State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
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90_SB0606

      225 ILCS 65/3             from Ch. 111, par. 3503
      225 ILCS 65/4             from Ch. 111, par. 3504
      225 ILCS 65/6             from Ch. 111, par. 3506
      225 ILCS 65/7             from Ch. 111, par. 3507
      225 ILCS 65/12            from Ch. 111, par. 3512
          Amends the Illinois Nursing Act  of  1987.  Provides  for
      practice  as an advanced practice registered nurse.  Provides
      that an advanced  practice  registered  nurse  shall  hold  a
      current   license  to  practice  as  a  registered  nurse  in
      Illinois, hold applicable national certification  in  his  or
      her  nursing  specialty,  and  have  completed  a post-basic,
      advanced formal education program in the area of his  or  her
      nursing  specialty.    Increases the number of members on the
      Committee from 11 to 13.   Provides  that  the  2  additional
      members  and  the 2 members that currently represent advanced
      specialty practice shall represent advanced practice nursing.
                                                    LRB9001264LDdvA
                                              LRB9001264LDdvA
 1        AN ACT to amend the Illinois Nursing Practice Act of 1987
 2    by changing Sections 3, 4, 6, 7, and 12.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section  5.   The Illinois Nursing Act of 1987 is amended
 6    by changing Sections 3, 4, 6, 7, and 12 as follows:
 7        (225 ILCS 65/3) (from Ch. 111, par. 3503)
 8        Sec. 3.  Each of the following terms, when used  in  this
 9    Act,  shall have  the meaning ascribed to it in this Section,
10    except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
11        (a)  "Department" means the  Department  of  Professional
12    Regulation;
13        (b)  "Director"  means  the Director of the Department of
14    Professional Regulation;
15        (c)  "Committee" means the Committee on Nursing appointed
16    by the Director;
17        (d)  "Academic year" means the customary annual  schedule
18    of  courses  at  a  college,  university  or approved school,
19    customarily regarded as the school year as distinguished from
20    the calendar year;
21        (e)  "Approved program of professional nursing education"
22    and "approved program of  practical  nursing  education"  are
23    programs  of professional or practical nursing, respectively,
24    approved by the Department under the provisions of this Act;
25        (f)  "Nursing    Coordinator"    means    a    registered
26    professional nurse appointed by the Director to carry out the
27    administrative policies of the Department;
28        (g)  "Assistant Nursing Coordinator" means  a  registered
29    professional  nurse  appointed  by  the Director to assist in
30    carrying out the administrative policies of the Department;
31        (h)  "Registered" is the equivalent of "licensed";
                            -2-               LRB9001264LDdvA
 1        (i)  "Practical  nurse"  or  "licensed  practical  nurse"
 2    means a person who is licensed as  a  practical  nurse  under
 3    this  Act  and  practices  practical  nursing  as  defined in
 4    paragraph (j)  of  this  Section.   Only  a  practical  nurse
 5    licensed  under  this  Act  is  entitled  to  use  the  title
 6    "licensed practical nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N.";
 7        (j)  "Practical   nursing"  means  the  performance,  for
 8    compensation, of acts in the care of  the  ill,  injured,  or
 9    infirmed,  selected by and performed under the direction of a
10    registered professional nurse, licensed physician,   dentist,
11    or  podiatrist,  requiring the basic nursing skill, judgment,
12    and knowledge acquired by means  of  a  completed  course  of
13    study in an approved practical nursing education program;
14        (k)  "Registered   Nurse"   or  "Registered  Professional
15    Nurse" means a person who is licensed as a professional nurse
16    under this Act and practices nursing as defined in  paragraph
17    (l)  of this Section.  Only a registered nurse licensed under
18    this Act is entitled to use the titles "registered nurse" and
19    "registered professional nurse" and the abbreviation, "R.N.";
20        (l)  "Professional nursing" includes all its specialties,
21    and means the performance for  compensation  of  any  nursing
22    act,  (1)  in  the nursing evaluation, observation, care, and
23    counsel  of  the  ill,  injured,  or  infirmed;  (2)  in  the
24    maintenance of health or prevention of illness of others; (3)
25    the  administration  of   medications   and   treatments   as
26    prescribed  by  a licensed physician, dentist, or podiatrist;
27    or (4) any act in the supervision  or  teaching  of  nursing,
28    which  requires  substantial,  specialized judgment and skill
29    the proper performance of which is  based  on  knowledge  and
30    application  of  the  principles of biological, physical, and
31    social science acquired by means of a completed course in  an
32    approved school of professional nursing.  The foregoing shall
33    not  be  deemed to include those acts of medical diagnosis or
34    prescription of therapeutic or corrective measures which  are
                            -3-               LRB9001264LDdvA
 1    properly  performed  only by physicians licensed in the State
 2    of Illinois;
 3        (m)  "Current nursing practice  update  course"  means  a
 4    planned   nursing   education   curriculum  approved  by  the
 5    Department consisting of activities  which  have  educational
 6    objectives, instructional methods, content or subject matter,
 7    clinical  practice,  and evaluation methods, related to basic
 8    review and updating  content  and  specifically  planned  for
 9    those  nurses previously licensed in the United States or its
10    territories and preparing for reentry into nursing  practice;
11    and .
