The BRN Report VOLUME 12, NO
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the BRN report VOLUME 12, NO. 1 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CALIFORNIA BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING WINTER 1999 California BRN Examines the Mutual Recognition Model for Nursing Regulation A message from Ruth Ann Terry, MPH, RN Executive Officer of the Board of Registered Nursing he National Council of State method to facilitate interstate nursing Boards of Nursing, Inc. is the practice. As envisioned, a single license T organization through which boards would allow a nurse to practice in more of nursing act and counsel together on than one state. Under the existing licen- matters of common interest and concern sure system, nurses are required to be affecting public health, safety, and licensed in every state in which they welfare, including the development of practice. licensure examinations for nursing. The Telenursing, including advice nursing, Delegate Assembly is the organization’s which crosses state lines; an increase in voting membership that represents each integrated/multistate health systems; and state board of nursing throughout the increased mobility of nurses have caused United States as well as those of American state boards of nursing to evaluate the Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, existing licensure system to eliminate or Ruth Ann Terry Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana reduce barriers to interstate nursing Islands, and the Virgin Islands. practice and patient access to nursing the implementation of the concept of The Delegate Assembly approved the care. multistate regulation of licensure for RNs and licensed vocational nurses concept of a mutual recognition model of In December 1997, the Delegate Assem- (LVNs). An interstate compact is a formal nursing regulation in August 1997 as a bly adopted model compact language for agreement between two or more states to resolve a mutual problem that transcends state lines. The concept of an interstate compact is not new. An example of such a New Law Protects Title “Nurse” compact is the driver’s license compact. Executed by 48 states, this compact and Requires Name Tags permits a person licensed in the state in which he or she resides to drive tempo- he title “nurse” is now protected practitioner license status in at least rarily in a compact state without a license by law effective January 1, 1999, 18-point type. In psychiatric settings or from that state. Tas the result of legislation intro- in settings not licensed by the state, Similarly, under the nurse licensure duced by Assemblyman Brett Granlund. employers have the discretion to not compact, the RN or LVN would be require name tags if there are individual “In the interest of public safety and licensed in the home state of residence safety or therapeutic concerns. Also, if consumer awareness,” AB 1439 but would be authorized to practice in any the practitioner’s license is prominently (chaptered 98-1013) prohibits the use of state in which the compact agreement had displayed in a practice or an office, the title “nurse” by any individual except been executed without being required to name tags are not required. RNs or licensed vocational nurses. The obtain a license in that state. The nurse new law does not prohibit certified The Board supported this legislation as who practices in a compact state is nurses’ aides from using their specific a means to prevent confusion for responsible for being knowledgeable title. consumers. about that state’s rules and regulations This new law also requires health care Other new laws that became effective and can be subject to discipline by that practitioners to wear a name tag while January 1, 1999, appear in the “Legisla- state for acts committed in that state. working that discloses their name and tive Update” section of this newsletter. (continued on page 9) 2 BRN report WINTER 1999 the BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING BRN report MISSION STATEMENT Gray Davis, Governor Protect the health and safety of consumers and promote State of California quality registered nursing in the state of California. To Aileen Adams, Agency Secretary accomplish this we will: State and Consumer Services Agency • Establish and uphold competency standards, provide Kathleen Hamilton, Director guidance and interpretation, prevent patient harm, Department of Consumer Affairs and intervene with discipline and rehabilitation. • Serve the public in a customer-oriented, well-managed, Members, Board of Registered Nursing Mary Jo Gorney-Moreno, PhD, RN and respectful manner. President • Provide employees with the opportunity for satisfying Sharon Ecker, AA, RN work in an atmosphere of shared commitment. Vice President Genevieve D.R. Deutsch, RNC, OGNP Sandra L. Erickson, BA, CRNA Monta Huber, BS Judith Jonilonis, BBA, RN, CNOR Thomas C. Kravis, MD Seth L. Liebman, JD Ruth Ann Terry, MPH, RN A Note to the Reader Executive Officer The BRN Report This section explains terms which appear in the articles and provides the Board Katherine Weinkam, MS, RN