Sec. 20-90. Duties of board. (a) Said board may adopt a seal. The Commissioner
of Public Health, with advice and assistance from the board, and in consultation with
the State Board of Education, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions
of chapter 54, permitting and setting standards for courses for the training of practical
nurses to be offered in high schools and vocational schools for students who have not
yet acquired a high school diploma. Students who satisfactorily complete courses approved by said Board of Examiners for Nursing, with the consent of the Commissioner
of Public Health, as meeting such standards shall be given credit for each such course
toward the requirements for a practical nurse's license. All schools of nursing in this
state, except such schools accredited by the National League for Nursing or other professional accrediting association approved by the United States Department of Education
and recognized by the Commissioner of Public Health, and all schools for training licensed practical nurses and all hospitals connected to such schools that prepare persons
for examination under the provisions of this chapter, shall be visited periodically by a
representative of the Department of Public Health who shall be a registered nurse or a
person experienced in the field of nursing education. The board shall keep a list of all
nursing programs and all programs for training licensed practical nurses that are approved by it, with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, as maintaining
the standard for the education of nurses and the training of licensed practical nurses as
established by the commissioner. The board shall consult, where possible, with nationally recognized accrediting agencies when approving schools.
(b) Said board shall (1) hear and decide matters concerning suspension or revocation
of licensure, (2) adjudicate complaints filed against practitioners licensed under this
chapter and impose sanctions where appropriate.
(1949 Rev., S. 4426; 1953, S. 2215d; 1971, P.A. 472; P.A. 73-115, S. 1; P.A. 75-166, S. 3, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 73, 388,
610; P.A. 80-484, S. 30, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 23, 71; P.A. 90-13, S. 9; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58;
P.A. 03-252, S. 10.)
History: 1971 act added provisions re practical nurses' training in high schools and vocational schools; P.A. 73-115
required that list of approved nursing programs rather than of nursing schools be kept by board of examiners; P.A. 75-166
changed quorum from four to three members and number of members requesting special meetings from two to three and
added provision limiting voting privilege of licensed practical nurse members to matters pertaining to licensed practical
nurses; P.A. 77-614 replaced public works commissioner with commissioner of administrative services and, effective
January 1, 1979, deleted provisions re election of president and secretary/treasurer, re board's power to adopt bylaws and
regulations for its operation and re limitation on voting privileges of licensed practical nurse members, changed number
of members required for quorum and for calling special meeting to six and five, respectively, transferred power to make
regulations re nursing programs standards from board to health services commissioner, retaining board in advisory capacity
and required that nursing schools be visited yearly by health services department representative rather than by educational
director of board or registered nurse appointed by the board; P.A. 80-484 deleted provisions re number of members required
for quorum or calling of special meeting and re provision of meeting room by administrative services commissioner,
required commissioner's consent for approval of courses and programs by board, required board to consult with recognized
accrediting agencies and added Subsec. (b) re board's power to hear disciplinary matters and adjudicate complaints; P.A.
81-471 changed time for department of health services visits to nursing schools from once per year to "periodically"; P.A.
90-13 amended Subsec. (a) to except schools accredited by the National League for Nursing from requirement that health
services department representative visit nursing schools periodically; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner
of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993;
P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and
Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 03-252 made technical changes in Subsec. (a).
Sec. 20-91. Awards in aid of nursing education. Section 20-91 is repealed.
(1951, 1953, S. 2228d; 1959, P.A. 563, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 389, 610; P.A. 88-207, S. 6.)
Sec. 20-91a. Federal funds. The State Board of Examiners for Nursing is designated as the state agency to receive and administer federal funds which may become
available for nursing education.
(1959, P.A. 563, S. 2.)
Sec. 20-92. Examinations. The Department of Public Health, with the advice and
consent of the board shall prescribe examinations for applicants for licensure as registered nurses and licensed practical nurses under the provisions of this chapter, to determine their qualifications for the practice of nursing. Such examinations shall, at least
annually, be administered to applicants by the Department of Public Health under the
supervision of the board. Passing scores shall be established by the department with
the consent of the board. The department shall decide upon the qualifications of each
applicant and give notice of such decision within a reasonable time after such examination.