12        (n)  "Advanced  practice registered nurse" (APRN) means a
13    person who meets the requirements of a  registered  nurse  as
14    well  as  additional  educational and experience requirements
15    provided in this Act and regulations  for  advanced  practice
16    nursing.  APRNs care for their patients by:
17             (1)  using  advanced  diagnostic skills, the results
18        of diagnostic tests and procedures ordered by the APRN or
19        others,  and  independent  judgment   to   initiate   and
20        coordinate the care of patients;
21             (2)  collaborating and interacting with licensed and
22        other  health  care  professionals  in  the  diagnosis of
23        illness and management of wellness and  other  conditions
24        as  appropriate  to  the level and area of APRN practice;
25        and
26             (3)  ordering   diagnostic    tests,    prescribing,
27        dispensing,    and    administering    drugs,    medical,
28        therapeutic,  and  corrective  measures to treat illness,
29        improving health status, or providing preventive care.
30        Advance  practice  registered  nurses  include  certified
31    nurse midwives (CNM), certified  nurse  practitioners  (CNP),
32    certified  registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), and clinical
33    nurse specialists (CNS).
34    (Source: P.A. 85-981.)
                            -4-               LRB9001264LDdvA
 1        (225 ILCS 65/4) (from Ch. 111, par. 3504)
 2        Sec. 4.  For the protection of life and the promotion  of
 3    health,  and  the  prevention  of  illness  and  communicable
 4    diseases,  any  person  practicing  or  offering  to practice
 5    professional and practical nursing in Illinois  shall  submit
 6    evidence  that  he or she is qualified to practice, and shall
 7    be  licensed  as  hereinafter  provided.   No  person   shall
 8    practice  or  offer  to  practice  professional  or practical
 9    nursing in Illinois or use any title, sign, card or device to
10    indicate that such a person  is  practicing  professional  or
11    practical  nursing unless such person has been licensed under
12    the provisions of this Act.
13        An advanced practice registered nurse shall:
14             (1)  hold  a  current  license  to  practice  as   a
15        Registered Nurse in Illinois;
16             (2)   hold   applicable  national  certification  or
17        recertification  in  his  or   her   nursing   speciality
18        according  to  the  policies as defined by the certifying
19        body of his or her nursing speciality; and
20             (3) have completed  a  post-basic,  advanced  formal
21        education  program  in  the  area  of  his or her nursing
22        speciality.
23        As of January 1, 2003,  new  graduates,  in  addition  to
24    meeting  the above requirements, shall have a graduate degree
25    and applicable certification in an advanced practice  nursing
26    speciality within one year of graduation.
