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News  Order and Guidance Authorizing Nursing Practice By Graduate and Senior Students of Nursing Education Programs Issued April 9, 2020

4/16/2020
  • Board of Registration in Nursing

Order Authorizing Nursing Practice By Graduate and Senior Students of Nursing Education Programs

Guidance Authorizing Nursing Practice By Graduate and Senior Students of Nursing Education Programs

Nursing Practice by Graduates and Senior Students of nursing education programs

On March 10, 2020, Governor Charles D. Baker declared a State of Emergency in the Commonwealth to respond to the spread of COVID-19.  On April 9, 2020, Governor Baker issued an Order authorizing nursing practice by graduates and senior students nursing education programs.

In accordance with the Governor’s Order, for the duration of the state of emergency, individuals who are graduates of a registered nursing or practical nursing program approved by the Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) and individuals who are senior nursing students attending the last semester of a BORN approved registered nursing or practical nursing program are authorized to practice nursing and are exempt from the prohibitions against the unlicensed practice of nursing specified in G.L. c. 112, §§ 80, 80A and 80B provided that:

  1. The individuals are employed by or providing health care services at the direction of a licensed health care facility or a licensed health care provider, are directly supervised while providing health care services, and the health care services are provided in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; and
  1. The employing licensed health care facility or licensed health care provider has verified that the individual is a graduate of a BORN approved registered nursing or practical nursing program or that the individual is a senior nursing student in his or her last semester at a BORN approved registered nursing or practical nursing program.

Nursing practice by nursing students, and supervision of nursing students, pursuant to the Governor’s Order must adhere to the following parameters:

  1. Senior nursing students and graduate nursing students must practice under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse with equal or higher educational preparation;
  1. Direct supervision includes but is not limited to the supervising licensed nurse being physically present in the health care practice setting and readily available where senior nursing students and graduate nursing students are practicing;
  1. Senior nursing students and the graduate nursing students must seek assistance immediately when he or she encounters patient care situations that are beyond his or her competency and level of academic preparation;
  1. The employing licensed health care facility or licensed health care provider provides  senior nursing students and graduate nursing students with an orientation that aligns with the individual student academic preparation and competencies;
  1. The employing licensed health care facility or licensed health care provider provides  senior nursing students and graduate nursing students with policies that support their practice in the clinical setting where they are assigned; and
  1. The employing licensed health care facility or health care provider ensures that patients are informed that such individuals are graduate nursing students or senior nursing students.

The Order and this guidance are in effect and shall remain in effect until the State of Emergency is terminated by the Governor, or the Order is rescinded by the Governor, whichever shall happen first.

 

 

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