*See Sec. 19a-88b re renewal of certain professional and occupational licenses, certificates, permits or registrations which become void while the holder is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States.
Cited. 207 C. 674; 242 C. 1.
Sec. 20-87a. Definitions. Scope of practice.
Sec. 20-88. State Board of Examiners for Nursing.
Sec. 20-89. Salaries and expenses.
Sec. 20-91. Awards in aid of nursing education.
Sec. 20-93. Qualifications for examination. Licensure. Fee.
Sec. 20-94a. Licensure as advanced practice registered nurse.
Sec. 20-94b. Nurse anesthetists. Prescriptive authority.
Sec. 20-94c. Advanced practice registered nurses. Professional liability insurance required.
Sec. 20-94d. Advanced practice registered nurses. Continuing education.
Sec. 20-94e. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. Training or education requirement.
Sec. 20-95. Use of title “registered nurse”.
Sec. 20-96. Licensure as practical nurse. Examinations.
Sec. 20-97. Licensure without examination. Temporary permit.
Sec. 20-98. Use of title “practical nurse”.
Sec. 20-99. Improper professional conduct. Hearing. Appeal. Prohibited conduct.
Sec. 20-99b. Nurse Licensure Compact.
Sec. 20-99c. Criminal history records check for multistate license.
Sec. 20-99d. Converting multistate license to single-state license.
Sec. 20-100. Notice to Department of Health Services.
Sec. 20-101. Construction of chapter. Permitted practices. Temporary practice.
Sec. 20-101a. Determination and pronouncement of death by registered nurse. Regulations.
Sec. 20-101c. Prescription forms used by advanced practice registered nurses and nurse-midwives.
Sec. 20-101d. Covenants not to compete involving advanced practice registered nurse.
Sec. 20-102a. Appearance before board concerning application.
Secs. 20-102b to 20-102z. Reserved
Sec. 20-87. Definitions. Section 20-87 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4423; 1969, P.A. 146; P.A. 75-166, S. 5, 6.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-87a. Definitions. Scope of practice. (a) The practice of nursing by a registered nurse is defined as the process of diagnosing human responses to actual or potential health problems, providing supportive and restorative care, health counseling and teaching, case finding and referral, collaborating in the implementation of the total health care regimen, and executing the medical regimen under the direction of a licensed physician, dentist or advanced practice registered nurse. A registered nurse may also execute orders issued by licensed physician assistants, podiatrists and optometrists, provided such orders do not exceed the nurse's or the ordering practitioner's scope of practice. A registered nurse may execute dietary orders written in a patient's chart by a certified dietitian-nutritionist.
(b) (1) Advanced nursing practice is defined as the performance of advanced level nursing practice activities that, by virtue of post-basic specialized education and experience, are appropriate to and may be performed by an advanced practice registered nurse. The advanced practice registered nurse performs acts of diagnosis and treatment of alterations in health status, as described in subsection (a) of this section.
(2) (A) An advanced practice registered nurse having been issued a license pursuant to section 20-94a shall, for the first three years after having been issued such license, collaborate with a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state. In all settings, such advanced practice registered nurse may, in collaboration with a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state, prescribe, dispense and administer medical therapeutics and corrective measures and may request, sign for, receive and dispense drugs in the form of professional samples in accordance with sections 20-14c to 20-14e, inclusive, except such advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a and maintaining current certification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists who is prescribing and administrating medical therapeutics during surgery may only do so if the physician who is medically directing the prescriptive activity is physically present in the institution, clinic or other setting where the surgery is being performed. For purposes of this subdivision, “collaboration” means a mutually agreed upon relationship between such advanced practice registered nurse and a physician who is educated, trained or has relevant experience that is related to the work of such advanced practice registered nurse. The collaboration shall address a reasonable and appropriate level of consultation and referral, coverage for the patient in the absence of such advanced practice registered nurse, a method to review patient outcomes and a method of disclosure of the relationship to the patient. Relative to the exercise of prescriptive authority, the collaboration between such advanced practice registered nurse and a physician shall be in writing and shall address the level of schedule II and III controlled substances that such advanced practice registered nurse may prescribe and provide a method to review patient outcomes, including, but not limited to, the review of medical therapeutics, corrective measures, laboratory tests and other diagnostic procedures that such advanced practice registered nurse may prescribe, dispense and administer.
(B) An advanced practice registered nurse having been issued a license pursuant to subsection (d) of section 20-94a who collaborated, prior to the issuance of such license, with a physician licensed to practice medicine in another state may count the time of such collaboration toward the three-year requirement set forth in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, provided such collaboration otherwise satisfies the requirements set forth in said subparagraph.
(3) An advanced practice registered nurse having (A) been issued a license pursuant to section 20-94a, (B) maintained such license, or, for an advanced practice registered nurse having been issued a license pursuant to subsection (d) of said section, such license or a license to practice in another state as an advanced practice registered nurse or as a person entitled to perform similar services under a different designation, for a period of not less than three years, and (C) engaged in the performance of advanced practice level nursing activities in collaboration with a physician for a period of not less than three years and not less than two thousand hours in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, may, thereafter, alone or in collaboration with a physician or another health care provider licensed to practice in this state: (i) Perform the acts of diagnosis and treatment of alterations in health status, as described in subsection (a) of this section; and (ii) prescribe, dispense and administer medical therapeutics and corrective measures and dispense drugs in the form of professional samples as described in subdivision (2) of this subsection in all settings. Any advanced practice registered nurse electing to practice not in collaboration with a physician in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision shall maintain documentation of having engaged in the performance of advanced practice level nursing activities in collaboration with a physician for a period of not less than three years and not less than two thousand hours. Such advanced practice registered nurse shall maintain such documentation for a period of not less than three years after completing such requirements and shall submit such documentation to the Department of Public Health for inspection not later than forty-five days after a request made by the department for such documentation. Any such advanced practice registered nurse shall submit written notice to the Commissioner of Public Health of his or her intention to practice without collaboration with a physician after completing the requirements described in this subdivision and prior to beginning such practice. Not later than December first, annually, the Commissioner of Public Health shall publish on the department's Internet web site a list of such advanced practice registered nurses who are authorized to practice not in collaboration with a physician.
(4) An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under the provisions of this chapter may make the determination and pronouncement of death of a patient, provided the advanced practice registered nurse attests to such pronouncement on the certificate of death and signs the certificate of death not later than twenty-four hours after the pronouncement.
(c) The practice of nursing by a licensed practical nurse is defined as the performing of selected tasks and sharing of responsibility under the direction of a registered nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse and within the framework of supportive and restorative care, health counseling and teaching, case finding and referral, collaborating in the implementation of the total health care regimen and executing the medical regimen under the direction of a licensed physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, optometrist or dentist. A licensed practical nurse may also execute dietary orders written in a patient's chart by a certified dietitian-nutritionist.
(d) In the case of a registered or licensed practical nurse employed by a home health care agency, the practice of nursing includes, but is not limited to, executing the medical regimen under the direction of a physician licensed in a state that borders Connecticut.
(P.A. 75-166, S. 1, 6; P.A. 89-107, S. 1; 89-389, S. 1, 22; P.A. 94-213, S. 4; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; P.A. 99-168, S. 1; P.A. 03-8, S. 1; P.A. 04-221, S. 34; 04-255, S. 22; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 108; P.A. 06-169, S. 1; P.A. 10-117, S. 18; P.A. 11-242, S. 33; P.A. 14-12, S. 1; 14-231, S. 52; P.A. 15-4, S. 2; 15-242, S. 55; P.A. 23-97, S. 20; P.A. 24-68, S. 50.)
History: P.A. 89-107 added Subsec. (c) re nurses' powers of administration of medical regimen under direction of physician in bordering state; P.A. 89-389 inserted new Subsec. (b) re duties of advanced practice registered nurses, relettered the existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and added the reference in Subsec. (c) to an advanced practice registered nurse; P.A. 94-213 deleted Subsec. (b)(5) re other settings as prescribed in regulations and added conditions for prescribing and administering medical therapeutics and corrective measures and dispensing professional samples; P.A. 97-112 replaced “home for the aged” with “residential care home”; P.A. 99-168 redefined “advanced nursing practice” in Subsec. (b) to include collaboration with a physician, defined “collaboration” for purposes of Subsec. (b), modified prescriptive authority of advanced practice registered nurses and made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (d); P.A. 03-8 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “advanced practice registered nurse”; P.A. 04-221 amended Subsec. (b) to allow advanced practice registered nurses to request, sign for and receive drug samples; P.A. 04-255 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision allowing advanced practice registered nurse to make determination and pronouncement of death; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 changed effective date of P.A. 04-221 from October 1, 2004, to June 8, 2004, effective May 12, 2004; P.A. 06-169 deleted former Subsec. (b)(1) to (4), inclusive, and authorized advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe, dispense and administer medical therapeutics and corrective measures and to request, sign for, receive and dispense professional drug samples in all settings; P.A. 10-117 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision that permits registered nurse to execute orders issued by licensed physician assistants, podiatrists and optometrists provided such orders do not exceed the nurse's or ordering practitioner's scope of practice; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision that permits licensed practical nurse to execute medical regimen under direction of a licensed physician assistant, podiatrist or optometrist, effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 14-12 amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provisions re definition of advanced nursing practice as Subdiv. (1), designating existing provisions re collaboration with a physician as Subdiv. (2) and adding provision re first 3 years after license issuance therein, adding Subdiv. (3) re practice alone or in collaboration with a physician or other health care provider, designating existing provisions re pronouncement of death as Subdiv. (4), and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 14-231 amended Subsec. (b)(3) by adding “and not less than two thousand hours” in Subpara. (C) and adding provisions re documentation and notice to commissioner, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-4 amended Subsec. (b)(3) by adding provision re publishing list of advanced practice registered nurses who are authorized to practice not in collaboration with a physician, effective May 11, 2015; P.A. 15-242 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision allowing registered nurse to execute dietary orders written by a certified dietitian-nutritionist and amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision allowing licensed practical nurse to execute dietary orders written by a certified dietitian-nutritionist; P.A. 23-97 amended Subsec. (b)(2) by designating existing provisions as Subpara. (A) and adding Subpara. (B) re advanced practice registered nurses who collaborated with a physician licensed in another state and Subsec. (b)(3)(B) by adding provision re advanced practice registered nurses who obtained licensure by endorsement; P.A. 24-68 amended Subsec. (b)(2)(B) by making a technical change, effective May 28, 2024.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-88. State Board of Examiners for Nursing. (a) The Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing shall consist of twelve members who are residents of the state to be appointed by the Governor subject to the provisions of section 4-9a. The Governor shall appoint two members who shall be graduates of an approved school for licensed practical nursing; five members who shall be registered nurses, one of whom shall, at the time of appointment, be connected with an institution affording opportunities for the education of nurses, two of whom shall hold master's degrees in nursing from a recognized college or university and one of whom shall hold a degree of a doctor of nursing practice or doctor of nursing science from a recognized college or university; one member who shall be an advanced practice registered nurse; and four members who shall be public members. Members of said board shall be residents of this state and professional members shall maintain good professional standing. No member of said board shall be an elected or appointed officer of any professional association of nurses or have been such an officer during the year immediately preceding his appointment. No member shall serve more than two full consecutive terms which commence after July 1, 1980. Any vacancy shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term.
