(a) There is established a Board of Nursing to consist of 11 members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council.

(b)(1) The Board shall regulate the practice of advanced practice registered nursing, registered nursing, practical nursing, and nursing assistive personnel. Advanced practice registered nursing shall include the categories of nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse-practitioner, and clinical nurse specialist.

(2) The Board shall recommend for promulgation by the Mayor curricula and standards required for the approval of nursing schools and nursing programs in the District of Columbia. At a minimum, the Board shall require that nursing schools and nursing programs be accredited by a Board-recognized national nursing accrediting agency. The Board may also recommend to the Mayor rules governing the procedures for withdrawing approval of nursing schools and nursing programs.

(c) Of the members of the Board, 7 shall be registered nurses licensed and practicing in the District; 2 shall be practical nurses licensed in the District; and 2 shall be consumer members.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, members of the Board shall be appointed for terms of 3 years.

(e) Of the members initially appointed under this section, 3 shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, 4 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years, and 4 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. The terms of the members first appointed shall begin on the date that a majority of the first members are sworn in, which shall become the anniversary date for all subsequent appointments.

(f) The Mayor shall appoint an executive director, who shall be a full-time employee of the District, to administer and implement the orders of the Board in accordance with this subchapter and rules and regulations issued pursuant to this subchapter.

(g) Pursuant to § 7-1671.07, the Board shall review and audit written recommendations for the use of medical marijuana issued by advanced practice registered nurses pursuant to§ 7-1671.04 and shall have the authority to discipline any advanced practice registered nurse who has acted outside the scope of the advanced practice registered nurse's authority under Chapter 16B of Title 7.

(Mar. 25, 1986, D.C. Law 6-99, § 204, 33 DCR 729; Oct. 7, 1987, D.C. Law 7-31, § 3(c), 34 DCR 3789; Mar. 23, 1995, D.C. Law 10-247, § 2(e), 42 DCR 457; July 7, 2009, D.C. Law 18-18, § 2(c), 56 DCR 3624; Feb. 18, 2017, D.C. Law 21-209, § 3(c), 63 DCR 15291.)

1981 Ed., § 2-3302.4.

This section is referenced in § 1-523.01, § 7-1301.03, and § 44-1051.02.

D.C. Law 18-18 rewrote subsec. (b); and added subsec. (f).

Establishment of Nursing Shortage Study Commission: Section 2 of D.C. Law 7-35 provided for the establishment of the District of Columbia Nursing Shortage Study Commission, including the appointment, membership, duration, focus of study, reports, reimbursement, office space and support personnel.