(1949 Rev., S. 4427; 1953, S. 2216d; P.A. 76-315, S. 1, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 390, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 28, 136; P.A. 80-484, S. 31, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 76-315 replaced provisions requiring examination of applicants at annual meeting or special meetings
and setting forth notice requirements with statement that such examinations take place "at least annually" and required
notice of decision on applications within "a reasonable time" rather than within two months of the examination; P.A. 77-614 required consent of health services commissioner for prescribed examination and transferred actual administration of
tests from board to health services department, retaining board's power to decide on applicant's qualification, effective
January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 made technical changes; P.A. 80-484 essentially transferred all powers re examination
and licensure to department, relegating board to advisory and supervisory role, substituted "licensure" for references to
registration or certification and added provision re establishment of passing scores; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of
health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced
Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public
Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-93. Qualifications for examination. Licensure. Fee. Any person who
shows to the satisfaction of the department that he or she holds a degree, diploma or
certificate from an accredited institution evidencing satisfactory completion of a nursing
program approved by said board with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health
shall be eligible for examination for licensure as a registered nurse upon payment of a
fee of ninety dollars, the subjects of which examination shall be determined by said
department with the advice and consent of the board. If such applicant passes such
examination said department shall issue to such applicant a license to practice nursing
in this state.
(1949 Rev., S. 4428; 1949, 1955, S. 2217d; 1957, P.A. 200, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 26; 1961, P.A. 241; June, 1971,
P.A. 8, S. 49; P.A. 73-115, S. 2; P.A. 76-315, S. 2, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 391, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 32, 176; P.A. 88-362, S.
20; P.A. 89-251, S. 83, 203; P.A. 90-13, S. 11; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-174, S. 8, 12; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1959 act increased fee from twenty to twenty-five dollars; 1961 act deleted requirement that applicant be
twenty years of age or over and specification that school give a twenty-eight-month course in a hospital; 1971 act raised
examination fee to thirty dollars; P.A. 73-115 substituted "nursing program" for "school of nursing"; P.A. 76-315 substituted
"holds a degree, diploma or certificate ..." for "is a graduate of"; P.A. 77-614 required consent of commissioner of health
services for determination of examination subjects, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 deleted requirement that applicant be "of good moral character", replaced references to certificates of registration with references to licenses and essentially transferred all powers and duties of board to health services department, retaining board's power to approve nursing
programs and granting board an advisory role in determination of subjects to be covered by examinations; P.A. 88-362
added Subsec. (b) re issuance of temporary permits; P.A. 89-251 increased fee from thirty dollars to ninety dollars; P.A.
90-13 changed the date in Subsec. (b) from September 30, 1990, to September 30, 1992; P.A. 93-381 replaced department
and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective
July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-174 deleted Subsec. (b) which had provided temporary permits for applicants licensed as registered
nurses in Ireland and the United Kingdom, effective June 6, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department
of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 19a-88 re annual renewal of licenses.
Sec. 20-94. Licensure without examination. Limited period for licensure without examination for advanced practice registered nurses. Temporary permit. (a)(1)
Any registered nurse who is licensed at the time of application in another state of the
United States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the
laws of the United States, which has licensure requirements that are substantially similar
to or higher than those of this state shall be eligible for licensure in this state and entitled
to a license without examination upon payment of a fee of ninety dollars. No license
shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary
action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint. The department shall
inform the board annually of the number of applications it receives for licenses under
this section.
(2) For the period from October 1, 2004, to one year after said date, any advanced
practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a whose license as a registered nurse pursuant to section 20-93 has become void pursuant to section 19a-88, shall
be eligible for licensure and entitled to a license without examination upon receipt of a
completed application form and payment of a fee of ninety dollars.
(b) The Department of Public Health may issue a temporary permit to an applicant
for licensure without examination or to an applicant previously licensed in Connecticut
whose license has become void pursuant to section 19a-88, upon receipt of a completed
application form, accompanied by the fee for licensure without examination, a copy of
a current license from another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or a
commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States, and a notarized
affidavit attesting that said license is valid and belongs to the person requesting notarization. Such temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty
calendar days and shall not be renewable. No temporary permit shall be issued under
this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending
or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(1949 Rev., S. 4429; 1949, 1955, S. 2218d; 1957, P.A. 200, S. 2; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 27; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 50; P.A.
