
36	university;
37	(b)  An institution licensed by the Commission for
38	Independent Education; or
39	(c)  Another educational institution in the state, if the
40	nursing program is accredited by a national accrediting agency
41	recognized by the United States Department of Education
42	conducted in a school, college, or university which is approved
43	by the board pursuant to s. 464.019 for the education of nurses.
44	Section 2.  Subsection (2) of section 464.004, Florida
45	Statutes, is amended to read:
46	464.004  Board of Nursing; membership; appointment;
47	terms.--
48	(2)  Seven members of the board must be registered nurses
49	who are residents of this state and who have been engaged in the
50	practice of professional nursing for at least 4 years, including
51	at least one advanced registered nurse practitioner, one nurse
52	educator member of an eligible approved program, and one nurse
53	executive. These seven board members should be representative of
54	the diverse areas of practice within the nursing profession. In
55	addition, three members of the board must be licensed practical
56	nurses who are residents of this state and who have been
57	actively engaged in the practice of practical nursing for at
58	least 4 years prior to their appointment. The remaining three
59	members must be residents of the state who have never been
60	licensed as nurses and who are in no way connected with the
61	practice of nursing. No person may be appointed as a lay member
62	who is in any way connected with, or has any financial interest
63	in, any health care facility, agency, or insurer. At least one
64	member of the board must be 60 years of age or older.
65	Section 3.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
66	464.008, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
67	464.008  Licensure by examination.--
68	(1)  Any person desiring to be licensed as a registered
69	nurse or licensed practical nurse shall apply to the department
70	to take the licensure examination. The department shall examine
71	each applicant who:
72	(c)  Is in good mental and physical health, is a recipient
73	of a high school diploma or the equivalent, and is a graduate of
74	an eligible program and has completed the requirements for
75	graduation from an approved program, or its equivalent as
76	determined by the board, for the preparation of registered
77	nurses or licensed practical nurses, whichever is applicable.
78	Courses successfully completed in a professional nursing program
79	which are at least equivalent to a practical nursing program may
80	be used to satisfy the education requirements for licensure as a
81	licensed practical nurse.
82	Section 4.  Subsections (3) and (4) of section 464.015,
83	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
84	464.015  Titles and abbreviations; restrictions; penalty.--
85	(3)  Only persons who are graduates of eligible approved
86	programs or the equivalent may use the term "Graduate Nurse" and
87	the abbreviation "G.N.," pending the results of the first
88	licensure examination for which they are eligible.
89	(4)  Only persons who are graduates of eligible approved
90	programs or the equivalent may use the term "Graduate Practical
91	Nurse" and the abbreviation "G.P.N.," pending the results of the
92	first licensure examination for which they are eligible.
93	Section 5.  Subsection (4) of section 464.022, Florida
94	Statutes, is amended to read:
95	464.022  Exceptions.--No provision of this part shall be
96	construed to prohibit:
97	(4)  The practice of nursing by graduates of eligible
98	approved programs or the equivalent, pending the result of the
99	first licensing examination for which they are eligible
100	following graduation, provided they practice under direct
101	supervision of a registered professional nurse. The board shall
102	by rule define what constitutes direct supervision.
103	Section 6.  Section 464.019, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
104	Section 7.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.