(b) The Governor shall appoint a chairperson from among such members. Said board shall meet at least once during each calendar quarter and at such other times as the chairman deems necessary. Special meetings shall be held on the request of a majority of the board after notice in accordance with the provisions of section 1-225. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Members shall not be compensated for their services. Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from office. Minutes of all meetings shall be recorded by the board. No member shall participate in the affairs of the board during the pendency of any disciplinary proceedings by the board against such member.
(1949 Rev., S. 4424; 1953, S. 2214d; P.A. 75-166, S. 2, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 387, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 27, 136; P.A. 80-484, S. 29, 174, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 22, 71; P.A. 89-389, S. 2, 22; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 20, 55; P.A. 98-143, S. 8, 24; P.A. 12-62, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 75-166 increased board membership from 5 to 7, adding 2 graduates of licensed practical nursing school, added detailed qualifications for membership re experience and level of education and limited terms of service to two; P.A. 77-614 increased number of members to 11, adding 4 public members, condensed provisions re qualifications and added provision re filling of vacancies, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 made technical changes; P.A. 80-484 made appointments subject to Sec. 4-9a, replaced experience requirement with new provisions requiring all members to be residents of state and requiring professional members to maintain good professional standing and prohibiting their holding office in professional association within a year of their appointment, clarified terms which may be served and added Subsec. (b) re meetings, expense reimbursement, members' attendance and duties, etc.; P.A. 81-471 changed “elected official” to “elected or appointed officer” in Subsec. (a) as of July 1, 1981; P.A. 89-389 amended Subsec. (a) to increase the membership from 11 to 12, adding an advance practice registered nurse; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 in Subsec. (b) eliminated expense reimbursement for board members; P.A. 98-143 added quorum provision in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 12-62 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provision requiring 3 registered nurses who are connected with an institution affording nursing education opportunities to be members with provision requiring 1 registered nurse with such qualifications to be a member, replacing provision requiring 1 registered nurse to be an instructor in approved school for licensed practical nurses with provision requiring 1 registered nurse to hold a doctorate degree in nursing practice or nursing science and making a technical change, effective May 31, 2012.
See Sec. 4-9a for definition of “public member”.
See Secs. 19a-8 to 19a-12, inclusive, re powers and duties of boards and commissions within Department of Public Health.
Cited. 177 C. 78; 220 C. 86.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-89. Salaries and expenses. Section 20-89 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4425; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 25.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-90. Duties of board. (a) The Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing shall have the following duties: (1) Hear and decide matters concerning suspension or revocation of licensure; (2) adjudicate complaints filed against practitioners licensed under this chapter and impose sanctions where appropriate; (3) approve schools of nursing in the state that prepare persons for examination under the provisions of this chapter; and (4) consult, where possible, with nationally recognized accrediting agencies when approving schools pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection. The board may adopt a seal.
(b) All schools of nursing in the state that prepare persons for examination under the provisions of this chapter, shall be (1) visited periodically by a representative of the Department of Public Health who shall be a registered nurse or a person experienced in the field of nursing education, and (2) approved by the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing pursuant to subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The Department of Public Health shall post a list of all nursing programs and all programs for training licensed practical nurses that are approved by the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing and maintain the standard for the education of nurses and the training of licensed practical nurses as established by the Commissioner of Public Health on the department's Internet web site.
(1949 Rev., S. 4426; 1953, S. 2215d; 1971, P.A. 472; P.A. 73-115, S. 1; P.A. 75-166, S. 3, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 73, 388, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 30, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 23, 71; P.A. 90-13, S. 9; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 03-252, S. 10; P.A. 12-116, S. 87; P.A. 17-237, S. 100; P.A. 22-58, S. 15; P.A. 23-195, S. 10.)
History: 1971 act added provisions re practical nurses' training in high schools and vocational schools; P.A. 73-115 required that list of approved nursing programs rather than of nursing schools be kept by board of examiners; P.A. 75-166 changed quorum from four to three members and number of members requesting special meetings from two to three and added provision limiting voting privilege of licensed practical nurse members to matters pertaining to licensed practical nurses; P.A. 77-614 replaced public works commissioner with commissioner of administrative services and, effective January 1, 1979, deleted provisions re election of president and secretary/treasurer, re board's power to adopt bylaws and regulations for its operation and re limitation on voting privileges of licensed practical nurse members, changed number of members required for quorum and for calling special meeting to six and five, respectively, transferred power to make regulations re nursing programs standards from board to health services commissioner, retaining board in advisory capacity and required that nursing schools be visited yearly by health services department representative rather than by educational director of board or registered nurse appointed by the board; P.A. 80-484 deleted provisions re number of members required for quorum or calling of special meeting and re provision of meeting room by administrative services commissioner, required commissioner's consent for approval of courses and programs by board, required board to consult with recognized accrediting agencies and added Subsec. (b) re board's power to hear disciplinary matters and adjudicate complaints; P.A. 81-471 changed time for department of health services visits to nursing schools from once per year to “periodically”; P.A. 90-13 amended Subsec. (a) to except schools accredited by the National League for Nursing from requirement that health services department representative visit nursing schools periodically; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 03-252 made technical changes in Subsec. (a); pursuant to P.A. 12-116, “vocational schools” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “technical high schools” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 17-237 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “and technical high schools” with “or by the Technical Education and Career System”, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 22-58 substantially revised Subsec. (a), including deleting or reorganizing various existing provisions and designating remaining provisions new Subsec. (b)and Subsec.(c) and making technical changes and deleted Subsec. (b), effective May 23, 2022; P.A. 23-195 amended Subsec. (a) by making a technical change.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-90a. Pilot program offering licensed practical nursing education and training. Application process. Review and consideration by board. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a public or independent institution of higher education that (1) is accredited as a degree-granting institution in good standing by a regional accrediting association recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education and maintains such accreditation status; and (2) offers, or is seeking state approval to offer, a nursing program pursuant to section 10a-34, may apply to the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing to establish a pilot program that offers licensed practical nursing education and training on or before January 30, 2024. As used in this subsection, “public institution of higher education” and “independent institution of higher education” have the same meanings as described in section 10a-173.
(b) An institution of higher education that applies to the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing to establish a pilot program pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall provide to said board the following information, in writing, not later than sixty days prior to the date on which it seeks to establish the pilot program:
(1) Identifying information regarding the pilot program, including, but not limited to, the name of the program, address where such program will be administered, responsible party for the program and contact information for the program;
(2) A description of the pilot program, including accreditation status, any clinical partner and anticipated enrollment by academic term;
(3) An identification of resources that support the program;
(4) Graduation rates and National Council Licensure Examination licensure and certification pass rates for the past three years for any existing nursing programs offered by the institution of higher education;
(5) A plan for employing qualified faculty and administrators and clinical experiences; and
(6) Other information as requested by the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing.
(c) The Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing shall review and consider an application made by an institution of higher education described in subsection (a) of this section to establish a pilot program pursuant to said subsection if the institution of higher education provides the information required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. The Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing may hold a public hearing on such application.
(d) The pilot program established pursuant to this section shall comply with the relevant provisions of this chapter and sections 20-90-45 to 20-90-59, inclusive, of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-34, if such pilot program complies with such provisions for not less than two years, and provides evidence that the program is meeting its educational outcomes, as defined in section 20-90-47 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, such pilot program shall be deemed fully approved by the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing.
(P.A. 23-97, S. 22.)
History: P.A. 23-97 effective June 28, 2023.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-91. Awards in aid of nursing education. Section 20-91 is repealed.
(1951, 1953, S. 2228d; 1959, P.A. 563, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 389, 610; P.A. 88-207, S. 6.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-91a. Federal funds. The State Board of Examiners for Nursing is designated as the state agency to receive and administer federal funds which may become available for nursing education.
(1959, P.A. 563, S. 2.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-92. Examinations. The Department of Public Health, with the advice and consent of the board shall prescribe examinations for applicants for licensure as registered nurses and licensed practical nurses under the provisions of this chapter, to determine their qualifications for the practice of nursing. Such examinations shall, at least annually, be administered to applicants by the Department of Public Health under the supervision of the board. Passing scores shall be established by the department with the consent of the board. The department shall decide upon the qualifications of each applicant and give notice of such decision within a reasonable time after such examination.
(1949 Rev., S. 4427; 1953, S. 2216d; P.A. 76-315, S. 1, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 390, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 28, 136; P.A. 80-484, S. 31, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 76-315 replaced provisions requiring examination of applicants at annual meeting or special meetings and setting forth notice requirements with statement that such examinations take place “at least annually” and required notice of decision on applications within “a reasonable time” rather than within two months of the examination; P.A. 77-614 required consent of health services commissioner for prescribed examination and transferred actual administration of tests from board to health services department, retaining board's power to decide on applicant's qualification, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 made technical changes; P.A. 80-484 essentially transferred all powers re examination and licensure to department, relegating board to advisory and supervisory role, substituted “licensure” for references to registration or certification and added provision re establishment of passing scores; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-93. Qualifications for examination. Licensure. Fee. Any person who shows to the satisfaction of the department that he or she holds a degree, diploma or certificate from an accredited institution evidencing satisfactory completion of a nursing program approved by said board with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health shall be eligible for examination for licensure as a registered nurse upon payment of a fee of one hundred eighty dollars, the subjects of which examination shall be determined by said department with the advice and consent of the board. If such applicant passes such examination said department shall issue to such applicant a license to practice nursing in this state.
(1949 Rev., S. 4428; 1949, 1955, S. 2217d; 1957, P.A. 200, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 26; 1961, P.A. 241; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 49; P.A. 73-115, S. 2; P.A. 76-315, S. 2, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 391, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 32, 176; P.A. 88-362, S. 20; P.A. 89-251, S. 83, 203; P.A. 90-13, S. 11; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-174, S. 8, 12; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 195.)
History: 1959 act increased fee from $20 to $25; 1961 act deleted requirement that applicant be 20 years of age or over and specification that school give a 28-month course in a hospital; 1971 act raised examination fee to $30; P.A. 73-115 substituted “nursing program” for “school of nursing”; P.A. 76-315 substituted “holds a degree, diploma or certificate ...” for “is a graduate of”; P.A. 77-614 required consent of commissioner of health services for determination of examination subjects, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 deleted requirement that applicant be “of good moral character”, replaced references to certificates of registration with references to licenses and essentially transferred all powers and duties of board to health services department, retaining board's power to approve nursing programs and granting board an advisory role in determination of subjects to be covered by examinations; P.A. 88-362 added Subsec. (b) re issuance of temporary permits; P.A. 89-251 increased fee from $30 to $90; P.A. 90-13 changed the date in Subsec. (b) from September 30, 1990, to September 30, 1992; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-174 deleted Subsec. (b) which had provided temporary permits for applicants licensed as registered nurses in Ireland and the United Kingdom, effective June 6, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fee from $90 to $180.