27        This Act does not prohibit the following:
28        (a)  The practice of nursing in Federal employment in the
29    discharge  of  the  employee's  duties  by  a  person  who is
30    employed by the  United  States  government  or  any  bureau,
31    division  or  agency  thereof  and is a legally qualified and
32    licensed nurse of another  state  or  territory  and  not  in
33    conflict with Sections 6, 12, 13, and 25 of this Act;
34        (b)  Nursing  which is included in their program of study
                            -5-               LRB9001264LDdvA
 1    by students enrolled in programs of  nursing  or  in  current
 2    nurse practice update courses approved by the Department;
 3        (c)  The   furnishing   of   nursing   assistance  in  an
 4    emergency;
 5        (d)  The practice of nursing by  a  nurse  who  holds  an
 6    active  license  in  another state when providing services to
 7    patients in  Illinois  during  a  bonafide  emergency  or  in
 8    immediate preparation for or during interstate transit;
 9        (e)  The  incidental  care  of the sick by members of the
10    family, domestic servants or housekeepers,  or  care  of  the
11    sick where treatment is by prayer or spiritual means;
12        (f)  Persons   from  being  employed  as  nursing  aides,
13    attendants, orderlies and other auxiliary workers in  private
14    homes,  long  term  care  facilities, nurseries, hospitals or
15    other institutions;
16        (g)  The practice of practical nursing  by  one  who  has
17    applied  in  writing  to the Department in form and substance
18    satisfactory to the Department, for a license as  a  licensed
19    practical  nurse  and  has  complied  with all the provisions
20    under Section 13, except the passing of an examination to  be
21    eligible to receive such license, until:  the decision of the
22    Department  that  the  applicant  has failed to pass the next
23    available  examination  authorized  by  the  Department,   or
24    failed,   without  an  approved  excuse,  to  take  the  next
25    available examination authorized by the  Department,  or  the
26    withdrawal  of  the  application.  No applicant for licensure
27    practicing under  the  provisions  of  this  paragraph  shall
28    practice   practical   nursing   except   under   the  direct
29    supervision of a registered professional nurse licensed under
30    this Act or a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist.   In
31    no  instance shall any such applicant practice or be employed
32    in any supervisory capacity;
33        (h)  The practice of practical nursing by one  who  is  a
34    licensed  practical  nurse  under  the  laws  of another U.S.
                            -6-               LRB9001264LDdvA
 1    jurisdiction and has applied in writing to the Department, in
 2    form and substance satisfactory  to  the  Department,  for  a
 3    license as a licensed practical nurse and who is qualified to
 4    receive  such  license  under  Section  13,  until:  (1)  the
 5    expiration  of  6  months  after  the  filing of such written
 6    application, or (2) the withdrawal of  such  application,  or
 7    (3) the denial of such application by the Department;
 8        (i)  The  practice of professional nursing by one who has
 9    applied in writing to the Department in  form  and  substance
10    satisfactory  to the Department for a license as a registered
11    professional nurse and has complied with all  the  provisions
12    under  Section  12 except the passing of an examination to be
13    eligible to receive such license until:  the decision of  the
14    Department  that  the  applicant  has failed to pass the next
15    available  examination  authorized  by  the  Department,   or
16    failed,   without  an  approved  excuse,  to  take  the  next
17    available examination authorized by  the  Department  or  the
18    withdrawal  of  the  application.  No applicant for licensure
19    practicing under  the  provisions  of  this  paragraph  shall
20    practice   professional   nursing  except  under  the  direct
21    supervision of a registered professional nurse licensed under
22    this Act.  In no instance shall any such  applicant  practice
23    or be employed in any supervisory capacity;
24        (j)  The practice of professional nursing by one who is a
25    registered  professional  nurse  under  the  laws  of another
26    state, territory of the United  States  or  Country  and  has
27    applied  in  writing to the Department, in form and substance
28    satisfactory to the Department, for a license as a registered
29    professional nurse and  who  is  qualified  to  receive  such
30    license  under  Section 12, until:  (1)  the expiration of 12
31    months after the filing of such written application,  or  (2)
32    the withdrawal of such application, or (3) the denial of such
33    application by the Department;
34        (k)  The   practice  of  professional  nursing  which  is
                            -7-               LRB9001264LDdvA
 1    included in a program of study by one  who  is  a  registered
 2    professional  nurse  under  the  laws  of  another  state  or
 3    territory  of the United States or foreign country, territory
 4    or province  and  who  is  enrolled  in  a  graduate  nursing
 5    education  program  or  a  program  for  the  completion of a
 6    baccalaureate nursing degree  in  this  State  which  program
 7    includes clinical supervision by faculty as determined by the
 8    educational  institution  offering the program and the health
 9    care organization where the practice of nursing occurs.   The
10    educational  institution  will  file with the Department each
11    academic term a list of the names and origin  of  license  of
12    all  professional  nurses practicing nursing as part of their
13    programs under this provision; or
14        (l)  Any person licensed in this State  under  any  other
15    Act  from  engaging  in  the  practice for which she or he is
16    licensed.
