Summer 2006 Bulletin

Starting with the September, 2006 licensure renewals, you will no longer receive the usual wallet card ("license") that you are accustomed to receiving. Instead you will receive a ONE TIME certificate indicating that you have been approved for licensure in Maine as a registered professional nurse or as a licensed practical nurse. The certificate will have your name, license number and the date of initial approval. There will NOT be a date of expiration on your certificate. The current status of your license (whether active, inactive, lapsed, suspended, etc.) is available online at the Board's website: http://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing . The web site will also show the date your license expires; i.e. how long the license is "good for". You will also be provided with a smaller personal card that you may carry with you if you so choose. If there is a name change, you will NOT be issued another certificate or card.

The conversion from receiving the usual wallet card every two years upon renewal to the certificate and small personal card will take a period of two years. Once you receive the certificate and small card from the Board, you will no longer receive paper wallet cards every two years. However, you WILL receive notice that your license is due for renewal just as you do now. The difference will be that you will NOT receive a separate piece of paper since you will then have your certificate and small card and the website will be updated to reflect your license renewal. For employers to verify the status of the license, employers will go online (just as they do now).

We will continue to use our first class postcards as notice that it is time to renew your license. The postcard reminder will continue to be mailed two months prior to your birth month. For example, if your birth month is September, the postcard is mailed the end of July. If your birth month is October, the postcards are mailed the end of August.

You may ALWAYS renew online within 60 days of your birthdate in the year that you are due to renew. Unless you are one of the lucky people who can always remember whether your license is due in an even numbered year such as 2006 or an odd numbered year, it is a good practice to check your nursing license status EVERY year on your birthday to make sure that the license does not lapse. This is particularly a good habit in case you forget to notify the Board that you have moved, and the post office is no longer forwarding your mail.

Since we have offered our online license renewal service, we are pleased to report that 80-90% of you are renewing online and appreciate being able to do so.

For your reference, two of the articles describing the nature of the paperless system are included again in this edition of the Board's Bulletin

The Art of Licensing.........and Going Paperless in the 21st Century

(REPRINTED from April, 2004 Bulletin)

Webster's Dictionary defines license as the official or legal permission to do or own a specified thing. It is also proof of the permission granted. When an individual chooses to practice the profession of nursing, there are certain requirements that must be met in order to safeguard the life and health of the people of Maine. "The State Board of Nursing is the state regulatory agency charged with protection of the public health and welfare in the area of nursing service. In order to safeguard the life and health of the people in this State, an individual who for compensation practices or offers to practice professional nursing or practical nursing in this State shall submit evidence that the individual is qualified so to practice and that individual must be licensed." (The Law Regulating the Practice of Nursing, 32 M.R.S.A. § 2101.)

To be licensed means that the individual has met the requirements in order to be able to practice nursing. The nurse, thus, has the legal and official permission necessary to practice. Licensure for registered professional nurses (RNs) became mandatory in Maine in 1959, and licensure for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) became mandatory in Maine in 1969.
How could a person know if an individual was in fact licensed to practice as a nurse?

In order to show evidence that a nurse was licensed (in other words, had the official and legal permission to practice), that individual was awarded a wallet card (often referred to as 'the license') to demonstrate that in fact, the Board of Nursing had indeed reviewed the evidence the person submitted upon application and determined that requirements had been met. This wallet card served as the proof that permission had been granted to practice as a nurse.

In May, 2002, the Board of Nursing established on its website a mechanism for the public to ascertain whether or not an individual was licensed as a registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse or was approved as an advanced practice registered nurse (and in what category). This serves as evidence that the person has permission to practice and reveals the current status of that permission (such as whether it is active, lapsed, suspended, inactive, revoked). Since that time there have been nearly 100,000 "hits" on the verification of licensure feature.

The Board determined that when it procured a new licensing system consistent with technology, it would go to a "paperless proof of licensure" system. That day has come! We have contracted for a new system and are in the process of software development and conversion. What this means in practical terms is that an individual will be awarded an official document upon initial licensure in Maine and then upon renewal, simply have that proof of permission to practice (the 'license') posted on the Board's website. Wallet cards will no longer be needed and will no longer be issued.

These are exciting times for Maine nurses as we turn a corner in history. This revolution in the "way we do things" is likely to occur as early as October 1, 2004. There are many advantages to going paperless: the status of a license may be verified at any time anywhere on line; there is no loss of a wallet card either through theft, misplacement, or destruction; identity theft is minimized.

Look for more information in a future Bulletin as we march boldly toward this new day in nursing regulation history.

More on Going Forward with Paperless Licensure

(REPRINTED from December, 2004 Bulletin)

After the featured article in the Board's April/May 2004 Bulletin, The Art of Licensing and Going Paperless in the 21st Century, the Board received many positive kudos and one letter expressing concern and asking that the "Board not take away the license." The Board has no intention of removing the requirement and process for licensure. What the Board intends is simply to go paperless. The evidence of the licensure will be found on the web site. Since the publication of the April/May Bulletin, the State of Texas has also begun the paperless initiative.

When an individual decides to practice nursing, there are certain requirements to be met in order to safeguard the life and health of the people in Maine. Individuals who for compensation, practice or offer to practice professional or practical nursing in Maine must provide evidence that they are qualified to practice and be licensed.

How can a person know if an individual is in fact licensed to practice as a nurse? In order to show that a nurse is licensed, an individual is provided a wallet card or wall certificate indicating that the Maine State Board of Nursing has reviewed the evidence the person submitted upon application and determined that nurse licensure requirements were met. This card or certificate serves as the proof that permission has been granted to practice as a nurse.

In May, 2002, the Board of Nursing established on its website (www.maine.gov/boardofnursing ) a mechanism for the public to determine if an individual is licensed as a registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse or approved as an advanced practice registered nurse (and in what category). This serves as evidence that the person has permission to practice and reveals the current status of that permission (such as whether the license is active, lapsed, inactive, suspended, revoked). Since that time there have been more than "hits" on the verification of licensure feature.

Verification of licensure should include multiple steps to determine the identity and licensure status of a nurse. These include viewing a government photo identification card or driver's license or other verifiable form of identification and verifying licensure status through the Board's web site - license verification feature. The Board's goal is to move to a paperless proof of licensure system. What this means in practical terms is that an individual will receive an official document upon initial licensure in Maine and then upon renewal, simply have that proof of permission to practice posted on the Board's web site. Wallet cards will no longer be need and will no longer be issued.

These are exciting times. This revolution will take place in the near future. Many advantages exist to going paperless: the status of a license may be verified at any time anywhere online; there is no loss of a wallet card either through theft, loss, destruction or misplacement. Identity theft is minimized. Also, since the board updates discipline information routinely, the public, particularly employers, would be able to access public protection information in a more efficient manner.


Disciplinary Action

Licensees fined from 10/01/05 - 06/30/06 for practicing during lapsed license status: 80

Complaints Dismissed from 10/01/05 - 06/30/06: 83

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)

The Law Regulating the Practice of Nursing 32 MRSA, Section 2102, C. and D. authorizes registered professional nurses to delegate to licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants. APRNs are registered professional nurses with the authority to practice in an advanced practice category.

APRNs that are employed in physician office practices are not authorized to delegate to medical assistants, although they do coordinate and oversee the care provided by the medical assistant. Medical Assistants work under the delegation of the physician or surgeon when the activities are under their control and when they are present on the premises at the time the activities are performed. Information regarding the governing statutes of the Board of Licensure in Medicine, specifically MRSA 32, Chapter 48, Section 3270-A. Assistants is available at
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/32/title32sec3270-A.html