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Nursing Commission Information
Commission Members
Committee
Description & Duties
Qualifications
Total Annual Time
Commitment
Commissioner
Participation Expectation Guidelines
Nursing Commission Web Address
Relevant Statutes
Relevant Rules
Performance Guidelines for Newly Appointed
Commissioners
Commission Member Application
Committee Description &
Duties
Description:
The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission
(NCQAC) protects the public?s health and safety by
regulating the competency and quality of licensed practical
nurses, registered nurses, advanced registered nurse
practitioners and nursing technicians. The purpose of the
NCQAC includes establishing, monitoring and enforcing
licensing, consistent standards of practice, continuing
competency mechanisms, and discipline.
Duties:
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Establish qualifications for minimal
competency to grant or deny licensure of Registered Nurses,
Practical Nurses, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners
and Nursing Technicians.
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Ensure consistent standards of practice:
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Develop continuing competency standards
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Develop rules, policies and procedures to
promote quality health care for the residents of the state
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Investigate complaints against nurses
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Serve as a reviewing member on disciplinary
cases
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Serve as a member of disciplinary hearing
panels
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Revoke, suspend, restrict specific practice
or place probationary conditions on nursing licenses.
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Approve curricula and establish criteria for
nursing schools, both new and existing.
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Approve Nursing Assistant education training
programs per
RCW 18.88A.060.
Qualifications:
NCQAC is 15 Governor appointed members:
three public members, two advanced registered nurse
practitioners, three LPNs and seven RNs. All members must be
citizens of the United States and residents of Washington.
Nursing members must have been licensed to practice nursing
in Washington with at least three years of experience.
Public member representatives may not:
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Establish be a member of any other health
care licensing board or commission.
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Have a fiduciary obligation to a facility
rendering health care services.
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Have a financial interest in the rendering
of health services.
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Total
Annual Time Commitment:
|
Meetings/Conferences |
8 to 9 days per year |
|
Meeting Preparation |
1 to 2 hours per meeting (or
the equivalent of approvimately 1 day per year) |
|
Complaint File Review |
2 to 3 hours per month
(approximately 24 hours per year) |
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Case Disposition Panels |
2 hours per month |
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Hearing Panels |
2 to 4 days per year |
|
Sub-committee meetings |
1 to 2 hours per meeting |
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Commissioner Participation
Expectation Guidelines:
The guidelines serve as a reference for
current members and prospective appointees of NCQAC:
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Attend regular NCQAC meetings, scheduled for one day during
business hours on the second Friday in January, March, May,
July, September and November. NCQAC establishes its meeting
schedule at their July meeting. The typical time commitment
ranges between 8 - 9 days per year which also includes a
twice annual NCQAC workshop, and the Department of Health
one-day Board, Commission, Committee conference. See
attached schedule of business meetings, hearings,
sub-committees and charging panels.
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Participate in monthly conference calls for disciplinary
decisions and hearings. NCQAC members review investigative
files preparing for presentation to a panel for disciplinary
decisions. Panels may meet with short advance notice in
order to respond to emergent situations to protect the
public. NCQAC schedules hearings separately from regular
meetings because of the number of cases needing to be heard.
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Participate on
Nursing Program Approval Panels reviewing nursing program
educational standards and school surveys. Monthly meetings
by conference call.
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Participate on standing
committees.
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The
Licensing/Disciplinary Sub Committee meets every 4
weeks, usually by conference call.
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The
Continuing Competency Mechanisms Sub Committee meets
every 4 weeks, usually by conference call.
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Prepare for all
meetings by reading materials one to two weeks in advance of
the scheduled meeting date. The packets take about one hour
to read prior to each business meeting.
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Act as a mentor for newly appointed NCQAC
members
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Nursing Commission Web Address:
The address
for the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance
Commission is:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/Professions/Nursing/default.htm
Relevant Statutes:
The statute establishing NCQAC is RCW 18.79.110 Commission
-- Duties and powers ? Rules ? Successor to boards.
This statute may be found at:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.79.010.
Chapter 18.79 RCW (Nursing Care) may be found at:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.79.
Relevant Rules:
Rules related to nursing are found in chapter 246-840 WAC
"Nursing Care and Regulation of Health Professions". These
rules may be found at:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-840.
Performance Guidelines-Newly
Appointed Commissioners
Attend an orientation presented by Nursing Commission Unit
staff. the outlining program development, issues discussed
in past NCQAC business or committee meetings, and the
organizational relationship and responsibilities of NCQAC
and the Department of Health. This is approximately one full
day. Initial orientation outlines
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History of NCQAC. -
Legal authority of NCQAC. -
Roles and responsibilities of NCQAC
members. -
Ethics and confidentiality. -
Legal liability of NCQAC members and the
Department of Health. -
Organizational structure of the
Department of Health. -
Roles and responsibilities of Department
of Health staff. -
Roles and responsibilities of staff
attorneys and Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs),
disciplinary processes. -
Rule-making and other issues. -
Position descriptions of officers and
sub-committees.
Estimated time commitment during the
first 6 months is between two and four days per month.
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Current Meeting Schedule:
Application:
NCQAC members are appointed by the Governor.
If you are interested in applying for a position on NCQAC,
please visit the Governor?s website to obtain an
application:
http://www.governor.wa.gov/boards/application/application.asp
To apply, please submit a cover letter
addressed to the Governor. Include a current resume and your
application. Send your completed application packet to the
address listed on the application.
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