17        An applicant for license practicing under the  exceptions
18    set  forth  in  subparagraphs  (g), (h), (i), and (j) of this
19    Section shall use the title R.N. Lic. Pend., A.P.R.N.  Pend.,
20    or L.P.N. Lic. Pend. respectively and no other.
21    (Source: P.A. 85-981.)
22        (225 ILCS 65/6) (from Ch. 111, par. 3506)
23        Sec. 6.  No person shall:
24        (a)  Practice   professional   nursing  without  a  valid
25    license as a registered professional nurse except as provided
26    in paragraphs (i) and (j) of Section 4 of this Act;
27        (b)  Practice practical nursing without a  valid  license
28    as  a licensed practical nurse; or practice practical nursing
29    other than under  the  direction  of  a  licensed  physician,
30    licensed dentist, or registered professional nurse; except as
31    provided  in paragraphs (g), (h) and (j) of Section 4 of this
32    Act;
33        (c)  Practice  nursing  under  cover  of   any   diploma,
                            -8-               LRB9001264LDdvA
 1    license,  or  record  illegally  or  fraudulently obtained or
 2    signed   or   issued   unlawfully   or    under    fraudulent
 3    representation;
 4        (d)  Practice  nursing during the time her or his license
 5    is suspended, revoked, expired or on inactive status;
 6        (e)  Use  any  words,  abbreviations,  figures,  letters,
 7    title, sign, card, or device tending to imply that she or  he
 8    is  a  registered professional nurse, including the titles or
 9    initials,   "Registered   Nurse,"    "Professional    Nurse,"
10    "Registered  Professional Nurse," "Certified Nurse," "Trained
11    Nurse," "Graduate Nurse," "P.N.," or "R.N.," or  "R.P.N."  or
12    similar  titles  or  initials  with  intention  of indicating
13    practice without a valid license as a registered professional
14    nurse;
15        (f)  Use  any  words,  abbreviations  figures,   letters,
16    title,  sign, card, or device tending to imply that she or he
17    is  a  licensed  practical  nurse  including  the  titles  or
18    initials  "Practical  Nurse,"  "Licensed  Practical   Nurse,"
19    "P.N.,"  or  "L.P.N.,"  or  similar  titles  or initials with
20    intention of indicated practice as a licensed practical nurse
21    without a valid license as a licensed practical  nurse  under
22    this Act;
23        (g)  Obtain  or  furnish a license by or for money or any
24    other thing of value other than the fees required by  Section
25    23, or by any fraudulent representation or act;
26        (h)  Make any wilfully false oath or affirmation required
27    by this Act;
28        (i)  Conduct   a   nursing  education  program  preparing
29    persons for licensure that  has  not  been  approved  by  the
30    Department;
31        (j)  Represent  that  any school or course is approved or
32    accredited as  a  school  or  course  for  the  education  of
33    registered  professional  nurses or licensed practical nurses
34    unless such school or course is approved  by  the  Department
                            -9-               LRB9001264LDdvA
 1    under the provisions of this Act;
 2        (k)  Attempt or offer to do any of the acts enumerated in
 3    this Section, or  knowingly aid, abet, assist in the doing of
 4    any  such  acts  or in the attempt or offer to do any of such
 5    acts;
 6        (l)  Seek employment as a registered  professional  nurse
 7    under  the  terms  of  paragraphs (i) and (j) of Section 4 of
 8    this Act without possessing a written authorization which has
 9    been issued by the Department or designated  testing  service
10    and  which  evidences  the  filing of the written application
11    referred to in paragraph (i) and (j) of  Section  4  of  this
12    Act;
13        (m)  Seek  employment as a licensed practical nurse under
14    the terms of paragraphs (g) and (h) of Section 4 of this  Act
15    without  possessing  a  written  authorization which has been
16    issued by the Department or designated  testing  service  and
17    which   evidences  the  filing  of  the  written  application
18    referred to in paragraph (g) and (h) of  Section  4  of  this
19    Act;
20        (n)  Employ  or  utilize  persons not licensed under this
21    Act to practice professional nursing  or  practical  nursing;
22    and
23        (o)  Otherwise  intentionally  violate  any  provision of
24    this Act; and.