See Sec. 19a-88 re annual renewal of licenses.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-94. Licensure without examination. Limited period for licensure without examination for advanced practice registered nurses. Temporary permit. (a)(1) Any registered nurse who is licensed at the time of application in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States, which has licensure requirements that are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state shall be eligible for licensure in this state and entitled to a license without examination upon payment of a fee of one hundred eighty dollars. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint. The department shall inform the board annually of the number of applications it receives for licenses under this section.
(2) For the period from October 1, 2004, to one year after said date, any advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a whose license as a registered nurse pursuant to section 20-93 has become void pursuant to section 19a-88, shall be eligible for licensure and entitled to a license without examination upon receipt of a completed application form and payment of a fee of one hundred eighty dollars.
(b) The Department of Public Health may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for licensure without examination or to an applicant previously licensed in Connecticut whose license has become void pursuant to section 19a-88, upon receipt of a completed application form, accompanied by the fee for licensure without examination, a copy of a current license from another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States, and a notarized affidavit attesting that said license is valid and belongs to the person requesting notarization. Such temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty calendar days and shall not be renewable. No temporary permit shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(1949 Rev., S. 4429; 1949, 1955, S. 2218d; 1957, P.A. 200, S. 2; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 27; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 50; P.A. 73-115, S. 3; P.A. 80-484, S. 33, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 24, 71; P.A. 88-207, S. 1; P.A. 89-251, S. 84, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 04-221, S. 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 196.)
History: 1959 act increased fee from $20 to $25; 1971 act increased fee to $30; P.A. 73-115 replaced “school of nursing” with “nursing program”; P.A. 80-484 replaced board of examiners for nursing with department of health services as licensing authority, replaced references to certification and certificates with references to licensure and licensing, added prohibition against issuing license to applicant against whom disciplinary action is pending or who is subject of unresolved complaint and required that board receive notification of number of applications annually; P.A. 81-471 changed basis for licensure of nurses by endorsement from educational program in other state to level of licensure requirements in other state; P.A. 88-207 added Subsec. (b) re temporary permits; P.A. 89-251 increased fee from $30 to $90; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 04-221 amended Subsec. (a) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), amending Subdiv. (1) by replacing “licensed nurse registered in another state or territory” with “registered nurse who is licensed at the time of application in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States”, and adding Subdiv. (2) re limited period for licensure without examination for advanced practice registered nurses, and amended Subsec. (b) by allowing temporary permit for applicant whose license was not renewed, making conforming change re eligible jurisdictions, deleting provision re licensure requirements of another state or territory that are similar to or higher than those of this state and adding prohibition re issuance of temporary permit in cases of pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaint; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees from $90 to $180.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-94a. Licensure as advanced practice registered nurse. (a) The Department of Public Health may issue an advanced practice registered nurse license to a person seeking to perform the activities described in subsection (b) of section 20-87a, upon receipt of a fee of two hundred dollars, to an applicant who: (1) Maintains a license as a registered nurse in this state, as provided by section 20-93 or 20-94; (2) holds and maintains current certification as a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist or a nurse anesthetist from one of the following national certifying bodies that certify nurses in advanced practice: The American Nurses' Association, the Nurses' Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Certification Corporation, the National Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Associates or the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, their successors or other appropriate national certifying bodies approved by the Board of Examiners for Nursing; (3) has completed thirty hours of education in pharmacology for advanced nursing practice; and (4) (A) holds a graduate degree in nursing or in a related field recognized for certification as either a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, or a nurse anesthetist by one of the foregoing certifying bodies, or (B) (i) on or before December 31, 2004, completed an advanced nurse practitioner program that a national certifying body identified in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section recognized for certification of a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthetist, and (ii) at the time of application, holds a current license as an advanced practice registered nurse in another state that requires a master's degree in nursing or a related field for such licensure. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(b) During the period commencing January 1, 1990, and ending January 1, 1992, the Department of Public Health may in its discretion allow a registered nurse, who has been practicing as an advanced practice registered nurse in a nurse practitioner role and who is unable to obtain certification as a nurse practitioner by one of the national certifying bodies specified in subsection (a) of this section, to be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse provided the individual:
(1) Holds a current Connecticut license as a registered nurse pursuant to this chapter;
(2) Presents the department with documentation of the reasons one of such national certifying bodies will not certify him as a nurse practitioner;
(3) Has been in active practice as a nurse practitioner for at least five years in a facility licensed pursuant to section 19a-491;
(4) Provides the department with documentation of his preparation as a nurse practitioner;
(5) Provides the department with evidence of at least seventy-five contact hours, or its equivalent, of continuing education related to his nurse practitioner specialty in the preceding five calendar years;
(6) Has completed thirty hours of education in pharmacology for advanced nursing practice;
(7) Has his employer provide the department with a description of his practice setting, job description, and a plan for supervision by a licensed physician; and
(8) Notifies the department of each change of employment to a new setting where he will function as an advanced practice registered nurse and will be exercising prescriptive and dispensing privileges.
(c) Any person who obtains a license pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be eligible to renew such license annually provided he presents the department with evidence that he received at least fifteen contact hours, or its equivalent, eight hours of which shall be in pharmacology, of continuing education related to his nurse practitioner specialty in the preceding licensure year. If an individual licensed pursuant to subsection (b) of this subsection becomes eligible at any time for certification as a nurse practitioner by one of the national certifying bodies specified in subsection (a) of this section, the individual shall apply for certification, and upon certification so notify the department, and apply to be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.
(d) On and after October 1, 2023, a person, who is not eligible for licensure under subsection (a) of this section, may apply for licensure by endorsement as an advanced practice registered nurse. Such applicant shall (1) present evidence satisfactory to the Commissioner of Public Health that the applicant has acquired three years of experience as an advanced practice registered nurse, or as a person entitled to perform similar services under a different designation, in another state or jurisdiction that has requirements for practicing in such capacity that are substantially similar to, or higher than, those of this state and that there are no disciplinary actions or unresolved complaints pending against such person, and (2) pay a fee of two hundred dollars to the commissioner.
(e) A person who has received a license pursuant to this section shall be known as an “Advanced Practice Registered Nurse” and no other person shall assume such title or use the letters or figures which indicate that the person using the same is a licensed advanced practice registered nurse.
(P.A. 89-389, S. 3, 22; P.A. 91-106, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 99-168, S. 2; P.A. 00-135, S. 7, 21; P.A. 04-221, S. 8; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 197; P.A. 11-242, S. 77; P.A. 12-197, S. 48; P.A. 23-97, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 91-106 amended Subsec. (b) to extend until January 1, 1992, the department's discretion to license under Subsec. (b) and to change the continuing education requirements of Subdiv. (5) to be 75 contact hours in the preceding five years and amended Subsec. (c) to increase from 8 to 15 hours the continuing education requirements; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-168 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by requiring maintenance of a registered nurse license rather than eligibility for licensure and amended Subsec. (a)(2) to include successor organizations or other appropriate national certifying bodies and to make a technical change; P.A. 00-135 amended Subsec. (a) by making a technical change and changing “maintains a license” to “is eligible for a license” in Subdiv. (1), effective May 26, 2000; P.A. 04-221 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by changing requirement from eligibility for a license to maintenance of a license; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee from $100 to $200; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (a)(4) by substituting “graduate degree” for “master's degree”; P.A. 12-197 amended Subsec. (a)(4) by deleting provision re certification after December 31, 1994, designating existing provision re qualifications as Subpara. (A) and adding Subpara. (B) re alternative qualifications; P.A. 23-97 amended Subsec. (b)(7) by making a technical change, added new Subsec. (d) re licensure by endorsement and redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e).
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-94b. Nurse anesthetists. Prescriptive authority. An advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a and maintaining current certification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists may prescribe, dispense and administer drugs, including controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V. An advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a who does not maintain current certification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists may prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs, including controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV or V, in accordance with section 20-87a.
(P.A. 90-211, S. 21; P.A. 94-213, S. 5; P.A. 99-168, S. 4; P.A. 14-12, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 94-213 deleted reference to settings prescribed in Sec. 20-87a and regulations under Sec. 20-99a; (Revisor's note: In 1999 a reference to Sec. 10a-491 was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. 19a-491 to correct a clerical error); P.A. 99-168 deleted prescription exception re inpatients in short-term hospitals and replaced language requiring prescription order to be cosigned by a physician with reference to prescription of controlled substances specified in written collaborative agreements; P.A. 14-12 replaced “schedule IV” with “schedule II, III, IV” and replaced provision re exception for prescribing controlled substances in schedule II or III pursuant to Sec. 20-87a(b) with “in accordance with section 20-87a”, effective July 1, 2014.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-94c. Advanced practice registered nurses. Professional liability insurance required. (a) Each person licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse under the provisions of section 20-94a who provides direct patient care services shall maintain professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice. The amount of insurance that each such person shall carry as insurance or indemnity against claims for injury or death for professional malpractice shall not be less than five hundred thousand dollars for one person, per occurrence, with an aggregate of not less than one million five hundred thousand dollars. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a and maintaining current certification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists who provides such services under the direction of a licensed physician.
(b) Each insurance company that issues professional liability insurance, as defined in subdivisions (1), (6), (7), (8), (9) or (10) of subsection (b) of section 38a-393, shall on and after January 1, 2000, render to the Commissioner of Public Health a true record of the names and addresses, according to classification, of cancellations of and refusals to renew professional liability insurance policies and the reasons for such cancellation or refusal to renew said policies for the year ending on the thirty-first day of December next preceding.
(P.A. 99-168, S. 6; P.A. 00-135, S. 12, 21.)
History: P.A. 00-135 amended Subsec. (a) by adding exception re certification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, effective May 26, 2000.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-94d. Advanced practice registered nurses. Continuing education. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Health;
(2) “Contact hour” means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing education and activities;
(3) “Department” means the Department of Public Health;
(4) “Licensee” means an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a; and
(5) “Registration period” means the one-year period for which a license has been renewed in accordance with section 19a-88 and is current and valid.
