AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BOARD OF NURSING.

Section 1 of this Act updates the Delaware Code relating to the Board of Nursing (“Board”) by eliminating conflicting definitions of an “advanced practice registered nurse” in the Code, correcting inaccurate cross-references, and eliminating references to the Joint Practice Committee, a now defunct body, and replacing such references with the newly enacted Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Committee. Section 2 of this Act corrects the Delaware Code to use the correct defined term, “advanced practice registered nurse” rather than “advanced practice nurse,” which is deleted by Section 1 of this Act. Section 3 of this Act adds passage of the national examination to the qualifications for licensure as a registered nurse currently listed in § 1910, Title 24. Section 4 of this Act eliminates reference to the national examination for registered nurses in § 1911, Title 24. The change made by Sections 3 and 4 of this Act ensures that all of the qualifications in § 1910, Title 24, including passage of the examination, are required to be a registered nurse. Section 5 of this Act makes a technical correction to make it clear that “state” and “territory” as referenced in § 1912, Title 24 means a state or territory of the United States. Additional changes of this type are made in Sections 8 and 12 of this Act. Section 6 of this Act adds passage of the national examination to the qualifications for licensure as a licensed practical nurse currently listed in § 1914, Title 24. Section 7 of this Act eliminates reference to the national examination for licensed practical nurses in § 1915, Title 24. The change made by Sections 6 and 7 of this Act ensures that all of the qualifications in § 1914, including passage of the examination, are required to be a licensed practical nurse. Section 8 of this Act corrects the reciprocity provision for licensed practical nurses who obtain licensure in another jurisdiction on or after July 1, 1983, so that the licensed practical nurse provision is consistent with the registered nurse provision in § 1912, Title 24. Section 9 of Act clarifies what an advanced practice registered nurse who has been out of active clinical practice for at least 2 years must complete in order to renew a license. In addition, this Section adds a provision that specifically allows nursing licensees to apply for inactive status. Section 10 of this Act adds a provision authorizing the Board to impose a monetary penalty upon a licensee guilty of any offense described in § 1922, Title 24. Section 11 of this Act eliminates redundant purposes of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Committee. Section 12 of this Act adds a provision that enables an advanced practice registered nurse applicant to apply by endorsement. Section 13 of this Act clarifies that only advanced practice registered nurses with at least 2 years and 4,000 hours of experience who seek to obtain independent practice are required to maintain a collaborative agreement. Each Section of this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.