§ 5-34-4 - Board of nursing – Establishment – Composition – Appointment, terms, and removal of members – Director of nurse registration and nursing education.

SECTION 5-34-4

   § 5-34-4  Board of nursing –Establishment – Composition – Appointment, terms, and removal ofmembers – Director of nurse registration and nursing education. – (a) Within the division of professional regulation, pursuant to chapter 26 ofthis title, there is a board of nurse registration and nursing education. Theboard shall be composed of fifteen (15) members. The term of office shall befor three (3) years. No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.The member shall serve until a qualified successor is appointed to serve. Inmaking those appointments, the director of the department of health shallconsider persons suggested by professional nurse organizations and thepractical nurse's association.

   (b) Present members of the board holding office under theprovisions of this chapter shall serve as members of the board until theexpiration of their terms or until qualified successors are appointed. Thefifteen (15) member board shall include: eleven (11) professional nurses, two(2) practical nurses appointed by the director of health and approved by thegovernor and two (2) members of the general public appointed by the governor.Three (3) professional nurses shall be from different basic education programspreparing students to become nurses; one professional nurse shall be from anursing service administration; four (4) professional non-administrative,clinical nurses not licensed as advanced practice nurses, and three (3)professional advanced practice nurses, one who holds a license as a certifiedregistered nurse anesthetist, one who holds a license as a certified registerednurse practitioner, and one who holds a license as a psychiatric and mentalhealth nurse clinical specialist. No educational program or cooperating agencyshall have more than one representative on the board.

   (c) The director of health may remove any member from theboard for cause including, but not limited to, neglect of any duty required bylaw, or incompetence, or unprofessional conduct, or willful misconduct. Amember subject to disciplinary proceedings shall be disqualified from boardbusiness until the charge is adjudicated. There shall also be a director ofnurse registration and nursing education appointed by the director of health inaccordance with the provisions of chapter 4 of title 36.