Florida Senate - 2009 SB 2284
By Senator Haridopolos
26-01806-09 20092284__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to nursing programs; amending s.
3 464.003, F.S.; deleting the term “approved program” to
4 conform to the repeal by the act of the Board of
5 Nursing’s authority to approve nursing programs;
6 defining the term “eligible program”; amending s.
7 464.004, F.S.; revising the board’s membership to
8 include a nurse educator member of an eligible
9 program; amending s. 464.008, F.S.; requiring
10 applicants for licensure as a registered nurse or
11 licensed practical nurse to be graduates of an
12 eligible program; deleting a provision requiring such
13 applicants to complete the graduation requirements of
14 an approved program to conform to the repeal by the
15 act of the board’s authority to approve nursing
16 programs; deleting a provision authorizing the board
17 to approve equivalent requirements for professional
18 nursing preparation; amending s. 464.015, F.S.;
19 requiring that the terms “Graduate Nurse” and
20 “Graduate Practical Nurse” be used only by graduates
21 of eligible programs; conforming provisions to the
22 repeal by the act of the board’s authority to approve
23 nursing programs; amending s. 464.022, F.S.;
24 authorizing graduates of eligible programs to practice
25 nursing pending the results of the licensing
26 examination; conforming provisions to changes made by
27 the act; repealing s. 464.019, F.S., relating to the
28 board’s approval of nursing programs; providing an
29 effective date.
30
31 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
32
33 Section 1. Subsection (8) of section 464.003, Florida
34 Statutes, is amended to read:
35 464.003 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
36 (8) “Eligible Approved program” means a nursing program
37 offered by:
38 (a) A school district, public community college, or state
39 university;
40 (b) An institution licensed by the Commission for
41 Independent Education; or
42 (c) Another educational institution in the state, if the
43 nursing program is accredited by a national accrediting agency
44 recognized by the United States Department of Education
45 conducted in a school, college, or university which is approved
46 by the board pursuant to s. 464.019 for the education of nurses.
47 Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 464.004, Florida
48 Statutes, is amended to read:
49 464.004 Board of Nursing; membership; appointment; terms.—
50 (2) Seven members of the board must be registered nurses
51 who are residents of this state and who have been engaged in the
52 practice of professional nursing for at least 4 years, including
53 at least one advanced registered nurse practitioner, one nurse
54 educator member of an eligible approved program, and one nurse
55 executive. These seven board members should be representative of
56 the diverse areas of practice within the nursing profession. In
57 addition, three members of the board must be licensed practical
58 nurses who are residents of this state and who have been
59 actively engaged in the practice of practical nursing for at
60 least 4 years prior to their appointment. The remaining three
61 members must be residents of the state who have never been
62 licensed as nurses and who are in no way connected with the
63 practice of nursing. No person may be appointed as a lay member
64 who is in any way connected with, or has any financial interest
65 in, any health care facility, agency, or insurer. At least one
66 member of the board must be 60 years of age or older.
67 Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
68 464.008, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
69 464.008 Licensure by examination.—
70 (1) Any person desiring to be licensed as a registered
71 nurse or licensed practical nurse shall apply to the department
72 to take the licensure examination. The department shall examine
73 each applicant who:
74 (c) Is in good mental and physical health, is a recipient
75 of a high school diploma or the equivalent, and is a graduate of
76 an eligible program and has completed the requirements for
77 graduation from an approved program, or its equivalent as
78 determined by the board, for the preparation of registered
79 nurses or licensed practical nurses, whichever is applicable.
80 Courses successfully completed in a professional nursing program
81 which are at least equivalent to a practical nursing program may
82 be used to satisfy the education requirements for licensure as a
83 licensed practical nurse.
84 Section 4. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 464.015,
85 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
86 464.015 Titles and abbreviations; restrictions; penalty.—
87 (3) Only persons who are graduates of eligible approved
88 programs or the equivalent may use the term “Graduate Nurse” and
89 the abbreviation “G.N.,” pending the results of the first
90 licensure examination for which they are eligible.
91 (4) Only persons who are graduates of eligible approved
92 programs or the equivalent may use the term “Graduate Practical
93 Nurse” and the abbreviation “G.P.N.,” pending the results of the
94 first licensure examination for which they are eligible.
95 Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 464.022, Florida
96 Statutes, is amended to read:
97 464.022 Exceptions.—No provision of this part shall be
98 construed to prohibit:
99 (4) The practice of nursing by graduates of eligible
100 approved programs or the equivalent, pending the result of the
101 first licensing examination for which they are eligible
102 following graduation, provided they practice under direct
103 supervision of a registered professional nurse. The board shall
104 by rule define what constitutes direct supervision.
105 Section 6. Section 464.019, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
106 Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.