73-115, S. 3; P.A. 80-484, S. 33, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 24, 71; P.A. 88-207, S. 1; P.A. 89-251, S. 84, 203; P.A. 93-381, S.
9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 04-221, S. 7.)
History: 1959 act increased fee from twenty to twenty-five dollars; 1971 act increased fee to thirty dollars; P.A. 73-115 replaced "school of nursing" with "nursing program"; P.A. 80-484 replaced board of examiners for nursing with
department of health services as licensing authority, replaced references to certification and certificates with references to
licensure and licensing, added prohibition against issuing license to applicant against whom disciplinary action is pending
or who is subject of unresolved complaint and required that board receive notification of number of applications annually;
P.A. 81-471 changed basis for licensure of nurses by endorsement from educational program in other state to level of
licensure requirements in other state; P.A. 88-207 added Subsec. (b) re temporary permits; P.A. 89-251 increased fee from
thirty dollars to ninety dollars; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and
addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and
Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 04-221 amended
Subsec. (a) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), amending Subdiv. (1) by replacing "licensed nurse registered
in another state or territory" with "registered nurse who is licensed at the time of application in another state of the United
States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States", and adding
Subdiv. (2) re limited period for licensure without examination for advanced practice registered nurses, and amended
Subsec. (b) by allowing temporary permit for applicant whose license was not renewed, making conforming change re
eligible jurisdictions, deleting provision re licensure requirements of another state or territory that are similar to or higher
than those of this state and adding prohibition re issuance of temporary permit in cases of pending disciplinary action or
unresolved complaint.
Sec. 20-94a. Licensure as advanced practice registered nurse. (a) The Department of Public Health may issue an advanced practice registered nurse license to a
person seeking to perform the activities described in subsection (b) of section 20-87a,
upon receipt of a fee of one hundred dollars, to an applicant who: (1) Maintains a license
as a registered nurse in this state, as provided by section 20-93 or 20-94; (2) holds and
maintains current certification as a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist or a
nurse anesthetist from one of the following national certifying bodies that certify nurses
in advanced practice: The American Nurses' Association, the Nurses' Association of
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Certification Corporation,
the National Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Associates or the American
Association of Nurse Anesthetists, their successors or other appropriate national certifying bodies approved by the Board of Examiners for Nursing; (3) has completed thirty
hours of education in pharmacology for advanced nursing practice; and (4) if first certified by one of the foregoing certifying bodies after December 31, 1994, holds a master's
degree in nursing or in a related field recognized for certification as either a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, or a nurse anesthetist by one of the foregoing certifying bodies. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom
professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(b) During the period commencing January 1, 1990, and ending January 1, 1992,
the Department of Public Health may in its discretion allow a registered nurse, who has
been practicing as an advanced practice registered nurse in a nurse practitioner role and
who is unable to obtain certification as a nurse practitioner by one of the national certifying bodies specified in subsection (a) of this section, to be licensed as an advanced
practice registered nurse provided the individual:
(1) Holds a current Connecticut license as a registered nurse pursuant to this chapter;
(2) Presents the department with documentation of the reasons one of such national
certifying bodies will not certify him as a nurse practitioner;
(3) Has been in active practice as a nurse practitioner for at least five years in a
facility licensed pursuant to section 19a-491;
(4) Provides the department with documentation of his preparation as a nurse practitioner;
(5) Provides the department with evidence of at least seventy-five contact hours,
or its equivalent, of continuing education related to his nurse practitioner specialty in
the preceding five calendar years;
(6) Has completed thirty hours of education in pharmacology for advanced nursing
practice;
(7) Has his employer provide the department with a description of his practice setting, job description, and a plan for supervision by a licensed physician;
(8) Notifies the department of each change of employment to a new setting where
he will function as an advanced practice registered nurse and will be exercising prescriptive and dispensing privileges.
