§ 1574. Powers and duties
(a) In addition to the powers granted by 3 V.S.A. § 129, the Board shall:
(1) Hold annual meetings at which it shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary
from its members; and hold such other meetings as may be deemed necessary to transact
its business.
(2) Adopt rules necessary to perform its duties under this chapter.
(3) Adopt rules setting standards for approval of medication nursing assistant and nursing
education programs in Vermont, including all clinical facilities. The Board may require
reimbursement for actual and necessary costs incurred for site surveys.
(A) After an opportunity for a hearing, the Board may deny or withdraw approval or take
lesser action when a program fails to meet the rules requirements.
(B) The Board may reinstate a program whose approval has been denied or withdrawn when
the Board is satisfied that deficiencies have been remedied and the requirements have
been met.
(C) Standards for nursing education programs and clinical facilities shall:
(i) rely upon the standards of recognized national accrediting bodies without duplicating
the function of those bodies;
(ii) call for the annual reporting of data, including graduation rates and examination
pass rates, appropriate to verify that programs are capable of meeting national standards
and sustaining responsible operation in the interests of the public; and
(iii) be waivable by the Director of Professional Regulation if the Director finds that
a program has exhausted reasonable efforts to comply and that such waiver will not
compromise a program’s educational integrity.
(4) [Repealed.]
(5) Adopt rules setting standards required for licensure as a nursing assistant, practical
nurse, registered nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse, and for endorsement
of those nurses in special areas of nursing practice that require additional education
and experience.
(6) Examine, license, and renew the licenses of duly qualified applicants and keep a record
of all persons currently licensed as nursing assistants, practical nurses, registered
nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses.
(7) Adopt rules setting continued competency and ongoing practice requirements for licensure
and renewal.
(8) Adopt rules for and approve education programs for the benefit of nurses who are reentering
practice following a lapse of five or more years.
(9) Investigate complaints of unauthorized practice or unprofessional conduct or incompetency
against any person and take proper action under section 1582 or 1584 of this chapter,
as the case may be.
(10) Adopt rules establishing a program to serve as an alternative to the disciplinary
process for nurses and nursing assistants with chemical dependencies or other professional
practice issues as designated by the Board.
(b) In consultation with the Board, the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation
may employ an Executive Director of the Board and contract for such persons as may
be necessary to carry out the work of the Board. (Added 1979, No. 192 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1993, No. 201 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2007, No. 29, § 25; 2009, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2015, No. 38, § 7, eff. May 28, 2015; 2019, No. 30, § 11; 2019, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. Oct. 1, 2020; 2023, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. June 6, 2024.)