(b) Except as provided in this section, for registration periods beginning on and after October 1, 2014, a licensee applying for license renewal shall earn a minimum of fifty contact hours of continuing education within the preceding twenty-four-month period. Such continuing education shall: (1) Be in an area of the advanced practice registered nurse's practice; (2) reflect the professional needs of the licensee in order to meet the health care needs of the public; (3) include at least five contact hours of training or education in pharmacotherapeutics; (4) include at least one contact hour of training or education in each of the following topics: (A) Infectious diseases, including, but not limited to, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus, (B) risk management, (C) sexual assault, (D) domestic violence, (E) cultural competency, and (F) substance abuse, including, but not limited to, prescribing controlled substances and pain management; (5) on and after January 1, 2016, include not less than two contact hours of training or education during the first renewal period in which continuing education is required and not less than once every six years thereafter on the topic of mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans, including (A) determining whether a patient is a veteran or family member of a veteran, (B) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (C) suicide prevention training; and (6) on and after January 1, 2020, may include not less than two contact hours of training or education during the first renewal period in which continuing education is required and not less than once every six years thereafter in diagnosing and treating cognitive or mental health conditions, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, delirium, related cognitive impairments and geriatric depression. For purposes of this section, qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not limited to, courses, including on-line courses, offered or approved by the American Nurses Association, Connecticut Hospital Association, Connecticut Nurses Association, Connecticut League for Nursing, a specialty nursing society or an equivalent organization in another jurisdiction, an educational offering sponsored by a hospital or other health care institution or a course offered by a regionally accredited academic institution or a state or local health department. The commissioner may grant a waiver of not more than ten contact hours of continuing education for an advanced practice registered nurse who: (A) Engages in activities related to the advanced practice registered nurse's service as a member of the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing, established pursuant to section 20-88; or (B) assists the department with its duties to boards and commissions as described in section 19a-14.
(c) Each licensee applying for license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 shall sign a statement attesting that he or she has satisfied the continuing education requirements of subsection (b) of this section on a form prescribed by the department. Each licensee shall retain records of attendance or certificates of completion that demonstrate compliance with the continuing education requirements of subsection (b) of this section for a minimum of three years following the year in which the continuing education activities were completed and shall submit such records or certificates to the department for inspection not later than forty-five days after a request by the department for such records or certificates.
(d) A licensee applying for the first time for license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 is exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section.
(e) (1) A licensee who is not engaged in active professional practice in any form during a registration period shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section, provided the licensee submits to the department, prior to the expiration of the registration period, a notarized application for exemption on a form prescribed by the department and such other documentation as may be required by the department. The application for exemption pursuant to this subdivision shall contain a statement that the licensee may not engage in professional practice until the licensee has met the requirements of this section.
(2) Any licensee who is exempt from the provisions of subsection (b) of this section for less than two years shall complete twenty-five contact hours of continuing education that meets the criteria set forth in subsection (b) of this section within the twelve-month period immediately preceding the licensee's return to active professional practice.
(f) In individual cases involving medical disability or illness, the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, may grant a waiver of the continuing education requirements or an extension of time within which to fulfill the continuing education requirements of this section to any licensee, provided the licensee submits to the department an application for waiver or extension of time on a form prescribed by the department, along with a certification by a licensed physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse of the disability or illness and such other documentation as may be required by the commissioner. The commissioner or his or her designee may grant a waiver or extension for a period not to exceed one registration period, except that the commissioner or his or her designee may grant additional waivers or extensions if the medical disability or illness upon which a waiver or extension is granted continues beyond the period of the waiver or extension and the licensee applies for an additional waiver or extension.
(g) Any licensee whose license has become void pursuant to section 19a-88 and who applies to the department for reinstatement of such license pursuant to section 19a-14 shall submit evidence documenting successful completion of twenty-five contact hours of continuing education within the one-year period immediately preceding application for reinstatement.
(P.A. 14-12, S. 4; 14-231, S. 53; P.A. 15-198, S. 2; 15-242, S. 67; P.A. 19-115, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 14-12 effective May 8, 2014; P.A. 14-231 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (4) re topics for training or education and redesignating existing Subparas. (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), effective June 13, 2014; P.A. 15-198 amended Subsec. (b)(4)(F) by adding provision re prescribing controlled substances and pain management; P.A. 15-242 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (5) re training or education on topic of mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans; P.A. 19-115 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (6) re training or education in cognitive and mental health conditions, redesignating subclauses (i) and (ii) as Subparas. (A) and (B), and making a technical change, effective January 1, 2020.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-94e. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. Training or education requirement. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Contact hour” means a minimum of fifty minutes of continuing education and activities; and
(2) “Registration period” means the one-year period for which a license has been renewed in accordance with section 19a-88 and is current and valid.
(b) For registration periods beginning on and after January 1, 2022, a registered nurse licensed pursuant to this chapter who is actively practicing in this state, and a licensed practical nurse licensed pursuant to this chapter who is actively practicing in this state, applying for license renewal shall, during the first renewal period and not less than once every six years thereafter, earn not less than two contact hours of training or education on (1) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training. For purposes of this section, qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not limited to, in-person and online courses offered or approved by the American Nurses Association, Connecticut Hospital Association, Connecticut Nurses Association, Connecticut League for Nursing, a specialty nursing society or an equivalent organization in another jurisdiction, an educational offering sponsored by a hospital or other health care institution or a course offered by a regionally accredited academic institution or a state or local health department.
(c) Each registered nurse and licensed practical nurse applying for license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 shall sign a statement attesting that he or she has satisfied the continuing education requirements of subsection (b) of this section on a form prescribed by the Department of Public Health. Each licensee shall retain records of attendance or certificates of completion that demonstrate compliance with the continuing education requirements of subsection (b) of this section for a minimum of three years following the year in which the continuing education was completed and shall submit such records or certificates to the department for inspection not later than forty-five days after a request by the department for such records or certificates.
(P.A. 21-46, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 21-46 effective July 1, 2021.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-95. Use of title “registered nurse”. A graduate nurse who has received such certificate of registration shall be known as a “registered nurse” and no other person shall assume such title or use the abbreviation “R.N.” or any other words, letters or figures which indicate that the person using the same is a trained, certified, graduate or registered nurse.
(1949 Rev., S. 4430.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-96. Licensure as practical nurse. Examinations. Any person who holds a certificate from a nursing program approved by said board with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, which program consists of not less than twelve months' instruction in the care of the sick as prescribed by said board, or its equivalent as determined by said board, shall be eligible for examination for licensure as a licensed practical nurse upon payment of a fee of one hundred fifty dollars. Such examination shall include such subjects as the department, with the advice and consent of the board, determines. If such applicant passes such examination said department shall issue to such applicant a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state.
(1949 Rev., S. 4431; 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 2219d; 1957, P.A. 200, S. 3; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 28; 1969, P.A. 140; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 51; 1972, P.A. 223, S. 3; P.A. 73-115, S. 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 392, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 34, 176; P.A. 89-251, S. 85, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 198.)
History: 1959 act increased fee from $20 to $25; 1969 act deleted requirement that applicant be at least nineteen for eligibility to take examination; 1971 act raised examination fee from $25 to $30; 1972 act reduced fee to $25; P.A. 73-115 replaced references to approved institutions and courses with references to nursing programs; P.A. 77-614 required consent of health services commissioner for subjects included in examination, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 deleted requirement that applicant be “of good moral character” and required applicant to be “a currently practicing, competent practitioner”, replaced references to certificates and registration with references to licenses and licensure, transferred licensure powers from board of examiners to department of health services and added provisions prohibiting issuance of license to persons involved in disciplinary action or unresolved complaint and requiring annual notification of board of number of applications; P.A. 89-251 increased fee from $25 to $75; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fee from $75 to $150.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-97. Licensure without examination. Temporary permit. (a) Any person who is licensed at the time of application as a licensed practical nurse, or as a person entitled to perform similar services under a different designation, in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States whose requirements for licensure in such capacity are equivalent to or higher than those of this state, shall be eligible for licensure in this state and entitled to a license without examination upon payment of a fee of one hundred fifty dollars. If such other state, district, commonwealth or territory issues licenses based on completion of a practical nursing education program that is shorter in length than the minimum length for this state's practical nursing education programs or based on partial completion of a registered nursing education program, an applicant for licensure under this section may substitute licensed clinical work experience that: (1) Is performed under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse; (2) occurs following the completion of a nursing education program; and (3) when combined with the applicant's educational program, equals or exceeds the minimum program length for licensed practical nursing education programs approved in this state. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint. The department shall inform the board annually of the number of applications it receives for licenses under this section.
(b) The Department of Public Health may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for licensure without examination or to an applicant previously licensed in Connecticut whose license has become void pursuant to section 19a-88, upon receipt of a completed application form, accompanied by the appropriate fee for licensure without examination, a copy of a current license from another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States and a notarized affidavit attesting that the license is valid and belongs to the person requesting notarization. Such temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty calendar days and shall not be renewable. No temporary permit shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(1949 Rev., S. 4432; 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 2221d; 1957, P.A. 200, S. 4; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 29; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 52; 1972, P.A. 223, S. 4; P.A. 80-484, S. 35, 176; P.A. 88-362, S. 17; P.A. 89-251, S. 86, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 97-15, S. 3; P.A. 04-221, S. 9; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 199; P.A. 10-117, S. 68.)
History: 1959 act increased fee from $20 to $25; 1971 act raised fee to $30; 1972 act reduced fee to $25; P.A. 80-484 required that certification requirements from other state be “substantially similar to or higher than” those of this state rather than “equivalent to” them, required applicant to be currently practicing competent practitioner, replaced “certification” and “certificate” with “licensure” and “license” and added provisions prohibiting issuance of license to person involved in disciplinary action or unresolved complaint and requiring annual notification of board of number of applications; P.A. 88-362 added Subsec. (b) re issuance of temporary permits; P.A. 89-251 increased fee from $25 to $75; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-15 deleted requirement in Subsec. (a) that applicant be currently practicing; P.A. 04-221 amended Subsec. (a) by expanding eligible jurisdictions for licensure without examination and replacing provisions re certification with provisions re licensure, and amended Subsec. (b) by allowing temporary permits for applicants who do not renew licenses, making a conforming change re eligible jurisdictions and prohibiting issuance of temporary permits to applicants with pending disciplinary actions or unresolved complaints; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee from $75 to $150; P.A. 10-117 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “substantially similar” with “equivalent” and by adding provision permitting applicants who have completed practical nursing education program that is shorter in length than minimum standards of this state to substitute prescribed licensed clinical work experience in order to satisfy educational program requirements of this state.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-98. Use of title “practical nurse”. A person who has received such a certificate shall be known as a “licensed practical nurse” and no other person shall assume such title, the title “practical nurse” or the title “trained attendant” or use the abbreviations “L.P.N.”, “P.N.”, “T.A.” or any other words, letters or figures which indicate that the person using the same is a licensed practical nurse.
(1949 Rev., S. 4433; 1953, 1955, S. 2222d.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-99. Improper professional conduct. Hearing. Appeal. Prohibited conduct. (a) The Board of Examiners for Nursing shall have jurisdiction to hear all charges of conduct which fails to conform to the accepted standards of the nursing profession brought against persons licensed to practice nursing. After holding a hearing in accordance with chapter 54 and the regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Public Health, said board, if it finds such person to be guilty, may revoke or suspend his or her license or take any of the actions set forth in section 19a-17. Witnesses and records may be summoned before such hearings by the issuance of subpoenas under the board's seal. The chairperson or presiding member may administer oaths. When any license is revoked or suspended, notification of such action shall be sent to the Department of Public Health. Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the board may appeal as provided in chapter 54. Such appeal shall have precedence over nonprivileged cases in respect to order of trial.