(c) Any person who obtains a license pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall
be eligible to renew such license annually provided he presents the department with
evidence that he received at least fifteen contact hours, or its equivalent, eight hours of
which shall be in pharmacology, of continuing education related to his nurse practitioner
specialty in the preceding licensure year. If an individual licensed pursuant to subsection
(b) of this subsection becomes eligible at any time for certification as a nurse practitioner
by one of the national certifying bodies specified in subsection (a) of this section, the
individual shall apply for certification, and upon certification so notify the department,
and apply to be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse in accordance with
subsection (a) of this section.
(d) A person who has received a license pursuant to this section shall be known as
an "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse" and no other person shall assume such title
or use the letters or figures which indicate that the person using the same is a licensed
advanced practice registered nurse.
(P.A. 89-389, S. 3, 22; P.A. 91-106, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 99-168, S. 2; P.A.
00-135, S. 7, 21; P.A. 04-221, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 91-106 amended Subsec. (b) to extend until January 1, 1992, the department's discretion to license under
Subsec. (b) and to change the continuing education requirements of Subdiv. (5) to be seventy-five contact hours in the
preceding five years and amended Subsec. (c) to increase from eight to fifteen hours the continuing education requirements;
P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July
1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner
and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-168 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by requiring maintenance
of a registered nurse license rather than eligibility for licensure and amended Subsec. (a)(2) to include successor organizations or other appropriate national certifying bodies and to make a technical change; P.A. 00-135 amended Subsec. (a) by
making a technical change and changing "maintains a license" to "is eligible for a license" in Subdiv. (1), effective May
26, 2000; P.A. 04-221 amended Subsec. (a) by changing requirement in Subdiv. (1) from eligibility for a license to maintenance of a license.
Sec. 20-94b. Nurse anesthetists. Prescriptive authority. An advanced practice
registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a and maintaining current certification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists may prescribe, dispense and
administer drugs, including controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V. An advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a who does not maintain current certification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists may
prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs, including controlled substances in schedule
IV or V, except that such an advanced practice registered nurse may also prescribe
controlled substances in schedule II or III that are expressly specified in written collaborative agreements pursuant to subsection (b) of section 20-87a.
(P.A. 90-211, S. 21; P.A. 94-213, S. 5; P.A. 99-168, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 94-213 deleted reference to settings prescribed in Sec. 20-87a and regulations under Sec. 20-99a; (Revisor's note: In 1999 a reference to Sec. 10a-491 was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. 19a-491 to correct a clerical
error); P.A. 99-168 deleted prescription exception re inpatients in short-term hospitals and replaced language requiring
prescription order to be cosigned by a physician with reference to prescription of controlled substances specified in written
collaborative agreements.
Sec. 20-94c. Advanced practice registered nurses. Professional liability insurance required. (a) Each person licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse under
the provisions of section 20-94a who provides direct patient care services shall maintain
professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice. The amount of insurance that each such person shall carry as insurance or
indemnity against claims for injury or death for professional malpractice shall not be
less than five hundred thousand dollars for one person, per occurrence, with an aggregate
of not less than one million five hundred thousand dollars. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section
20-94a and maintaining current certification from the American Association of Nurse
Anesthetists who provides such services under the direction of a licensed physician.
(b) Each insurance company that issues professional liability insurance, as defined
in subdivisions (1), (6), (7), (8), (9) or (10) of subsection (b) of section 38a-393, shall
on and after January 1, 2000, render to the Commissioner of Public Health a true record
of the names and addresses, according to classification, of cancellations of and refusals
to renew professional liability insurance policies and the reasons for such cancellation
or refusal to renew said policies for the year ending on the thirty-first day of December
next preceding.
(P.A. 99-168, S. 6; P.A. 00-135, S. 12, 21.)
History: P.A. 00-135 amended Subsec. (a) by adding exception re certification from the American Association of Nurse
Anesthetists, effective May 26, 2000.
Sec. 20-95. Use of title "registered nurse". A graduate nurse who has received
such certificate of registration shall be known as a "registered nurse" and no other person
shall assume such title or use the abbreviation "R.N." or any other words, letters or
figures which indicate that the person using the same is a trained, certified, graduate or
registered nurse.