25        (p)  Use  any  words,  abbreviations,  figures,  letters,
26    title, sign, card, or device tending to imply that he or  she
27    is  an  advanced  practice  nurse,  including  the  titles or
28    initials, "Advanced Practice  Registered  Nurse",  "Certified
29    Nurse  Midwife",  "Certified  Nurse Practitioner", "Certified
30    Registered Nurse Anesthetist", "Clinical  Nurse  Specialist",
31    "A.P.R.N.",  "C.N.M.",  "C.N.P.",  "C.R.N.A.",  "C.N.S.",  or
32    similar  titles  or  initials  with  intention  of indicating
33    practice  without  meeting  the  requirements  herein  as  an
34    advanced practice registered nurse.
                            -10-              LRB9001264LDdvA
 1        Any person, including a firm, association or  corporation
 2    who violates any provision of this Section shall be guilty of
 3    a Class A misdemeanor.
 4    (Source: P.A. 85-981.)
 5        (225 ILCS 65/7) (from Ch. 111, par. 3507)
 6        Sec.  7.  (a)  The  Director  shall appoint the Committee
 7    which shall be  composed  of  11  9  registered  professional
 8    nurses, 2 licensed practical nurses and one public member who
 9    shall be a non-voting member and who is not a licensed health
10    care  provider. Three registered nurses shall hold at least a
11    master's degree in nursing and be educators  in  professional
12    nursing  programs,  one  representing  baccalaureate  nursing
13    education,   one   representing   associate   degree  nursing
14    education,  and  one  representing  diploma  education;   one
15    registered nurse shall hold at least a bachelor's degree with
16    a major in nursing and be an educator in a licensed practical
17    nursing  program;  one registered nurse shall hold a master's
18    degree  in  nursing   and  shall  represent  nursing  service
19    administration; 2 registered nurses shall represent  clinical
20    nursing  practice, one of whom shall have at least a master's
21    degree in nursing; and 4 2 registered nurses shall  represent
22    advanced   practice  nursing,  with  one  nurse  representing
23    clinical nurse specialists, one nurse representing  certified
24    nurse   midwives,  one  nurse  representing  certified  nurse
25    practitioners,   and   one   nurse   representing   certified
26    registered nurse anesthetists  advanced  specialty  practice.
27    Each  of  the  11  nurses shall have had a minimum of 5 years
28    experience in nursing, three of which shall be  in  the  area
29    they  represent  on  the committee and be actively engaged in
30    the area of nursing they represent at the time of appointment
31    and during their tenure on the Committee.  Members  shall  be
32    appointed for a term of 3 years.  No member shall be eligible
33    for  appointment  to  more  than  2 consecutive terms and any
                            -11-              LRB9001264LDdvA
 1    appointment to fill a vacancy  shall  be  for  the  unexpired
 2    portion  of  the term.  In making Committee appointments, the
 3    Director  shall   give   consideration   to   recommendations
 4    submitted  by  nursing organizations.  Consideration shall be
 5    given to  equal  geographic  representation.   The  Committee
 6    shall  receive  actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
 7    performance of their duties.
 8        In making the initial appointments,  the  Director  shall
 9    appoint  all  new  members  for terms of 2, 3 and 4 years and
10    such terms  shall  be  staggered  as  follows:   3  shall  be
11    appointed  for  terms  of  2  years; 3 shall be appointed for
12    terms of 3 years, and 3 shall be appointed  for  terms  of  4
13    years.    However, such appointment shall be made in a manner
14    so that each member appointed prior to January 1, 1987, whose
15    current appointed term has not expired, will  be  allowed  to
16    serve out the remainder of his or her term.
