Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 10, July 31, 2024
Section 610-X-8-.01 - [Effective until 9/14/2024] Definitions(1) Abandonment: Acceptance of a patient assignment, thus establishing a nurse-patient relationship, and then ending the nurse-patient relationship without giving reasonable notice to supervisory personnel so that others can make arrangements for continuation of nursing care.(2) Administrative complaint: A legal document which contains notice of the time and place of an administrative hearing; contains a statement of the charges against the applicant, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, advanced practice nurse, continuing education provider, or nursing education program; and complies with the notice provisions for contested cases as set forth in the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act.(3) Assessment, Comprehensive: the systematic collection and analysis of data including the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual aspects of the patient by the registered nurse for the purpose of judging a patient's health and illness status and actual or potential health needs. Comprehensive assessment includes patient history, physical examination, analysis of the data collected, development of the patient plan of care, implementation and evaluation of the plan of care.(4) Assessment, Focused: An appraisal of a patient's status and specific complaint through observation and collection of objective and subjective data by the registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. Focused assessment involves identification of normal and abnormal findings, anticipation and recognition of changes or potential changes in patient's health status, and may contribute to a comprehensive assessment performed by the registered nurse.(5) Board-Acceptable Licensed Healthcare Provider: A licensed healthcare provider who has been accepted, in advance, by Board staff to conduct a required evaluation of a licensee for purposes of reinstatement of a Board-Lapsed license.(6) Board-Lapsed License: An Order of the Board that lapses a license until identified conditions are met and the license is reinstated by Order of the Board.(7) Dual Relationship: any time a licensed nurse interacts with a patient outside the nurse-patient relationship.(8) Fine: A monetary penalty imposed by the Board.(9) Letter of Admonishment: A letter from the Board that addresses the areas of concern over the reported conduct and notifies the registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or applicant for licensure that the case has been closed without discipline.(10) Letter of Closure: A letter from the Board that notifies the registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or applicant for licensure that the case has been closed without discipline.(11) May: power, privilege or right retained by the Board.(12) May not: prohibition.(13) Negligent: Failure to exercise the care required by the applicable standard of care.(14) Probation: The monitored practice of nursing which permits the nurse to continue to practice nursing pursuant to specified conditions as set forth by the Board.(15) Professional Boundary: behavior of the licensed nurse in maintaining a therapeutic relationship with a patient for the patient's benefit rather than behavior that lessens the patient's care and shifts the focus to the licensed nurse.(16) Reprimand: A formal censure by the Board.(17) Revocation: The withdrawal of the license by Board action.(18) Shall: duty, requirement, or condition precedent.(19) Suspension: The temporary withdrawal of the license by Board action.(20) Voluntary Surrender: The voluntary relinquishment of a license that has the force and effect of revocation.(21) Willful: Commission of an act or omission when the licensed nurse or applicant knows or reasonably should know that the act or omission violates the Nurse Practice Act.(22) Adverse Action: Any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action permitted by the law of state which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against a nurse, including actions against the license or multistate privilege of an individual, including revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of a licensee, limitation on the practice of the licensee, the bringing of a cease and desist action against the licensee, or any other encumbrance on licensure affecting the authorization of a nurse to practice.(23) Current Significant Investigative Information: Any of the following: (a) Investigative information that the 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.(b) Investigative information indicating that nurse presents an immediate threat to public health and safety, regardless of whether the nurse has been notified and has had an opportunity respond.(24) Coordinated Licensure Information System: 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.Ala. Admin. Code r. 610-X-8-.01
Filed September 29, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 29, 2002; effective March 5, 2002. Amended: Filed July 22, 2005; effective August 26, 2005. Repealed and New Rule: Filed May 21, 2010; effective June 25, 2010. Amended: Filed August 19, 2011; effective September 23, 2011.Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXII, Issue No. 09, June 30, 2014, eff. 7/29/2014.Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 11, August 30, 2019, eff. 9/9/2019; operative 1/1/2020.Author: Alabama Board of Nursing
Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-21-2(j)(1), 34-21-25.