(1949 Rev., S. 4430.)
Sec. 20-96. Licensure as practical nurse. Examinations. Any person who holds
a certificate from a nursing program approved by said board with the consent of the
Commissioner of Public Health, which program consists of not less than twelve months'
instruction in the care of the sick as prescribed by said board, or its equivalent as determined by said board, shall be eligible for examination for licensure as a licensed practical
nurse upon payment of a fee of seventy-five dollars. Such examination shall include
such subjects as the department, with the advice and consent of the board, determines.
If such applicant passes such examination said department shall issue to such applicant
a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state.
(1949 Rev., S. 4431; 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 2219d; 1957, P.A. 200, S. 3; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 28; 1969, P.A. 140; June,
1971, P.A. 8, S. 51; 1972, P.A. 223, S. 3; P.A. 73-115, S. 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 392, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 34, 176; P.A. 89-251, S. 85, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1959 act increased fee from twenty to twenty-five dollars; 1969 act deleted requirement that applicant be at
least nineteen for eligibility to take examination; 1971 act raised examination fee from twenty-five to thirty dollars; 1972
act reduced fee to twenty-five dollars; P.A. 73-115 replaced references to approved institutions and courses with references
to nursing programs; P.A. 77-614 required consent of health services commissioner for subjects included in examination,
effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 deleted requirement that applicant be "of good moral character" and required
applicant to be "a currently practicing, competent practitioner", replaced references to certificates and registration with
references to licenses and licensure, transferred licensure powers from board of examiners to department of health services
and added provisions prohibiting issuance of license to persons involved in disciplinary action or unresolved complaint
and requiring annual notification of board of number of applications; P.A. 89-251 increased fee from twenty-five dollars
to seventy-five dollars; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and
addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and
Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-97. Licensure without examination. Temporary permit. (a) Any person
who is licensed at the time of application as a licensed practical nurse, or as a person
entitled to perform similar services under a different designation, in another state of the
United States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the
laws of the United States whose requirements for licensure in such capacity are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state, shall be eligible for licensure in this
state and entitled to a license without examination upon payment of a fee of seventy-five dollars. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom
professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint. The department shall inform the board annually of the number of applications it
receives for licenses under this section.
(b) The Department of Public Health may issue a temporary permit to an applicant
for licensure without examination or to an applicant previously licensed in Connecticut
whose license has become void pursuant to section 19a-88, upon receipt of a completed
application form, accompanied by the appropriate fee for licensure without examination,
a copy of a current license from another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States and a notarized
affidavit attesting that the license is valid and belongs to the person requesting notarization. Such temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty
calendar days and shall not be renewable. No temporary permit shall be issued under
this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending
or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(1949 Rev., S. 4432; 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 2221d; 1957, P.A. 200, S. 4; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 29; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S.
52; 1972, P.A. 223, S. 4; P.A. 80-484, S. 35, 176; P.A. 88-362, S. 17; P.A. 89-251, S. 86, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A.
95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 97-15, S. 3; P.A. 04-221, S. 9.)
History: 1959 act increased fee from twenty to twenty-five dollars; 1971 act raised fee to thirty dollars; 1972 act reduced
fee to twenty-five dollars; P.A. 80-484 required that certification requirements from other state be "substantially similar
to or higher than" those of this state rather than "equivalent to" them, required applicant to be currently practicing competent
practitioner, replaced "certification" and "certificate" with "licensure" and "license" and added provisions prohibiting
issuance of license to person involved in disciplinary action or unresolved complaint and requiring annual notification of
board of number of applications; P.A. 88-362 added Subsec. (b) re issuance of temporary permits; P.A. 89-251 increased
fee from twenty-five dollars to seventy-five dollars; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department
of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of
Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A.
97-15 deleted requirement in Subsec. (a) that applicant be currently practicing; P.A. 04-221 amended Subsec. (a) by
expanding eligible jurisdictions for licensure without examination and replacing provisions re certification with provisions
re licensure, and amended Subsec. (b) by allowing temporary permits for applicants who do not renew licenses, making
a conforming change re eligible jurisdictions and prohibiting issuance of temporary permits to applicants with pending
disciplinary actions or unresolved complaints.
