March 23, 2020

            This article originated from Honor L. Ingels, Chief Policy/Communications Officer for the Alabama Board of Nursing, on March 20, 2020.

                                                 ALABAMA BOARD OF NURSING EMERGENCY RULE
                                                                                        §610-X-4-.19ER
                                                                            EFFECTIVE MARCH 20, 2020

At an emergency called meeting on March 20, 2020, the Alabama Board of Nursing adopted §610-X-4-.19ER, which addresses a number of licensing issues. The rule, which takes immediate effect, is intended to address barriers to patient care and staffing issues arising from the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States. A summary of the provisions of §610-X-4-.19ER follows:

• The fee for reactivation of a retired nursing license within two years of retirement is reduced from $600.00 to $250.00 for the duration of the public health emergency.

• CE requirements for reinstatement of a lapsed license or reactivation of a retired license are suspended for the duration of the public health emergency.

• Advanced practice nurses are granted a 15-day grace period from the date of expiration of national certification for the Board to receive primary source verification from the certifying agency, provided that the certification did not actually expire.

• All temporary permits with valid terms of fewer than 180 days are extended to 180 days.

• The rule establishes a delegation program, where nurses may delegate nursing tasks to individuals who are currently enrolled in an approved nursing education program and employed as unlicensed assistive personnel in licensed healthcare facilities, with specific limits.