(b) Conduct which fails to conform to the accepted standards of the nursing profession includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Fraud or material deception in procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice nursing; (2) illegal conduct, incompetence or negligence in carrying out usual nursing functions; (3) physical illness or loss of motor skill, including, but not limited to deterioration through the aging process; (4) emotional disorder or mental illness; (5) abuse or excessive use of drugs, including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals; (6) fraud or material deception in the course of professional services or activities; (7) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, patient or other record pertaining to drugs, the results of which are detrimental to the health of a patient; (8) conviction of the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter by any court of criminal jurisdiction; and (9) failure to provide information to the Department of Public Health required to complete a health care provider profile, as set forth in section 20-13j. The Commissioner of Public Health may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to section 19a-17.
(1949 Rev., S. 4434; 1955, S. 2223d; 1971, P.A. 870, S. 58; P.A. 76-315, S. 3, 6; 76-436, S. 420, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 393, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 35, 127; 78-303, S. 88, 136; P.A. 80-484, S. 36, 174, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 25, 71; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-47, S. 5; P.A. 08-109, S. 6.)
History: 1971 act replaced superior court with court of common pleas, effective September 1, 1971, except that courts with cases pending retain jurisdiction unless pending matters deemed transferable; P.A. 76-315 deleted hearing notice requirement, required that hearings be held in accordance with Ch. 54, added provisions re subpoena power and oaths, replaced previous detailed appeal provisions with statement that appeals be taken as provided in Ch. 54 and added Subsec. (c) defining unacceptable conduct; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of health with commissioner and department of health services, required that hearings be held in accordance with regulations adopted by health services commissioner, deleted requirement that subpoenas be signed by chief nursing examiner and deleted provision granting appeals precedence in order of trial in Subsec. (a) and deleted proviso preventing license revocation or suspension during appeal to higher court, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-280 and 78-303 restored provision re precedence in order of trial in Subsec. (a); P.A. 80-484 replaced “censure or otherwise discipline ...” with “take any of the actions set forth in section 19-4s” and “president” with “chairperson” in Subsec. (a) and revised grounds for disciplinary action in Subsec. (b) to replace “deceit” with “material deception” in Subdiv. (1), to add illegal conduct in Subdiv. (2) and delete “habitual” with reference to negligence and to replace conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude with fraud or material deception and added provisions re physical and mental examinations and re petitions to court for enforcement of order or action; P.A. 81-471 deleted reference to “certificate” in Subsec. (b); P.A. 88-230 replaced “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford”, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-47 allowed appeal from “a final decision” rather than from “a finding”; P.A. 08-109 made a technical change and added failure to provide information for health care provider profile to list of conduct which fails to conform to accepted standards in Subsec. (b), effective January 1, 2010.
Cited. 42 CS 376.
Subsec. (b):
“Unprofessional conduct” determined by standards accepted by those practicing same profession in same territory. 177 C. 78.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-99a. Regulations. The Department of Public Health shall, with the advice and assistance of the board, adopt regulations necessary for the implementation of this chapter.
(P.A. 89-389, S. 6, 22; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-99b. Nurse Licensure Compact. On and after October 1, 2025, until January 1, 2028, the Nurse Licensure Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by the state of Connecticut with any and all jurisdictions legally joining therein in accordance with its terms. The compact is substantially as follows:
NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT
ARTICLE I
FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSE
(a) The party states find that:
(1) The health and safety of the public are affected by the degree of compliance with and the effectiveness of enforcement activities related to state nurse licensure laws;
(2) Violations of nurse licensure and other laws regulating the practice of nursing may result in injury or harm to the public;
(3) The expanded mobility of nurses and the use of advanced communication technologies as part of our nation's health care delivery system require greater coordination and cooperation among states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation;
(4) New practice modalities and technology make compliance with individual state nurse licensure laws difficult and complex;
(5) The current system of duplicative licensure for nurses practicing in multiple states is cumbersome and redundant for both nurses and states; and
(6) Uniformity of nurse licensure requirements throughout the states promotes public safety and public health benefits.
(b) The general purposes of the compact are to:
(1) Facilitate the states' responsibility to protect the public's health and safety;
(2) Ensure and encourage the cooperation of party states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation;
(3) Facilitate the exchange of information between party states in the areas of nurse regulation, investigation and adverse actions;
(4) Promote compliance with the laws governing the practice of nursing in each jurisdiction;
(5) Invest all party states with the authority to hold a nurse accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the patient is located at the time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of party state licenses;
(6) Decrease redundancies in the consideration and issuance of nurse licenses; and
(7) Provide opportunities for interstate practice by nurses who meet uniform licensure requirements.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
As used in the compact:
(1) “Adverse action” means any administrative, civil, equitable or criminal action permitted by a state's laws that is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against a nurse, including actions against an individual's license or multistate licensure privilege, including, but not limited to, revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, limitation on the licensee's practice or any other encumbrance on licensure affecting a nurse's authorization to practice, including, but not limited to, issuance of a cease and desist action.
(2) “Alternative program” means a nondisciplinary monitoring program approved by a licensing board.
(3) “Compact” means the Nurse Licensure Compact enacted into law and entered into by the state pursuant to this section.
(4) “Coordinated licensure information system” means an integrated process for collecting, storing and sharing information on nurse licensure and enforcement activities related to nurse licensure laws that is administered by a nonprofit organization composed of and controlled by licensing boards.
(5) “Current significant investigative information” means:
(A) Investigative information that a licensing board, after a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an opportunity for the nurse to respond, if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate more than a minor infraction; or
(B) Investigative information that indicates that the nurse represents an immediate threat to public health and safety regardless of whether the nurse has been notified and had an opportunity to respond.
(6) “Encumbrance” means a revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of nursing imposed by a licensing board.
(7) “Home state” means the party state that is the nurse's primary state of residence.
(8) “Licensing board” means a party state's regulatory body responsible for issuing nurse licenses.
(9) “Multistate license” means a license to practice as a registered nurse or a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN) issued by a home state licensing board that authorizes the licensed nurse to practice in all party states under a multistate licensure privilege.
(10) “Multistate licensure privilege” means a legal authorization associated with a multistate license permitting the practice of nursing as either a registered nurse (RN) or (LPN/VN) in a remote state.
(11) “Nurse” means a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN), as such terms are defined by each party state's practice laws.
(12) “Party state” means any state that has adopted the compact.
(13) “Remote state” means a party state, other than the home state.
(14) “Single-state license” means a nurse license issued by a party state that authorizes practice only within the issuing state and does not include a multistate licensure privilege to practice in any other party state.
(15) “State” means a state, territory or possession of the United States and the District of Columbia.
(16) “State practice laws” means a party state's laws, rules and regulations that govern the practice of nursing, define the scope of nursing practice and create the methods and grounds for imposing discipline. “State practice laws” does not include requirements necessary to obtain and retain a license, except qualifications or requirements of the home state.
ARTICLE III
GENERAL PROVISIONS AND JURISDICTION
(a) A multistate license to practice registered or licensed practical/vocational nursing issued by a home state to a resident in such state shall be recognized by each party state as authorizing a nurse to practice as a registered nurse (RN) or as a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN), under a multistate licensure privilege, in each party state.
(b) A state shall implement procedures for considering the criminal history records of applicants for initial multistate license or licensure by endorsement. Such procedures shall include the submission of fingerprints or other biometric-based information by applicants for the purpose of obtaining an applicant's criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible for retaining such state's criminal records.
(c) Each party state shall require the following for an applicant to obtain or retain a multistate license in the home state:
(1) The applicant meets the home state's qualifications for licensure or renewal of licensure, including all other applicable state laws;
(2) The applicant (A) graduated or is eligible to graduate from a licensing board-approved RN or LPN/VN prelicensure education program, (B) graduated from a foreign RN or LPN/VN prelicensure education program that is (i) approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country, and (ii) verified by an independent credentials review agency to be comparable to a licensing board-approved prelicensure education program, (C) if a graduate of a foreign prelicensure education program, has not taught in English or, if English is not the individual's native language, successfully passed an English proficiency examination that includes the components of reading, speaking, writing and listening, (D) successfully passed a National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses or a National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses administered by the National Council of the State Boards of Nursing, or a nationally recognized predecessor to said examinations, as applicable, (E) is eligible for or holds an active, unencumbered license, (F) submitted, in connection with an application for initial licensure or licensure by endorsement, fingerprints or other biometric data for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible for retaining such state's criminal records, (G) has not been convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony offense under applicable state or federal criminal law, (H) has not been convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition, of a misdemeanor offense related to the practice of nursing as determined on a case-by-case basis, (I) is not enrolled in an alternative program, (J) is subject to self-disclosure requirements regarding current participation in an alternative program, and (K) has a valid Social Security number.
(d) Any party state may, in accordance with existing state due process law, take adverse action against a nurse's multistate licensure privilege, including, but not limited to, revocation, suspension, probation or any other action that affects a nurse's authorization to practice under a multistate licensure privilege, including, but not limited to, a cease and desist action. If a party state takes such action, it shall promptly notify the administrator of the coordinated licensure information system. The administrator of the coordinated licensure information system shall promptly notify the home state of any such actions by a remote state.
(e) A nurse practicing in a party state shall comply with the state practice laws of the state in which the client is located at the time service is provided. The practice of nursing is not limited to patient care and shall include all nursing practice as defined by the state practice laws of the party state in which the client is located. The practice of nursing in a party state under a multistate licensure privilege shall subject a nurse to the jurisdiction of the licensing board, the courts and the laws of the party state in which the client is located at the time service is provided.
(f) Any individual not residing in a party state shall continue to be able to apply for a party state's single-state license as provided under the laws of each party state, except the single-state license granted to such individual shall not be recognized as granting the privilege to practice nursing in any other party state. Nothing in the compact shall affect the requirements established by a party state for the issuance of a single-state license.
(g) Any nurse holding a home state multistate license on the effective date of the compact may retain and renew the multistate license issued by the nurse's then-current home state, provided:
(1) A nurse who changes primary state of residence after the compact's effective date shall meet all applicable requirements of subsection (c) of this article of the compact to obtain a multistate license from a new home state;
(2) A nurse who fails to satisfy the multistate licensure requirements of subsection (c) of this article of the compact due to a disqualifying event occurring after the compact's effective date shall be ineligible to retain or renew a multistate license, and the nurse's multistate license shall be revoked or deactivated in accordance with applicable rules adopted by the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators established pursuant to Article VII of the compact.
ARTICLE IV
APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSURE IN A PARTY STATE
(a) Upon application for a multistate license, the licensing board in the issuing party state shall ascertain, through the coordinated licensure information system, whether the applicant has ever held, or is the holder of, a license issued by any other state, whether there are any encumbrances on any license or multistate licensure privilege held by the applicant, whether any adverse action has been taken against any license or multistate licensure privilege held by the applicant and whether the applicant is currently participating in an alternative program.