Sec. 20-98. Use of title "practical nurse". A person who has received such a
certificate shall be known as a "licensed practical nurse" and no other person shall
assume such title, the title "practical nurse" or the title "trained attendant" or use the
abbreviations "L.P.N.", "P.N.", "T.A." or any other words, letters or figures which
indicate that the person using the same is a licensed practical nurse.
(1949 Rev., S. 4433; 1953, 1955, S. 2222d.)
Sec. 20-99. Improper professional conduct. Hearing. Appeal. Prohibited conduct. (a) The Board of Examiners for Nursing shall have jurisdiction to hear all charges
of conduct which fails to conform to the accepted standards of the nursing profession
brought against persons licensed to practice nursing. After holding a hearing in accordance with chapter 54 and the regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Public Health,
said board, if it finds such person to be guilty, may revoke or suspend his or her license
or take any of the actions set forth in section 19a-17. Witnesses and records may be
summoned before such hearings by the issuance of subpoenas under the board's seal. The
chairperson or presiding member may administer oaths. When any license is revoked or
suspended, notification of such action shall be sent to the Department of Public Health.
Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the board may appeal as provided in chapter
54. Such appeal shall have precedence over nonprivileged cases in respect to order
of trial.
(b) Conduct which fails to conform to the accepted standards of the nursing profession includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Fraud or material deception in
procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice nursing; (2) illegal conduct,
incompetence or negligence in carrying out usual nursing functions; (3) physical illness
or loss of motor skill, including but not limited to deterioration through the aging process;
(4) emotional disorder or mental illness; (5) abuse or excessive use of drugs, including
alcohol, narcotics or chemicals; (6) fraud or material deception in the course of professional services or activities; (7) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, patient or
other record pertaining to drugs, the results of which are detrimental to the health of a
patient; and (8) conviction of the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter by
any court of criminal jurisdiction. The Commissioner of Public Health may order a
license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical
or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said commissioner
may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order
or any action taken pursuant to section 19a-17.
(1949 Rev., S. 4434; 1955, S. 2223d; 1971, P.A. 870, S. 58; P.A. 76-315, S. 3, 6; 76-436, S. 420, 681; P.A. 77-614, S.
323, 393, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 35, 127; 78-303, S. 88, 136; P.A. 80-484, S. 36, 174, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 25, 71; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A.
96-47, S. 5.)
History: 1971 act replaced superior court with court of common pleas, effective September 1, 1971, except that courts
with cases pending retain jurisdiction unless pending matters deemed transferable; P.A. 76-315 deleted hearing notice
requirement, required that hearings be held in accordance with Ch. 54, added provisions re subpoena power and oaths,
replaced previous detailed appeal provisions with statement that appeals be taken as provided in Ch. 54 and added Subsec.
(c) defining unacceptable conduct; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference
to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of health with commissioner
and department of health services, required that hearings be held in accordance with regulations adopted by health services
commissioner, deleted requirement that subpoenas be signed by chief nursing examiner and deleted provision granting
appeals precedence in order of trial in Subsec. (a) and deleted proviso preventing license revocation or suspension during
appeal to higher court, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-280 and 78-303 restored provision re precedence in order of trial
in Subsec. (a); P.A. 80-484 replaced "censure or otherwise discipline ..." with "take any of the actions set forth in section
19-4s" and "president" with "chairperson" in Subsec. (a) and revised grounds for disciplinary action in Subsec. (b) to
replace "deceit" with "material deception" in Subdiv. (1), to add illegal conduct in Subdiv. (2) and delete "habitual" with
reference to negligence and to replace conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude with fraud or material deception
and added provisions re physical and mental examinations and re petitions to court for enforcement of order or action;
P.A. 81-471 deleted reference to "certificate" in Subsec. (b); P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New
Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A.
88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from
September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner
of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A.
95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995;
P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and
Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-47 allowed appeal from "a final decision" rather than from
"a finding".
