Board of Registration in Nursing

Module: Module: Competence: A Legal Competence: A Legal

Requirement to Licensed Requirement to Licensed Nursing PracticeNursing Practice

CompetenceCompetence

244 CMR 9.02244 CMR 9.02, defines Competence as:, defines Competence as:

““The application of knowledge and the The application of knowledge and the use of affective, cognitive, and use of affective, cognitive, and

psychomotor skills required for the psychomotor skills required for the role of a nurse licensed by the Board role of a nurse licensed by the Board and for the delivery of safe nursing and for the delivery of safe nursing care in accordance with accepted care in accordance with accepted

standards of practice.”standards of practice.”

CompetenceCompetence

Involves Responsibility:Involves Responsibility:ResponsibleResponsible to self, patient, employer, to self, patient, employer, profession (for example, following profession (for example, following policies and procedures)policies and procedures)

and Accountability:and Accountability:Accountable Accountable to the Board, employer, to the Board, employer, profession (i.e. adhering to the profession (i.e. adhering to the regulations)regulations)

Continued CompetenceContinued Competence

The application of knowledge and the The application of knowledge and the

interpersonal, decision-making, and interpersonal, decision-making, and

psychomotor skill expected for nurse’s psychomotor skill expected for nurse’s

practice role, within the context of practice role, within the context of public public

health, welfare and safety.health, welfare and safety.

Ref: Ref: National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 1996National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 1996

244 CMR 5.00: 244 CMR 5.00: Continuing EducationContinuing Education

Consists of planned, organized learning Consists of planned, organized learning

experiences designed to augment the experiences designed to augment the

knowledge, skills, attitudes for the knowledge, skills, attitudes for the

enhancement of nursing practice, to the enhancement of nursing practice, to the

end of improving health care to the end of improving health care to the

public.public.

Continuing EducationContinuing Education

Criteria:Criteria:• Amount: 15 Contact Hours every Amount: 15 Contact Hours every

two yearstwo years• Standards: Objectives direct Standards: Objectives direct

content, specific, attainable, content, specific, attainable, measurablemeasurable

• Subject Matter: attains or Subject Matter: attains or maintains nursing knowledgemaintains nursing knowledge

Continuing EducationContinuing EducationCriteria - continued:Criteria - continued:

• Methods: Follows adult learner Methods: Follows adult learner theorytheory

• Faculty: Competent in the subject Faculty: Competent in the subject mattermatter

• Evaluation: Of both the learning & Evaluation: Of both the learning & programprogram

• Records: Maintain for 2 renewal Records: Maintain for 2 renewal cyclescycles

SpecialSpecial Provision for newly Provision for newly licensed nurseslicensed nurses

As a newly licensed nurse, As a newly licensed nurse, therethere

is no continuing education is no continuing education

requirement for the FIRST requirement for the FIRST

LICENSE RENEWAL cycle.LICENSE RENEWAL cycle.