17        The  Director  may remove any member of the committee for
18    misconduct, incapacity or  neglect  of  duty.   The  Director
19    shall reduce to writing any causes for removal.
20        The  Committee shall meet annually to elect a chairperson
21    and vice chairperson.  The  Committee  may  hold  such  other
22    meetings  during  the year as may be necessary to conduct its
23    business.   Six  voting  members  of  the   Committee   shall
24    constitute  a quorum at any meeting.  Any action taken by the
25    Committee must be on  the  affirmative  vote  of  6  members.
26    Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.
27        The  Committee  shall  submit  an  annual  report  to the
28    Director.
29        The members of the Committee shall be immune from suit in
30    any action based upon any disciplinary proceedings  or  other
31    acts performed in good faith as members of the Committee.
32        (b)  The Committee is authorized to:
33             (1)  recommend  the adoption and, from time to time,
34        the revision of such rules and regulations which  may  be
                            -12-              LRB9001264LDdvA
 1        necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act;
 2             (2)  conduct  hearings  and disciplinary conferences
 3        upon charges calling for  discipline  of  a  licensee  as
 4        provided in Section 25;
 5             (3)  report  to the Department, upon completion of a
 6        hearing, the disciplinary actions recommended to be taken
 7        against persons violating this Act;
 8             (4)  recommend the  approval,  denial  of  approval,
 9        withdrawal   of   approval,   or  discipline  of  nursing
10        education programs;
11             (5)  participate in a national organization of state
12        boards of nursing; and
13             (6)  recommend a list of the  registered  nurses  to
14        serve   as  nursing  coordinator  and  assistant  nursing
15        coordinator respectively.
16    (Source: P.A. 87-268.)
17        (225 ILCS 65/12) (from Ch. 111, par. 3512)
18        Sec. 12.  The Department  shall  issue  a  license  to  a
19    person  qualified  for licensure as a registered professional
20    nurse if that person:
21             (a)  has applied in writing in  form  and  substance
22        acceptable  to  the  Department  and has not violated the
23        provisions of Section 25 of this Act. The Department  may
24        take  into  consideration  any  felony  conviction of the
25        applicant, but such a conviction shall not operate as  an
26        absolute bar to licensure;
27             (b)  has  completed an approved professional nursing
28        education program of not less than 2 academic  years  and
29        has graduated from the program;
30             (c)  has  satisfactorily  completed  an  examination
31        authorized by the Department; and
32             (d)  has paid the required fees.
33        An applicant who received her or his nursing education in
                            -13-              LRB9001264LDdvA
 1    a  country  other  than  the United States or its territories
 2    shall be required to submit to the  Department  certification
 3    of  successful  completion  of the Commission of Graduates of
 4    Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)  Examination.   An  applicant
 5    who is unable to provide appropriate documentation to satisfy
 6    CGFNS  of her or his educational qualifications for the CGFNS
 7    examination shall be required to pass an examination to  test
 8    competency  in the English language which shall be prescribed
 9    by the Department, if  determined  by  the  Committee  to  be
10    educationally prepared in nursing.
11        An  applicant  licensed in another State or territory who
12    is applying  for  licensure  and  has  received  his  or  her
13    education  in  a  country other than the United States or its
14    territories shall be exempt from completion of the Commission
15    of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools  (CGFNS)  Examination
16    if the applicant meets all of the following requirements:
17             (1)  successful    passage    of   the   examination
18        authorized by the Department;
19             (2)  holds  an  active,  unencumbered   license   in
20        another state; and
21             (3)  has been actively practicing for a minimum of 2
22        years in the other state.
23        The  Committee  shall  make  appropriate inquiry into the
24    reasons for any adverse determination by CGFNS before  making
25    its own decision.
26        The  Department  shall  keep  a  separate  accounting  of
27    advance  practice  registered  nurses and their license shall
28    indicate "RN/APRN".
29    (Source: P.A. 88-218.)

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