Cited. 177 C. 78, 80, 85, 87, 88, 90, 92.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 177 C. 78, 87.
Cited. 42 CS 376, 408, 410.
Subsec. (b):
"Unprofessional conduct" determined by standards accepted by those practicing same profession in same territory. 177
C. 78, 87, 88. Subdiv. (5) cited. Id., 78, 87.
Cited. 42 CS 376, 410.
Sec. 20-99a. Regulations. The Department of Public Health shall, with the advice
and assistance of the board, adopt regulations necessary for the implementation of this
chapter.
(P.A. 89-389, S. 6, 22; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with
Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-100. Notice to Department of Health Services. Section 20-100 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4436; 1953, S. 2225d; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)
Sec. 20-101. Construction of chapter. Permitted practices. Temporary practice. No provision of this chapter shall confer any authority to practice medicine or
surgery nor shall this chapter prohibit any person from the domestic administration of
family remedies or the furnishing of assistance in the case of an emergency; nor shall
it be construed as prohibiting persons employed in state hospitals and state sanatoriums
and subsidiary workers in general hospitals from assisting in the nursing care of patients
if adequate medical and nursing supervision is provided; nor shall it be construed as
prohibiting students who are enrolled in schools of nursing approved pursuant to section
20-90, and students who are enrolled in schools for licensed practical nurses approved
pursuant to section 20-90, from performing such work as is incidental to their respective
courses of study; nor shall it prohibit graduates of schools of nursing or schools for
licensed practical nurses approved pursuant to section 20-90, from nursing the sick for
a period not to exceed ninety calendar days after the date of graduation, provided such
graduate nurses are working in hospitals or organizations where adequate supervision
is provided, and such hospital or other organization has verified that the graduate nurse
has successfully completed a nursing program. Upon notification that the graduate nurse
has failed the licensure examination, all privileges under this section shall automatically
cease. No provision of this chapter shall prohibit any registered nurse who has been
issued a temporary permit by the department, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 20-94, from caring for the sick pending the issuance of a license without examination; nor
shall it prohibit any licensed practical nurse who has been issued a temporary permit
by the department, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 20-97, from caring for the sick
pending the issuance of a license without examination; nor shall it prohibit any qualified
registered nurse or any qualified licensed practical nurse of another state from caring
for a patient temporarily in this state, provided such nurse has been granted a temporary
permit from said department and provided such nurse shall not represent or hold himself
or herself out as a nurse licensed to practice in this state; nor shall it prohibit registered
nurses or licensed practical nurses from other states from doing such nursing as is incident to their course of study when taking postgraduate courses in this state; nor shall it
prohibit nursing or care of the sick, with or without compensation or personal profit, in
connection with the practice of the religious tenets of any church by adherents thereof,
provided such persons shall not otherwise engage in the practice of nursing within the
meaning of this chapter. This chapter shall not prohibit the care of persons in their homes
by domestic servants, housekeepers, nursemaids, companions, attendants or household
aides of any type, whether employed regularly or because of an emergency of illness,
if such persons are not initially employed in a nursing capacity.
(1949 Rev., S. 4437; 1953, S. 2226d; 1957, P.A. 280, S. 1; P.A. 76-315, S. 4, 6; P.A. 80-484, S. 37, 176; P.A. 81-471,
S. 26, 71; P.A. 85-46, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-207, S. 2; 88-362, S. 18, 22; P.A. 89-350, S. 20, 21; P.A. 90-13, S. 10; P.A. 04-221,
S. 10.)
History: P.A. 76-315 stated that chapter shall not prevent nursing graduates from performance of duties pending examination results from other states; P.A. 80-484 required consent of health services commissioner for approval of postgraduate
courses; P.A. 81-471 changed "certification" to "licensure" and provided that temporary permits are obtained from department instead of board; P.A. 85-46 deleted the requirement that postgraduate courses be approved by the nursing board
with the consent of the commissioner of health services; P.A. 88-207 stated that chapter shall not prohibit any licensed
nurse registered in another state or territory who has been issued a temporary permit from caring for the sick pending the
issuance of a license without examination and made technical changes by removing references to examinations scheduled
by the board in two places; P.A. 88-362 added the exceptions for licensed practical nurses who have been issued temporary
permits; P.A. 89-350 added "nursing homes" as a place graduates of licensed practical nursing programs may work pending
the results of the first examination scheduled following their graduation; P.A. 90-13 substituted references to nursing schools
"approved pursuant to section 20-90" for references to "accredited" nursing schools; P.A. 04-221 included graduates of
schools for licensed practical nurses, limited practice of nursing school graduates to ninety days after graduation and
required hospital verification of such graduation, and provided that no nursing practice be allowed if examination is failed.
