Wyoming Administrative Code
Agency 054 - Nursing, Board of
Sub-Agency 0002 - General
Chapter 2 - LICENSURE / CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Section 2-2 - Definitions

(a) "Active nursing practice" means engagement in paid, unpaid, or volunteer activity in which the nurse applies knowledge or clinical judgment in a way that influences patients, nurses, organizations or systems. Active nursing practice may include volunteering in health or nursing professional organizations.

(b) "CBC" means Criminal Background Check. Fingerprints or other biometric data are submitted in connection with an application for initial licensure by exam or endorsement, for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible for retaining the State's criminal records.

(c) "Continuing competency" for a nurse is the ongoing ability of a nurse to maintain, update and demonstrate sufficient knowledge, skills, judgment and qualifications necessary to practice safely and ethically in a designated role and setting in accordance with the scope of nursing practice. A nurse achieves continuing competency through active nursing practice and continuing education.

(d) "Continuing competency" for a CNA is the ongoing ability of a CNA to maintain, update and demonstrate sufficient knowledge, skills and qualifications necessary to practice safely and ethically in the designated role and setting in accordance with the role of the CNA. A CNA achieves continuing competency through employment in the CNA role and continuing education.

(e) "Continuing education" refers to learning experiences obtained after initial licensure or certification and designed to augment the knowledge and skills of nurses and CNAs and enrich their contributions to quality health care and the pursuit of nursing career goals.

(f) "Equivalent" means equal to or exceeding the requirements as stated in these Board rules.

(g) "GAPRN" means Graduate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

(h) "GN" means Graduate Nurse.

(i) "GNA" means Graduate Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide.

(j) "GPN" means Graduate Practical Nurse.

(k) "GVN" means Graduate Vocational Nurse.

(l) "Home state" means the party state which is the nurse's primary state of residence.

(m) "IV" means intravenous.

(n) "IV-C" means intravenous certified.

(o) "Multistate license" means a license to practice as a RN or LPN/VN issued by a home state licensing board that authorizes the licensed nurse to practice in all party states under a privilege to practice.

(p) "NATCEP" means Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program.

(q) "NLC" means the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact enacted on March 1, 2016. The NLC is a mutual recognition model of nurse licensure that allows a nurse to have one license, issued by the state in which the nurse claims primary residence, to practice in all states entered into the NLC. An applicant must meet all of the NLC Uniform Licensure Requirements to be eligible for a multistate license.

(r) "Party state" means any state that has adopted the NLC.

(s) "Primary state of residence" means the state in which the licensee resides when applying for a multistate license.

(t) "Privilege to practice" means a legal authorization associated with a multistate license permitting the practice of nursing as either a RN or LPN/VN in a remote state.

(u) "Refresher course" means a planned nursing education program approved by the Board relating to basic review of current nursing practice, nursing theory and skills, and specifically planned for nurses who have not been engaged in active nursing practice and are preparing for re-entry into active nursing practice.

(v) "Remote state" means a party state, other than the home state.

(w) "Renewal cycle" means the period for meeting competency for renewal of licensure or certification which is from January 1st of every odd year to December 31st of every even year.

(x) "Single state license" means a nursing license issued by a party state that authorizes practice only within the issuing state and does not include a multistate licensure privilege to practice in any other party state.

(y) "SBTPE" means State Board Test Pool Examination. An examination which preceded NCLEX to test the competency of a person to perform safely as a newly licensed nurse.

(z) "Uniform Licensure Requirements" means the requirements for an applicant to obtain or retain a multistate license in the home state.