(b) A nurse may hold a multistate license issued by the home state in only one party state at a time.
(c) If a nurse changes primary state of residence by moving from one party state to another party state, the nurse shall apply for licensure in the new home state, and the multistate license issued by the prior home state shall be deactivated in accordance with applicable rules adopted by the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators established pursuant to Article VII of the compact.
(1) The nurse may apply for licensure in advance of a change in primary state of residence.
(2) A multistate license shall not be issued by the new home state until the nurse provides satisfactory evidence of a change in primary state of residence to the new home state and satisfies all applicable requirements to obtain a multistate license from the new home state.
(d) If a nurse changes primary state of residence by moving from a party state to a non-party state, the multistate license issued by the prior home state shall convert to a single-state license that is valid only in the former home state.
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES INVESTED IN PARTY
STATE LICENSING BOARDS
(a) In addition to the other powers conferred by state law, a licensing board shall have the authority to:
(1) Take adverse action against a nurse's multistate licensure privilege to practice within the licensing board's party state, provided:
(A) Only the home state shall have the power to take adverse action against a nurse's license issued by such home state; and
(B) For purposes of taking adverse action, the home state licensing board shall give the same priority and effect to reported conduct received from a remote state as it would if such conduct had occurred within the home state. In so doing, the home state shall apply its own state laws to determine appropriate action;
(2) Issue a cease and desist order or impose an encumbrance on a nurse's authority to practice within such party state;
(3) Complete any pending investigation of a nurse who changes such nurse's primary state of residence during the course of such investigation. The licensing board may take any appropriate action and shall promptly report the conclusions of any such investigation to the administrator of the coordinated licensure information system. The administrator of the coordinated licensure information system shall promptly notify the new home state of any such action;
(4) Issue a subpoena for both hearings and investigations that require the attendance and testimony of witnesses, including, but not limited to, for the production of evidence. A subpoena issued by a licensing board in a party state for the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of evidence from another party state shall be enforced in the latter state by any court of competent jurisdiction according to the practice and procedure of such court applicable to subpoenas issued in a proceeding pending before such court. The issuing authority shall pay any witness fees, travel expenses, mileage and other fees required by the service statutes of the state in which the witnesses or evidence are located;
(5) Obtain and submit, for each nurse licensure applicant, fingerprint or other biometric-based information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for criminal background checks, receive the results of the Federal Bureau of Investigation record search on criminal background checks and use the results in making licensure decisions;
(6) If otherwise permitted by state law, recover from the affected nurse the costs of any investigation and the disposition of any case resulting from any adverse action taken against such nurse; and
(7) Take adverse action based on the factual findings of the remote state, provided the licensing board follows its own procedures for taking such adverse action.
(b) If adverse action is taken by the home state against a nurse's multistate license, the nurse's multistate licensure privilege to practice in all other party states shall be deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the multistate license. All home state disciplinary orders that impose adverse action against a nurse's multistate license shall include a statement that the nurse's multistate licensure privilege is deactivated in all party states during the pendency of the order.
(c) Nothing in the compact shall override a party state's decision that participation in an alternative program may be used in lieu of adverse action. The home state licensing board shall deactivate the multistate licensure privilege under the multistate license of any nurse for the duration of the nurse's participation in an alternative program.
ARTICLE VI
COORDINATED LICENSURE INFORMATION SYSTEM
AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
(a) All party states shall participate in a coordinated licensure information system of all licensed RNs and licensed LPNs/VNs. Such system shall include information on the licensure and disciplinary history of each nurse, as submitted by party states, to assist in the coordination of nurse licensure and enforcement efforts.
(b) The Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators established pursuant to Article VII of the compact, in consultation with the administrator of the coordinated licensure information system, shall formulate necessary and proper procedures for the identification, collection and exchange of information under the compact.
(c) All licensing boards shall promptly report to the coordinated licensure information system any adverse action, significant investigative information, denials of applications, including, but not limited to, the reasons for such denials, and nurse participation in alternative programs known to the licensing board regardless of whether such participation is deemed nonpublic or confidential under state law.
(d) Any significant investigative information and participation in nonpublic or confidential alternative programs reported pursuant to subsection (c) of this article of the compact shall be transmitted through the coordinated licensure information system only to party state licensing boards.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all party state licensing boards contributing information to the coordinated licensure information system may designate information that shall not be shared with non-party states or disclosed to other entities or individuals without the express permission of the contributing state.
(f) Any personally identifiable information obtained from the coordinated licensure information system by a party state licensing board shall not be shared with non-party states or disclosed to other entities or individuals except to the extent permitted by the laws of the party state contributing the information.
(g) Any information contributed to the coordinated licensure information system that is subsequently required to be expunged by the laws of the party state contributing such information shall also be expunged from the coordinated licensure information system.
(h) The compact administrator of each party state shall furnish a uniform data set to the compact administrator of each other party state that shall include, at a minimum:
(1) Identifying information;
(2) Licensure data;
(3) Information related to alternative program participation; and
(4) Other information that may facilitate the administration of the compact, as determined by rules of the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators established pursuant to Article VII of the compact.
(i) The compact administrator of a party state shall provide all investigative documents and information requested by another party state.
ARTICLE VII
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
OF NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT ADMINISTRATORS
(a) The party states hereby create and establish a joint public entity known as the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) The commission is an instrumentality of the party states;
(2) Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the commission is located. The commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to participate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings; and
(3) Nothing in the compact shall be construed to be a waiver of sovereign immunity.
(b) Membership, voting and meetings:
(1) Each party state shall have and be limited to one administrator. The head of the state licensing board or designee shall be the administrator of the compact for each party state. Any administrator may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state from which the administrator is appointed. Any vacancy occurring in the commission shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the party state in which the vacancy exists.
(2) Each administrator shall be entitled to one vote with regard to the promulgation of rules and creation of bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the business and affairs of the commission. An administrator shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for an administrator's participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication.
(3) The commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the bylaws or rules of the commission.
(4) All meetings shall be open to the public and public notice of meetings shall be given in the same manner as required under the rulemaking provisions in Article VIII of the compact.
(5) The commission may convene in a closed, nonpublic meeting if the commission is discussing any of the following:
(A) Noncompliance of a party state with such state's obligations under the compact;
(B) The employment, compensation, discipline or other personnel matters, practices or procedures related to specific employees or other matters related to the commission's internal personnel practices and procedures;
(C) Ongoing, threatened or reasonably anticipated litigation;
(D) Negotiation of a contract for the purchase or sale of goods, services or real estate;
(E) Accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person;
(F) Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential;
(G) Disclosure of information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
(H) Disclosure of investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes;
(I) Disclosure of information related to any reports prepared by or on behalf of the commission for the purpose of investigation of compliance with the compact; or
(J) Any matter specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or state statute.
(6) If a meeting or portion of a meeting is closed pursuant to subdivision (5) of this subsection, the commission's legal counsel or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and shall reference each relevant exempting provision. The commission shall keep minutes that fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in a meeting and provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, including, but not limited to, the reasons for such actions and a description of the views expressed at the meeting. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the commission or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) The commission shall, by a majority vote of the administrators, prescribe bylaws or rules to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and exercise the powers of the compact, including, but not limited to:
(1) Establishing the fiscal year of the commission;
(2) Providing reasonable standards and procedures:
(A) For the establishment and meetings of other committees; and
(B) Governing any general or specific delegation of any authority or function of the commission;
(3) Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the commission, ensuring reasonable advance notice of all meetings and providing an opportunity for attendance of such meetings by interested parties, with enumerated exceptions designed to protect the public's interest, privacy of individuals and proprietary information, including, but not limited to, trade secrets. The commission may meet in closed session only after a majority of the administrators vote to close a meeting in whole or in part. As soon as practicable, the commission shall make public a copy of the vote to close the meeting revealing the vote of each administrator, with no proxy votes allowed;
(4) Establishing the titles, duties and authority and reasonable procedures for the election of the officers of the commission;
(5) Providing reasonable standards and procedures for the establishment of the personnel policies and programs of the commission. Notwithstanding any civil service or other similar law of any party state, the bylaws shall exclusively govern the personnel policies and programs of the commission; and
(6) Providing a mechanism for winding up the operations of the commission and the equitable disposition of any surplus funds that may exist after the termination of the compact after the payment or reserving of all of its debts and obligations.
(d) The commission shall publish its bylaws and rules and any amendments to such bylaws and rules in a convenient form on the Internet web site of the commission.
(e) The commission shall maintain its financial records in accordance with such bylaws.
(f) The commission shall meet and take such actions that are consistent with the provisions of the compact and such bylaws.
(g) The commission shall have the following powers:
(1) To promulgate uniform rules, which shall have the force and effect of law and be binding in all party states, to facilitate and coordinate implementation and administration of the compact;
(2) To bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the commission, provided the standing of any licensing board to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected;
(3) To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
(4) To borrow, accept or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a party state or nonprofit organizations;
(5) To cooperate with other organizations that administer state compacts related to the regulation of nursing, including, but not limited to, sharing administrative or staff expenses, office space or other resources;
(6) To hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, grant such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the compact and establish the commission's personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel and other related personnel matters;
(7) To accept any and all appropriate donations, grants and gifts of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, and receive, utilize and dispose of such donations, grants and gifts of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, provided the commission shall avoid at all times any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest;
(8) To lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise own, hold, improve or use, any property, whether real, personal or mixed, provided the commission shall avoid at all times any appearance of impropriety;
(9) To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise dispose of any property, whether real, personal or mixed;
(10) To establish a budget and make expenditures;
(11) To borrow money;
(12) To appoint committees, including advisory committees comprised of administrators, state nursing regulators, state legislators or their representatives, consumer representatives and other such interested persons;
(13) To provide to and receive information from and cooperate with law enforcement agencies;
(14) To adopt and use an official seal; and
(15) To perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of the compact consistent with the state regulation of nurse licensure and practice.
(h) Financing of the commission:
(1) The commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization and ongoing activities.
(2) The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each party state to cover the cost of its operations, activities and staff in its annual budget as approved each year. The aggregate annual assessment amount, if any, shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the commission, which shall promulgate a rule that is binding upon all party states.
(3) The commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same or pledge the credit of any of the party states, except by and with the authority of such party state.
(4) The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. All receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the commission.
(i) Qualified immunity, defense and indemnification:
(1) The administrators, officers, executive director, employees and representatives of the commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred, within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to protect any such person from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the intentional, wilful or wanton misconduct of such person.
(2) The commission shall defend any administrator, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided (A) nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prohibit such person from retaining such person's own counsel, and (B) the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from such person's intentional, wilful or wanton misconduct.
(3) The commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any administrator, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against such person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from the intentional, wilful or wanton misconduct of such person.