Sec. 20-101a. Determination and pronouncement of death by registered
nurse. Regulations. (a) A registered nurse, licensed under this chapter, in charge in a
hospice or nursing home facility as defined in section 19a-521, or a registered nurse,
licensed under this chapter or a registered nurse employed by a home health care agency
licensed by the state of Connecticut, in a home or residence may make the actual determination and pronouncement of death of a patient provided that the following conditions
are satisfied: (1) The death is an anticipated death; (2) the registered nurse attests to
such pronouncement on the certificate of death; and (3) the registered nurse, an advanced
practice registered nurse licensed under this chapter, or a physician licensed under chapter 370 certifies the death and signs the certificate of death no later than twenty-four
hours after the pronouncement.
(b) The Department of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with
the provisions of chapter 54, to establish the procedures for the implementation of this
section.
(P.A. 87-354, S. 1; P.A. 93-3, S. 1, 2; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 04-255, S. 23.)
History: P.A. 93-3 deleted requirement that presence of contagious disease be listed on birth certificate, effective March
24, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with
Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 04-255 amended Subsec. (a) by allowing a
registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse to certify death and sign certificate and by making technical changes,
and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision re department notification of persons affected by implementation of regulations.
Sec. 20-101b. Construction. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting
or prohibiting a registered nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse from engaging
in those activities which constitute the practice of nursing.
(P.A. 89-389, S. 18, 22.)
Sec. 20-101c. Prescription forms used by advanced practice registered nurses
and nurse-midwives. All prescription forms used by advanced practice registered
nurses and nurse-midwives shall contain the name, address and telephone number of
the advanced practice registered nurse or the nurse-midwife. The form may also contain
the name of the collaborating physician.
(P.A. 89-389, S. 21, 22; P.A. 99-168, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 99-168 deleted reference to prescribing under the "direction" of a physician, deleted reference to clinical
practice relationship of the nurse-midwife and added provision allowing form to contain the name of the collaborating
physician.
Sec. 20-102. Penalty. No person shall, for remuneration, practice nursing as defined in subsection (a) of section 20-87a, in this state unless such person has received
a certificate as a registered nurse or a license as an advanced practice registered nurse
and no person shall practice advanced nursing practice as defined in subsection (b) of
said section unless such person has received a license as an advanced practice registered
nurse and no person shall, for remuneration, practice nursing as defined in subsection
(c) of said section unless such person has been certified as a licensed practical nurse or
a registered nurse or licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse. Any person who
violates any provision of this chapter or who wilfully makes false representation to the
Board of Examiners for Nursing shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or
imprisoned for not more than five years or both. Said board shall cause to be presented
to the prosecuting officer having jurisdiction evidence of any violation of any such
provision. For purposes of this section each instance of patient contact or consultation
which is in violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
Failure to renew a license in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation for the
purposes of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 4438; 1949, S. 2227d; 1957, P.A. 280, S. 2; P.A. 75-166, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 394, 610; P.A. 84-526,
S. 8; P.A. 89-389, S. 5, 22.)
History: P.A. 75-166 replaced "subdivision (b) of section 20-87" with "subsection (a) of section 20-87a"; P.A. 77-614
deleted clause allowing board to incur any necessary expenses, payable from receipts, in performing duty re evidence of
violations, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 84-526 amended section by changing penalty for violation of any provision of
chapter to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment of not more than five years, and added provisions
that each instance of patient contact or consultation shall constitute a separate offense and failure to renew license in timely
manner is not a violation for purposes of section; P.A. 89-389 added the language on advanced practice registered nurses.