Titles of Regulations: 18VAC90-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing (amending 18VAC90-20-35).

18VAC90-25. Regulations Governing Certified Nurse Aides (amending 18VAC90-25-15).

18VAC90-30. Regulations Governing the Licensure of Nurse Practitioners (amending 18VAC90-30-100).

18VAC90-50. Regulations Governing the Certification of Massage Therapists (amending 18VAC90-50-20).

18VAC90-60. Regulations Governing the Registration of Medication Aides (amending 18VAC90-60-20).

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: July 1, 2009.

Agency Contact: Jay P. Douglas, R.N., Executive Director, Board of Nursing, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233-1463, telephone (804) 367-4515, FAX (804) 527-4455, or email jay.douglas@dhp.virginia.gov.

Summary:

In compliance with Chapter 687 of the 2009 Acts of Assembly, the Board of Nursing has amended its regulations relating to the responsibility of the licensee or registrant to provide current addresses. Every licensee and registrant is required to provide an address of record for use by the board, and is permitted to provide a second address to be used as the public address. If a second address is not provided, the address of record becomes the public address. Regulations are amended to use the statutory terminology of address of record and to clarify that the regulant has a responsibility to notify the board within 30 days if there is a change in the address of record or the public address, if different from the address of record.

Amendments also allow for the nurses, nurse aides, and practitioners practicing in certain settings to wear a name tag that only has the person’s first name and last initial and appropriate title.

18VAC90-20-35. Identification; accuracy of records.

A. Any person regulated by this chapter who provides direct patient care shall, while on duty, wear identification that is clearly visible and indicates the person's first and last name and the appropriate title for the license, certification, or registration issued to such person by the board under which he is practicing in that setting. Any person practicing in hospital emergency departments, psychiatric and mental health units and programs, or in health care facilities units offering treatment for patients in custody of state or local law-enforcement agencies may use identification badges of first name and first letter only of last name and appropriate title.

B. A licensee who has changed his name shall submit as legal proof to the board a copy of the marriage certificate or court order evidencing the change. A duplicate license shall be issued by the board upon receipt of such evidence and the required fee.

C. Each licensee shall maintain a record of his current mailing an address of record with the board, and any. Any change of in the address by a licensee of record or in the public address, if different from the address of record, shall be submitted by a licensee in writing to the board within 30 days of such change. All notices required by law and by this chapter to be mailed by the board to any licensee shall be validly given when mailed to the latest address of record on file with the board.

18VAC90-25-15. Identification; accuracy of records.

A. Any person regulated by this chapter who provides direct patient care shall, while on duty, wear identification that is clearly visible and indicates the person's first and last name and the appropriate title issued to such person by the board under which he is practicing in that setting. Any person practicing in hospital emergency departments, psychiatric and mental health units and programs, or in health care facilities units offering treatment for patients in custody of state or local law-enforcement agencies may use identification badges of first name and first letter only of last name and appropriate title.

B. A certificate holder who has changed his name shall submit as legal proof to the board a copy of the marriage certificate or court order evidencing the change. A duplicate certificate shall be issued by the board upon receipt of such evidence.

C. Each certificate holder shall maintain a record of his current mailing an address of record with the board , and any. Any change of in the address of record or in the public address, if different from the address of record, shall be submitted in writing to the board within 30 days of such change. All notices required by law and by this chapter to be mailed by the board to any certificate holder shall be validly given when mailed to the latest address of record on file with the board.

18VAC90-30-100. Renewal of licensure.

A. Licensure of a nurse practitioner shall be renewed:

1. Biennially at the same time the license to practice as a registered nurse in Virginia is renewed; or

2. If licensed as a nurse practitioner with a multistate licensure privilege to practice in Virginia as a registered nurse, a licensee born in even-numbered years shall renew his license by the last day of the birth month in even-numbered years and a licensee born in odd-numbered years shall renew his license by the last day of the birth month in odd-numbered years.

B. The renewal notice of the license shall be mailed to the last known address of record of each nurse practitioner. Failure to receive the renewal notice shall not relieve the licensee of the responsibility for renewing the license by the expiration date.

C. The licensed nurse practitioner shall attest to compliance with continuing competency requirements of current professional certification or continuing education as prescribed in 18VAC90-30-105 and the license renewal fee prescribed in 18VAC90-30-50.

D. The license shall automatically lapse if the licensee fails to renew by the expiration date. Any person practicing as a nurse practitioner during the time a license has lapsed shall be subject to disciplinary actions by the boards.

18VAC90-50-20. Operational requirements.

A. Requirements for current mailing address.

1. Each applicant or certificate holder shall maintain a record of his current mailing address of record with the board. Any change of in the address of record or the public address, if different from the address of record, shall be submitted in writing to the board within 30 days of such change.

2. All required notices mailed by the board to any applicant or certificate holder shall be validly given when mailed to the latest address of record on file with the board.

B. A certificate holder who has had a change of name shall submit as legal proof to the board a copy of the marriage certificate or court order evidencing the change. A duplicate certificate shall be issued by the board upon receipt of such evidence and the required fee.

C. Each certified massage therapist shall conspicuously post his current Virginia certificate in a public area at his practice location.

18VAC90-60-20. Identification; accuracy of records.

A. Any person regulated by this chapter shall, while on duty, wear identification that is clearly visible to the client and that indicates the person's first and last name and the appropriate title issued to such person by the board under which he is practicing in that setting.

B. A medication aide who has changed his name shall submit as legal proof to the board a copy of the marriage certificate or court order evidencing the change. A duplicate certificate shall be issued by the board upon receipt of such evidence.

C. A medication aide shall maintain a record of his current mailing an address of record with the board, and any. Any change of in the address of record or in the public address, if different from the address of record, shall be submitted in writing to the board within 30 days of such change. All notices required by law and by this chapter to be mailed by the board to any registrant shall be validly given when mailed to the latest address of record on file with the board.