of Registered Nursing’s addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers. Editor “Board” refers collectively to the nine appointed members. The “Board” is the Geri Nibbs, MN, RN Board of Registered Nursing’s policy-making body that has responsibility for Associate Editor interpretation and enforcement of the Nursing Practice Act. Heidi J. Goodman Managing Editor “BRN” is the Board of Registered Nursing. This is the state agency within the Dawn Kammerer Department of Consumer Affairs that has the responsibility for implementation Staff of Board policy and programs. Alex Eng, Designer Brence Davis, Publications Assistant “NPA” refers to the Nursing Practice Act with Rules and Regulations. The NPA DCA Communications & Education Division contains laws and regulations that govern the practice of registered nurses in California. It consists of sections 2700-2838 of the Business and Professions Contributors Code and Title 16, Division 14, of the California Code of Regulations. Nurses Louise Bailey, Madeline Bates, Jean Harlow, Janette Wackerly, Marci White are responsible for knowledge of subsequent changes in the law. The BRN Report is one mechanism for informing registered nurses of these changes. Purpose “RN(s)” is the abbreviation for registered nurse(s). The purpose of The BRN Report is to inform registered nurses of current laws related to Board and BRN mailing address: P.O. Box 944210 nursing, Board policies and activities, and Sacramento, CA 94244-2100 issues pertaining to the regulation of nursing practice and education. Street addresses and phone numbers: The BRN Report is printed in Sacramento, 400 R Street, Suite 4030 1170 Durfee Avenue, Suite G CA, and is the official publication of the Sacramento, CA 95814 South El Monte, CA 91733 California Board of Registered Nursing. The newsletter is mailed at bulk rates. (916) 322-3350 Fax: (916) 327-4402 (626) 575-7080 Fax: (626) 575-7090 Authorization is granted to reproduce items; Requests for additional copies of this issue of The BRN Report, items acknowledgment is appreciated. mentioned in the articles, previously-published articles, and back issues can be made to either office. WINTER 1999 BRN report 3 BOARD MEMBER Meet the Board Members UPDATE The BRN Report will present a profile of one or two members of the BRN’s Board in each issue. There are nine members on the Board—three who represent the public at large; five who are registered nurses (three engaged in direct patient care, one in nursing education, ormer Governor Pete Wilson and one in nursing administration); and one member who is a licensed physician. appointed two new members to Fthe Board prior to his leaving office. He appointed Thomas C. Kravis, Seth Liebman, JD MD, to the physician member position. Kravis, from San Diego, is a health care “Since coming onto the Board as a management consultant for Milliman & public member, I have learned how Robertson, Inc. He graduated from dynamic, exciting, and challenging Fairfield University in Connecticut and the registered nursing profession is.” received his medical degree from This is a comment from Seth Jefferson Medical College in Pennsyl- Liebman, who was appointed to the vania. He completed specialty training Board by Assemblyman Curt Pringle in internal medicine and pulmonary and is one of its three public mem- disease at the University of California, bers. Liebman’s term began Decem- San Diego. His term ends June 1, 2002. ber 1, 1996, and expires June 1, 2000. He served on the Board’s Legislative His second appointment was Sandra L. Committee and Diversion/Discipline Erickson, CRNA, BA, who will be the Committee in 1997 and was a nursing administration representative member of the Diversion/Discipline for a term ending June 1, 2001. Committee in 1998. Erickson graduated from Greenville Seth Liebman Liebman received his bachelor’s General Hospital School of Nursing, One of Liebman’s community activities degree in business administration Greenville, South Carolina. She has been speaking to elementary school from the University of Georgia in received her certificate as a nurse students about the practice of law during 1982, graduating magna cum laude anesthetist from the Medical University Orange County’s annual Law Day. with general honors. He continued his of South Carolina and her bachelor’s Liebman also is a campaign volunteer for education at the University of Texas, degree in public administration from the Republican Party. He is a member of where he received his law degree in the University of San Francisco. the Orange County Bar Association and 1985, again graduating with honors. Erickson is employed at Kaiser the Orange County Republican Lawyers Permanente and is currently the Chief After completing law school, Association. Travel, foreign languages, Nurse Anesthetist at Kaiser San Jose- Liebman served as Special Counsel and current events are among his many Santa Teresa Community Hospital. for Judicial Selection for the United interests. Mary Jo Gorney-Moreno, PhD, RN, States Department of Justice until “It is an honor to be able to serve the has been re-elected Board President.