ARTICLE VIII
RULEMAKING
(a) The Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators established pursuant to Article VII of the compact shall exercise its rulemaking powers pursuant to the criteria set forth in this article and the rules adopted pursuant to this article. Each rule and amendment shall become binding as of the date specified in such rule or amendment and shall have the same force and effect as provisions of the compact.
(b) Each rule and each amendment to a rule shall be adopted at a regular or special meeting of the commission.
(c) Prior to promulgation and adoption of a final rule by the commission, and at least sixty days in advance of the meeting at which such rule will be considered and voted upon, the commission shall file a notice of proposed rulemaking:
(1) On the Internet web site of the commission; and
(2) On the Internet web site of each licensing board or the publication in which each state would otherwise publish proposed rules.
(d) The notice of proposed rulemaking shall include:
(1) The proposed time, date and location of the meeting in which the rule will be considered and voted upon;
(2) The text of the proposed rule or amendment, and the reason for the proposed rule or amendment;
(3) A request for comments on the proposed rule from any interested person; and
(4) The manner in which interested persons may submit notice to the commission of their intention to attend the public hearing and any written comments.
(e) Prior to adoption of a proposed rule, the commission shall allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions and arguments, which shall be made available to the public.
(f) The commission shall grant an opportunity for a public hearing before it adopts a rule or amendment.
(g) The commission shall publish the place, time and date of the scheduled public hearing.
(1) Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing each person who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable opportunity to comment orally or in writing. All hearings shall be recorded, and a copy of the recording shall be made available upon request.
(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a separate hearing on each rule. Rules may be grouped for the convenience of the commission at a hearing required by this subsection.
(h) If no one appears at the public hearing, the commission may proceed with promulgation of the proposed rule.
(i) Following the scheduled hearing date, or by the close of business on the scheduled hearing date if the hearing was not held, the commission shall consider all written and oral comments received.
(j) The commission shall, by majority vote of all administrators, take final action on the proposed rule and shall determine the effective date of the rule, if any, based on the rulemaking record and the full text of the rule.
(k) Upon determination that an emergency exists, the commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule without prior notice, opportunity for comment or hearing, provided the usual rulemaking procedures provided in the compact shall be retroactively applied to the rule as soon as reasonably possible, but in no event later than ninety days after the effective date of the rule. For the purposes of this subsection, an emergency rule is one that shall be adopted immediately in order to:
(1) Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety or welfare;
(2) Prevent a loss of commission or party state funds; or
(3) Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative rule that is required by federal law or rule.
(l) The commission may direct revisions to a previously adopted rule or amendment for purposes of correcting typographical errors, errors in format, errors in consistency or grammatical errors. Public notice of any revision shall be posted on the Internet web site of the commission. The revision shall be subject to challenge by any person for a period of thirty days after posting of such revision. The revision may be challenged only on the ground that the revision results in a material change to a rule. A challenge shall be made in writing and delivered to the commission prior to the end of the notice period. If no challenge is made, the revision shall take effect without further action. If the revision is challenged, the revision shall not take effect without the approval of the commission.
ARTICLE IX
OVERSIGHT, DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ENFORCEMENT
(a) Oversight:
(1) Each party state shall enforce the compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent.
(2) The Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators established pursuant to Article VII of the compact may receive service of process in any proceeding that may affect the powers, responsibilities or actions of the commission and shall have standing to intervene in such proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide service of process in such proceeding to the commission shall render a judgment or order void as to the commission, compact or promulgated rules.
(b) Default, technical assistance and termination:
(1) If the commission determines that a party state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under the compact or the promulgated rules, the commission shall:
(A) Provide written notice to the defaulting state and other party states of the nature of the default, the proposed means of curing the default or any other action to be taken by the commission; and
(B) Provide remedial training and specific technical assistance regarding the default.
(2) If a state in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting state's membership in the compact may be terminated upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the administrators, and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by the compact may be terminated on the effective date of termination. A cure of the default shall not relieve the offending state of obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of default.
(3) Termination of membership in the compact shall be imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the commission to the governor of the defaulting state and to the executive officer of the defaulting state's licensing board and each of the party states.
(4) A state whose membership in the compact has been terminated shall be responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination, including, but not limited to, an obligation that extends beyond the effective date of termination.
(5) The commission shall not bear any costs related to a state that is found to be in default or whose membership in the compact has been terminated unless agreed upon in writing between the commission and the defaulting state.
(6) The defaulting state may appeal the action of the commission by petitioning the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district in which the commission has its principal offices. The prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.
(c) Dispute resolution:
(1) Upon request by a party state, the commission shall attempt to resolve disputes related to the compact that arise among party states and between party and non-party states.
(2) The commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes, as appropriate.
(3) In the event the commission cannot resolve disputes among party states arising under the compact:
(A) The party states may submit the issues in dispute to an arbitration panel that shall be comprised of individuals appointed by the compact administrator in each of the affected party states and an individual mutually agreed upon by the compact administrators of all the party states involved in the dispute; and
(B) The decision of a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding.
(d) Enforcement:
(1) The commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of the compact.
(2) By majority vote, the commission may initiate legal action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district in which the commission has its principal offices against a party state that is in default to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact and its promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. If judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.
(3) The remedies set forth in the compact shall not be the exclusive remedies of the commission. The commission may pursue any other remedies available under federal or state law.
ARTICLE X
EFFECTIVE DATE, WITHDRAWAL AND AMENDMENT
(a) The compact shall become effective and binding on the date of legislative enactment of the compact into law by not less than twenty-six states or December 31, 2018, whichever is earlier. All party states to the compact that also were parties to the previous Nurse Licensure Compact (Prior Compact) that is superseded by the compact shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Prior Compact not later than six months after the effective date of the compact adopted pursuant to this section.
(b) Each party state to the compact shall continue to recognize a nurse's multistate licensure privilege to practice in such party state issued under the Prior Compact until such party state has withdrawn from the Prior Compact.
(c) Any party state may withdraw from the compact by enacting a statute repealing the compact. A party state's withdrawal shall not take effect until six months after enactment of the repealing statute.
(d) A party state's withdrawal or termination shall not affect the continuing requirement of the withdrawing or terminated state's licensing board to report adverse actions and significant investigations occurring prior to the effective date of such withdrawal or termination.
(e) Nothing contained in the compact shall be construed to invalidate or prevent any nurse licensure agreement or other cooperative arrangement between a party state and a non-party state that is made in accordance with the other provisions of the compact.
(f) The compact may be amended by the party states. No amendment to the compact shall become effective and binding upon the party states unless and until it is enacted into the laws of all party states.
(g) Representatives of non-party states to the compact shall be invited to participate in the activities of the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators established pursuant to Article VII of the compact, on a nonvoting basis, prior to the adoption of the compact by all states.
ARTICLE XI
CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY
The compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of the compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of the compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States, or if the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If the compact is determined to be contrary to the constitution of any party state, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in full force and effect as to the party state affected as to all severable matters.
(P.A. 24-83, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 24-83 effective May 30, 2024.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-99c. Criminal history records check for multistate license. On and after October 1, 2025, until January 1, 2028, the Commissioner of Public Health shall require each person applying to the Department of Public Health for a multistate license, as defined in section 20-99b, to submit to a state and national fingerprint-based criminal history records check pursuant to section 29-17a.
(P.A. 24-83, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 24-83 effective May 30, 2024.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-99d. Converting multistate license to single-state license. (a) As used in this section, “home state”, “licensing board”, “multistate license” and “single-state license” have the same meanings as provided in section 20-99b.
(b) Nothing in section 20-99b shall prohibit a home state licensing board, upon request from a person with a multistate license, from converting a multistate license to a single-state license that is only valid in the home state.
(P.A. 24-83, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 24-83 effective May 30, 2024.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-100. Notice to Department of Health Services. Section 20-100 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4436; 1953, S. 2225d; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-101. Construction of chapter. Permitted practices. Temporary practice. No provision of this chapter shall confer any authority to practice medicine or surgery nor shall this chapter prohibit any person from the domestic administration of family remedies or the furnishing of assistance in the case of an emergency; nor shall it be construed as prohibiting persons employed in state hospitals and state sanatoriums and subsidiary workers in general hospitals from assisting in the nursing care of patients if adequate medical and nursing supervision is provided; nor shall it be construed to prohibit the administration of medications by dialysis patient care technicians in accordance with section 19a-269a; nor shall it be construed to prohibit a personal care assistant employed by a homemaker-companion agency registered pursuant to section 20-671 from administering medications to a competent adult who directs his or her own care and makes his or her own decisions pertaining to assessment, planning and evaluation; nor shall it be construed as prohibiting students who are enrolled in schools of nursing approved pursuant to section 20-90, and students who are enrolled in schools for licensed practical nurses approved pursuant to section 20-90, from performing such work as is incidental to their respective courses of study; nor shall it prohibit a registered nurse who holds a master's degree in nursing or in a related field recognized for certification as either a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, or a nurse anesthetist by one of the certifying bodies identified in section 20-94a from practicing for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty days after the date of graduation, provided such graduate advanced practice registered nurse is working in a hospital or other organization under the supervision of a licensed physician or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, such hospital or other organization has verified that the graduate advanced practice registered nurse has applied to sit for the national certification examination and the graduate advanced practice registered nurse is not authorized to prescribe or dispense drugs; nor shall it prohibit graduates of schools of nursing or schools for licensed practical nurses approved pursuant to section 20-90, from nursing the sick for a period not to exceed ninety calendar days after the date of graduation, provided such graduate nurses are working in hospitals or organizations where adequate supervision is provided, and such hospital or other organization has verified that the graduate nurse has successfully completed a nursing program. Upon notification that the graduate nurse has failed the licensure examination or that the graduate advanced practice registered nurse has failed the certification examination, all privileges under this section shall automatically cease. No provision of this chapter shall prohibit (1) any registered nurse who has been issued a temporary permit by the department, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 20-94, from caring for the sick pending the issuance of a license without examination; (2) any licensed practical nurse who has been issued a temporary permit by the department, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 20-97, from caring for the sick pending the issuance of a license without examination; (3) any qualified registered nurse or any qualified licensed practical nurse of another state from caring for a patient temporarily in this state for not longer than seventy-two hours, provided such nurse shall not represent or hold himself or herself out as a nurse licensed to practice in this state; (4) any qualified registered nurse or any qualified licensed practical nurse of another state from caring for a patient longer than seventy-two hours, provided such nurse (A) has been issued a temporary permit by the department, and (B) shall not represent or hold himself or herself out as a nurse licensed to practice in this state; (5) registered nurses or licensed practical nurses from other states from doing such nursing as is incident to their course of study when taking postgraduate courses in this state; or (6) nursing or care of the sick, with or without compensation or personal profit, in connection with the practice of the religious tenets of any church by adherents thereof, provided such persons shall not otherwise engage in the practice of nursing within the meaning of this chapter. This chapter shall not prohibit the care of persons in their homes by domestic servants, housekeepers, nursemaids, companions, attendants or household aides of any type, whether employed regularly or because of an emergency of illness, if such persons are not initially employed in a nursing capacity. This chapter shall not prohibit unlicensed assistive personnel from administering jejunostomy and gastrojejunal tube feedings to persons who (A) attend employment opportunities and day services provided by or under the jurisdiction of the Department of Developmental Services or respite centers under the jurisdiction of the Department of Developmental Services, (B) reside in residential facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Developmental Services, or (C) receive support under the jurisdiction of the Department of Developmental Services, when such feedings are performed by trained, unlicensed assistive personnel pursuant to the written order of a physician licensed under chapter 370, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to prescribe in accordance with section 20-94a or a physician assistant licensed to prescribe in accordance with section 20-12d.
