Cal. Code Regs. tit. 16 § 2516

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 45, November 8, 2024

Section 2516 - Eligibility for Licensure

Persons who desire to qualify for licensure under Section 2873 of the Code must meet the requirements of one of the following:

(a) Completion of a course in vocational or practical nursing in a school approved by another state, provided that the course completed is substantially equivalent to that prescribed by Section 2533 of this Chapter; or,

(b) Completion of the following experience and pharmacology course:

(1) Completion within the 10 years prior to the date of application of not less than 51 months of paid general duty inpatient bedside nursing experience in a clinical facility, at least half of which shall have been within five years prior to the date of application. Paid general duty inpatient bedside nursing experience is the performance of direct patient care functions provided throughout the patient's stay that encompass the breadth and depth of experience equivalent to that performed by the licensed vocational nurse.

(A) Such experience shall be verified by the employer showing specific dates of employment.

(B) The 51 months experience prescribed above shall include a minimum of each of the following:

48 months medical-surgical nursing;

6 weeks maternity or genitourinary nursing;

6 weeks pediatric nursing.

(C) Experience in any one or combination of the following areas may be substituted for a maximum of 8 months of medical-surgical experience:

1. Communicable Disease Nursing

2. Public Health Nursing

3. Occupational Health Nursing

4. Office Nursing (M.D.)

5. Psychiatric Nursing

6. Operating Room Nursing

7. Private Duty Nursing (performed in acute care facilities only)

8. Emergency Room Nursing

9. Out Patient Clinic

10. Post Anesthesia Recovery Nursing

11. Hemodialysis Nursing

12. Rehabilitation Nursing

13. Gerontological Nursing

14. Emergency Medical Technician service

(D) Applicants with formal nursing education may submit official transcripts for evaluation of possible credit in lieu of paid inpatient bedside nursing experience.

(E) Applicants reapplying on the basis of experience acquired subsequent to the date of the original application shall show that the qualifying experience has been completed within 10 years prior to the date of reapplication and that at least half of such experience has been within five years prior to the date of reapplication.

(2) The applicant must submit proof of completion of a course of at least 54 theory hours of pharmacology. The course shall include but not be limited to:

(A) Knowledge of commonly used drugs and their action

(B) Computation of dosages

(C) Preparation of medications

(D) Principles of administration

(3) Verification of work experience shall include certification from the R.N. director or supervisor that the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated the following knowledge and skills:

(A) Basic Bedside Nursing

1. Ambulation techniques

2. Bedmaking

3. Urinary Catheter care

4. Collection of specimens

5. Diabetic testing

6. Administration of a cleansing enema

7. Feeding patient

8. Hot and cold applications

9. Intake and Output

10. Personal hygiene and comfort measures

11. Positioning and transfer

12. Range of motion

13. Skin care

14. Vital signs

15. Communication skills, both verbal and written, including communication with patients who have psychological disorders

(B) Infection control procedures (may be demonstrated in classroom, lab, and/or patient care settings.)

1. Asepsis

2. Techniques for strict, contact, respiratory, enteric, tuberculosis, drainage, universal and immunosuppressed patient isolation.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 2516

1. New subsection (d) filed 12-23-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No. 52). For prior history, see Register 75, No. 36.
2. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 10-7-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 41).
3. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 3-29-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 13).
4. Amendment of subsection (d)(2) filed 2-18-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 8).
5. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 4-22-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 17).
6. Amendment filed 11-16-83; effective upon filing pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.2(d) (Register 83, No. 47).
7. Amendment of subsection (b)(2) filed 4-8-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 15).
8. Amendment filed 7-24-96; operative 8-23-96 (Register 96, No. 30).
9. Amendment of subsection (c)(2) filed 11-20-97; operative 12-20-97 (Register 97, No. 47).
10. Amendment filed 5-4-2007; operative 6-3-2007 (Register 2007, No. 18).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending first paragraph and subsection (a) filed 7-23-2013 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2013, No. 30).

Note: Authority cited: Section 2854, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 2873, Business and Professions Code.