Hawaii Administrative Rules
Title 16 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Chapter 89 - NURSES
Subchapter 18 - LICENSE ACTIVATION
Section 16-89-132 - Prerequisite for activation of inactive licenses

Universal Citation: HI Admin Rules 16-89-132

Current through August, 2024

(a) This section shall apply to a registered or a licensed practical nurse applying to activate the nurse's license which has been inactive for more than five years, and who has not practiced in the U.S. or a U.S. territory during that period, and is ordered by the board to verify continuing competency.

(b) The nurse shall be required to:

(1) Submit an application prescribed by the board with the required fee(s); and

(2) Retake and pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN, whichever is applicable; or

(3) Successfully complete a refresher course which must first be approved by the board. The course shall consist of at least sixty clock hours of didactic and sixty clock hours of clinical practice recognized by an approved provider and designed for the practical nurse or registered nurse who is returning to practice after more than five years absence from nursing practice. The nurse shall submit appropriate documentation to verify successful completion of the refresher course.

(c) The nurse shall not practice nursing, represent the nurse to be a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse currently licensed to actively practice nursing, verbally or in writing, or in any way imply that the nurse holds a current active license, until the nurse's license is activated by the board.

(d) The following units of measurement shall be used in calculating continuing education hours. Should the units of measurement change, the board shall note the change in its minutes until such time that its rules can be amended:

(1) 1 contact hour = 60 minutes of instruction;

(2) 1 contact hour = 60 minutes of clinical or laboratory practice in an informal offering or a minimum of fifty minutes of actual organized instruction;

(3) 1 continuing education unit (CEU) = 10 contact hours of instruction;

(4) 1 continuing medical education unit (CME) = 1 contact hour of instruction;

(5) Academic credit will be converted to contact hours as follows:
(A) One quarter academic credit equals 12.5 contact hours; or

(B) One semester academic credit equals 15 contact hours.

(6) Contact hour equivalencies shall be as follows:
(A) 1 continuing education unit = 10 contact hours.

(B) 1 continuing medical education credit = 60 minutes; or

(C) 1 American Medical Association credit = 60 minutes;

(e) The board may grant a waiver from activation requirements as provided in subsection (b) to a registered nurse or practical nurse if the nurse qualifies under one of the following and provides documents verifying that the nurse:

(1) Was enrolled full time in the past two or more years in a nursing program recognized by the board leading to an associate degree, diploma, baccalaureate, or masters degree in nursing science; or

(2) Was or is a U.S. government employee who worked or is working outside the U.S. as a practical nurse or registered nurse or is assigned to active military duty outside the United States as a nurse during the entire reporting period. The nurse shall submit evidence satisfactory to the board of nursing practice while in government service or active duty with the military.

(f) A waiver provides for an extension of time or exemption from some or all of the activation requirements. Any nurse who wishes to activate his or her inactive license may request an application for a waiver from the board. The board shall approve or deny an application for waiver after its review of a completed application and supporting documents as requested by the board. The board shall not grant a waiver from activation requirements for more than one biennium, unless there are unusual circumstances including, but not limited to, a national emergency.

(g) The board shall activate the inactive license to active status when the nurse has completed all requirements to the satisfaction of the board.

(h) If requested by the board, the nurse shall submit legible copies of documents which may include, but are not be limited to, certificates of completion of continuing education offerings, transcripts of courses taken, course descriptions, and the name, telephone number and mailing address of the nurse's employer to verify registered or practical nursing practice. The board may require the nurse to submit a job description to verify the nurse's employment in a nursing position which meets the board's requirements.

(i) If the nurse is required by the board to submit the required documents within a specific, time frame the board may grant an extension of time on a case-by-case basis in cases of hardship beyond the nurse's control. The nurse shall submit a written request for an extension of time and provides justification for the request.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Hawaii may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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