(1949 Rev., S. 4437; 1953, S. 2226d; 1957, P.A. 280, S. 1; P.A. 76-315, S. 4, 6; P.A. 80-484, S. 37, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 26, 71; P.A. 85-46, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-207, S. 2; 88-362, S. 18, 22; P.A. 89-350, S. 20, 21; P.A. 90-13, S. 10; P.A. 04-221, S. 10; P.A. 05-66, S. 4; P.A. 06-195, S. 30; P.A. 10-117, S. 42; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 12; P.A. 15-242, S. 6; P.A. 17-9, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 76-315 stated that chapter shall not prevent nursing graduates from performance of duties pending examination results from other states; P.A. 80-484 required consent of health services commissioner for approval of postgraduate courses; P.A. 81-471 changed “certification” to “licensure” and provided that temporary permits are obtained from department instead of board; P.A. 85-46 deleted the requirement that postgraduate courses be approved by the nursing board with the consent of the commissioner of health services; P.A. 88-207 stated that chapter shall not prohibit any licensed nurse registered in another state or territory who has been issued a temporary permit from caring for the sick pending the issuance of a license without examination and made technical changes by removing references to examinations scheduled by the board in two places; P.A. 88-362 added the exceptions for licensed practical nurses who have been issued temporary permits; P.A. 89-350 added “nursing homes” as a place graduates of licensed practical nursing programs may work pending the results of the first examination scheduled following their graduation; P.A. 90-13 substituted references to nursing schools “approved pursuant to section 20-90” for references to “accredited” nursing schools; P.A. 04-221 included graduates of schools for licensed practical nurses, limited practice of nursing school graduates to 90 days after graduation and required hospital verification of such graduation, and provided that no nursing practice be allowed if examination is failed; P.A. 05-66 added provision re administration of medications by dialysis patient care technicians in accordance with Sec. 19a-269a; P.A. 06-195 added provisions allowing graduate advanced practice registered nurses to practice on a limited basis for up to 120 days after graduation, provided certain conditions are met, and terminating such temporary practice upon notification that the graduate advanced practice registered nurse has failed the certification examination, effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 10-117 added provision re chapter not prohibiting unlicensed assistive personnel from administering jejunostomy and gastrojejunal tube feedings to certain persons when performed pursuant to written order of a licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 added provision re chapter not prohibiting personal care assistant employed by registered homemaker-companion agency from administering medications to a competent adult who directs his or her own care, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 15-242 designated existing provisions re registered nurses issued temporary permits being permitted to care for the sick as new Subdiv. (1), designated existing provisions re licensed practical nurses issued temporary permits being permitted to care for the sick as new Subdiv. (2), designated existing provisions re qualified registered nurses and qualified licensed practical nurses of another state being permitted to care for patient as new Subdiv. (3) and amended same to replace requirement that such nurses have been granted temporary permit with provision allowing them to care for patient not longer than 72 hours, added Subdiv. (4) re qualified registered nurses or qualified licensed practical nurses of another state caring for patient longer than 72 hours, designated existing provisions re registered nurses or licensed practical nurses from other states taking postgraduate courses as Subdiv. (5), designated existing provisions re nursing or care of the sick in connection with practice of religious tenets of any church as Subdiv. (6), redesignated existing Subdivs. (1) to (3) as Subparas. (A) to (C), and made technical changes; P.A. 17-9 replaced “day programs” with “employment opportunities and day services provided by or under the jurisdiction of the Department of Developmental Services” in Subdiv. (6)(A).
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-101a. Determination and pronouncement of death by registered nurse. Regulations. (a) A registered nurse, licensed under this chapter, in charge in a hospice, nursing home facility, as defined in section 19a-521, or residential care home, as defined in section 19a-521, or a registered nurse, licensed under this chapter or a registered nurse employed by a home health care agency licensed by the state of Connecticut, in a home or residence may make the actual determination and pronouncement of death of a patient provided that the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The death is an anticipated death; (2) the registered nurse attests to such pronouncement on the certificate of death; and (3) the registered nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this chapter, or a physician licensed under chapter 370 certifies the death and signs the certificate of death not later than twenty-four hours after the pronouncement.
(b) The Department of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish the procedures for the implementation of this section.
(P.A. 87-354, S. 1; P.A. 93-3, S. 1, 2; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 04-255, S. 23; P.A. 13-208, S. 57; P.A. 14-231, S. 61.)
History: P.A. 93-3 deleted requirement that presence of contagious disease be listed on birth certificate, effective March 24, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 04-255 amended Subsec. (a) by allowing a registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse to certify death and sign certificate and by making technical changes, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision re department notification of persons affected by implementation of regulations; P.A. 13-208 added reference to residential care home and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-231 amended Subsec. (a) by making a technical change.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-101b. Construction. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting or prohibiting a registered nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse from engaging in those activities which constitute the practice of nursing.
(P.A. 89-389, S. 18, 22.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-101c. Prescription forms used by advanced practice registered nurses and nurse-midwives. All prescription forms used by advanced practice registered nurses and nurse-midwives shall contain the name, address and telephone number of the advanced practice registered nurse or the nurse-midwife. The form may also contain the name of the collaborating physician.
(P.A. 89-389, S. 21, 22; P.A. 99-168, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 99-168 deleted reference to prescribing under the “direction” of a physician, deleted reference to clinical practice relationship of the nurse-midwife and added provision allowing form to contain the name of the collaborating physician.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-101d. Covenants not to compete involving advanced practice registered nurse. (a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Covenant not to compete” means any provision of an employment or other contract or agreement that creates or establishes a professional relationship with an advanced practice registered nurse and restricts the right of an advanced practice registered nurse to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse in any geographic area of the state for any period of time after the termination or cessation of such partnership, employment or other professional relationship; (2) “advanced practice registered nurse” means an individual licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse pursuant to this chapter; and (3) “primary site where such advanced practice registered nurse practices” means any single office, facility or location where such advanced practice registered nurse practices, as mutually agreed to by the parties and defined in the covenant not to compete.
(b) (1) A covenant not to compete that is entered into, amended, extended or renewed on or after October 1, 2023, shall be valid and enforceable only if it is: (A) Necessary to protect a legitimate business interest; (B) reasonably limited in time, geographic scope and practice restrictions as necessary to protect such business interest; and (C) otherwise consistent with the law and public policy. The party seeking to enforce a covenant not to compete shall have the burden of proof in any proceeding.
(2) A covenant not to compete that is entered into, amended, extended or renewed on or after October 1, 2023, shall not: (A) Restrict the advanced practice registered nurse's competitive activities (i) for a period of more than one year, and (ii) in a geographic region of more than fifteen miles from the primary site where such advanced practice registered nurse practices; or (B) be enforceable against an advanced practice registered nurse if (i) such employment contract or agreement was not made in anticipation of, or as part of, a partnership or ownership agreement and such contract or agreement expires and is not renewed, unless, prior to such expiration, the employer makes a bona fide offer to renew the contract on the same or similar terms and conditions, or (ii) the employment or contractual relationship is terminated by the employer, unless such employment or contractual relationship is terminated for cause.
(3) A covenant not to compete that is entered into, amended, extended or renewed on or after October 1, 2023, shall not be enforceable if (A) the advanced practice registered nurse who is a party to the employment or other contract or agreement does not agree to a proposed material change to the compensation terms of such contract or agreement prior to or at the time of the extension or renewal of such contract or agreement; and (B) the contract or agreement expires and is not renewed by the employer or the employment or contractual relationship is terminated by the employer, unless such employment or contractual relationship is terminated for cause.
(4) Each covenant not to compete entered into, amended or renewed on or after October 1, 2023, shall be separately and individually signed by the advanced practice registered nurse.
(c) The remaining provisions of any contract or agreement that includes a covenant not to compete that is rendered void and unenforceable, in whole or in part, under the provisions of this section shall remain in full force and effect, including provisions that require the payment of damages resulting from any injury suffered by reason of termination of such contract or agreement.
(P.A. 23-97, S. 14.)
History: P.A. 23-97 effective July 1, 2023.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-102. Penalty. No person shall, for remuneration, (1) practice nursing, as defined in subsection (a) of section 20-87a, in this state unless such person has received a certificate as a registered nurse or a license as an advanced practice registered nurse; or (2) practice advanced nursing practice, as defined in subsection (b) of said section, unless such person has received a license as an advanced practice registered nurse; or (3) practice nursing, as defined in subsection (c) of said section, unless such person has been certified as a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse or licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or who wilfully makes false representation to the Board of Examiners for Nursing shall be guilty of a class D felony. Said board shall cause to be presented to the prosecuting officer having jurisdiction evidence of any violation of any such provision. For the purposes of this section, each instance of patient contact or consultation which is in violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a separate offense. Failure to renew a license in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation for the purposes of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 4438; 1949, S. 2227d; 1957, P.A. 280, S. 2; P.A. 75-166, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 394, 610; P.A. 84-526, S. 8; P.A. 89-389, S. 5, 22; P.A. 13-258, S. 76.)
History: P.A. 75-166 replaced reference to Sec. 20-87(b) with Sec. 20-87a(a); P.A. 77-614 deleted clause allowing board to incur any necessary expenses, payable from receipts, in performing duty re evidence of violations, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 84-526 amended section by changing penalty for violation of any provision of chapter to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than five years, and added provisions that each instance of patient contact or consultation shall constitute a separate offense and failure to renew license in timely manner is not a violation for purposes of section; P.A. 89-389 added the language on advanced practice registered nurses; P.A. 13-258 inserted Subdiv. (1), (2) and (3) designators, made “for remuneration” provision applicable to prohibited advanced nursing practice, changed penalty from fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class D felony and made technical changes.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 20-102a. Appearance before board concerning application. Any applicant for licensure under this chapter may present himself or herself before the Board of Examiners for Nursing with respect to such pending application. Such presentation shall not constitute a hearing nor a contested case within the meaning of chapter 54.
(P.A. 76-315, S. 5, 6; P.A. 80-484, S. 148, 176.)
History: P.A. 80-484 replaced “registration” with “licensure”.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Secs. 20-102b to 20-102z. Reserved for future use.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |