N. Genell Lee, MSN, RN, JD

Executive Officer

Objectives

�Identify current activities of the Alabama Board of Nursing.

�Describe new initiatives by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Citizenship/Legal Presence� Alabama Immigration Law requires proof of

citizenship/legal presence during public records transactions—for nurses, that is at the time of initial licensure and at time of renewal (if only legal presence)

� If US citizen: obtain proof only once

� If non-citizen: each time of renewal except if has Permanent Resident Card, proof required only one time

Two Different Checklists�One for U S Citizens

�One for Non Citizens

�Each checklist provides a list of approved documents—copy of one should be submitted along with the correct checklist

�SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS ARE NOT ON EITHER LIST

Collecting Information Now�Exam applicants

�Endorsement applicants

�Reinstatement of lapsed license or revoked license applicants

�Mailing requesting all nurses to demonstrate proof so that at the time of license renewal there won’t be delays

ISSUES� Submitting a non-citizen checklist when documents

indicate a citizen

� Using driver’s license # rather than nursing license # on form

� Not wanting to submit SSN

� Illegible documents

� Using a citizen checklist when documents indicate non-citizen status

� Board should “stand” against legislature over issue

Responses to Issues� ABN will image checklist and document—auditors

will evaluate the ABN to assure compliance with the law

� Wrong checklist and documents means likely to have a finding in the audit so documents and checklist errors identified to the nurse to correct

� SSN: because documents will be imaged, the license # and SSN are key components of the index for imaging—no license # or SSN on form, have to look up each person manually—over 85,000! Could delay renewal

More responses to issues

�Contact legislators and Governor if want to complain about the impact on the individual nurse

LPN Renewal begins Sunday, Sept 1

�As of Friday, August 22, 2013, 39% of

LPNS were not yet verified for

citizenship/legal presence!

�If not verified by Sept 1, will not be

able to renew and will be presented

with message about citizenship/legal

presence

Other LPN Renewal Issues� Out of 18,000 + LPNs, only about 4,000 meet all the

requirements to renew beginning Sunday, September 1

� Reasons for ineligible to renew:

� Failure to submit documents to prove citizenship/legal presence

� Failure to have sufficient CE contact hours to renew

� Failure to watch 4 hour mandatory online class for new graduates

� Failure to pay owed fee/fine

Notices� Official notices mailed to address of record this

week

� If LPN does not receive:

� Should check that Board has correct mailing address

� Check with post office

� Mailed first class and will get returns but will not remail

Attempts to Renew; Not

Eligible�Will receive specific message regarding

renewal and the reason the individual is not eligible

�Attempt to renew and should answer “Yes”to one of the regulatory questions—will be stopped until answers Yes

�Have to pay past due fee/fine in order to renew

Legislative Update� ABN Sunset Legislation passed to continue ABN until

2017. Next Sunset Audit will occur in 2016 and back to the legislature in 2017.

� Act 2013-71

� HB 301 passed: now requires postsecondary and higher education employees to report suspected child abuse or neglect

� SB 229: CRNP/CNM Controlled Substances: passed House 96-0 on May 7; BME certifying body; signed by Governor

Legislative Issues�Honor Ingels is Governmental Relations

Manager for ABN

�Too many healthcare and nursing issues in legislature without having someone onsite during the session

� $150,000 in graduate scholarships in the budget

�ABN will continue to administer

More on Legislature� More nurses contacting representatives for issues

related to licensure, complaints, discipline

� Licensure: applied 7 days ago and does not want to wait for license verification from other state board—demands that the ABN accept a non-official copy

� Complaints: wanting the representative to intervene in complaint before investigation is complete—requires permission of nurse to discuss case and generally it is not given so the complaint is made to the legislator and yet ABN can’t discuss complaint with legislator

More on Legislature� Trying to compel the Board to not issue discipline; to

complain about the discipline being proposed without giving complete detail of circumstances of complaint

� Associations attempting to compel Board, through legislative action, to loosen requirements

� Diabetes is major issue

� ADA wants the Board to loosen requirements for nurses to be available to diabetics in schools, mental health community residential center, SAIL

Technology Use� Licensing Management System (LMS): customized

licensing database has been in development for 3 years

� Went Live with new system Monday, May 13, 2013

� Advantage: data is in the system and will allow better interface with online applications

� Monitoring of licensed nurses in VDAP or on probation: online monitoring reports

� Add/Change Application for CRNPs/CNMs—will be online and ask for pertinent changes and not whole new application

Group Online License Verification

System� E-mails to subscribers will occur in close to real time

� Minutes after changes made to LMS, subscriber will receive email about employed nurse in the subscription

� Individual emails rather than a group of nurses in one email (makes it easier to print the individual email for that individual nurse’s file)

� Will be inundated during RN renewal because as renewal of license occurs, and change in license expiration date, email will be sent to the users of the system for that employer

Upcoming Board Positions�RN, Nursing Practice (1)—Cheryl Bailey

appointed as of January 1, 2014

�RN, Nursing Education (1)

�RN, Advanced Practice Nursing (1)

�LPNAA (1)

�Consumer (1)—Dr. Vickie Hawes, Wallace Hanceville

Time Commitment

�Board meets every third Thursday of each month

�Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov: add the third Friday for review of discipline cases

�Use laptops for review of Board materials

Compensation

�$161 per day on Board business

�Per diem same as for state employees ($75 overnight)

�Reimbursed travel mileage at current federal rate

Opportunities �How ABN fits into state regulatory schema

�Learn about other state agencies

�Rulemaking!

�Discipline review

�Networking with colleagues from other settings and professions

Upcoming Rules Review�Chapter 610-X-4, Licensure

�Chapter 610-X-6, Standards of Nursing Practice

�Chapter 610-X-3, Nursing Education Programs

�Chapter 610-X-10, Continuing Education for License Renewal

Online Programs� “Soon to be Nursing Graduates….” updated April

2013

� Part One: Applying for Licensure

� Part Two: Applying for NCLEX

� Posted on website

� Substance Use Disorder in Nursing 2.0 contact hours

� Information for CNOs, Nurse Managers, Supervisors 1.o contact hour

More on Online Programs

�Systematic Evaluation Plan: video for nursing education programs

�How to Complete Nursing Education Annual Report (no contact hours)

�Case studies: videotaped and will be online within the next month

Monitoring through

VDAP/Probation

�Monthly self-reports by the nurse are online

�Quarterly employer reports are online

�Reminder notices sent to employment monitors when reports are due

�Case study video includes information about the employment monitor and quarterly online reports

Upcoming Event

�2015: 100 year anniversary of Board of Nursing

�Planning for celebration has begun

Continued Discipline Issues�Substance use disorder

�Substandard practice

�Lortab still drug of choice followed by alcohol and marijuana

�Falsification of records

� Impaired behavior at work

� Inappropriate sexual behavior

Conclusion� 2013 LPN renewal a concern

�Citizenship/Legal Presence required dedicated position

�Suggestions of what ABN can do in communicating changes or changes that would aid applicants, let us know!

�Genell.Lee@abn.alabama.gov