SECTIONS 2838-2838.4 - California Statutes

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE

SECTION 2838-2838.4

2838. No person shall advertise or hold himself or herself out as a
"clinical nurse specialist" unless he or she is a nurse licensed
under this chapter, and meets the standards for a clinical nurse
specialist established by the board.

2838.1. (a) On and after July 1, 1998, any registered nurse who
holds himself or herself out as a clinical nurse specialist or who
desires to hold himself or herself out as a clinical nurse specialist
shall, within the time prescribed by the board and prior to his or
her next license renewal or the issuance of an initial license,
submit his or her education, experience, and other credentials, and
any other information as required by the board to determine that the
person qualifies to use the title "clinical nurse specialist."
(b) Upon finding that a person is qualified to hold himself or
herself out as a clinical nurse specialist, the board shall
appropriately indicate on the license issued or renewed that the
person is qualified to use the title "clinical nurse specialist." The
board shall also issue to each qualified person a certificate
indicating that the person is qualified to use the title "clinical
nurse specialist."

2838.2. (a) A clinical nurse specialist is a registered nurse with
advanced education, who participates in expert clinical practice,
education, research, consultation, and clinical leadership as the
major components of his or her role.
(b) The board may establish categories of clinical nurse
specialists and the standards required to be met for nurses to hold
themselves out as clinical nurse specialists in each category. The
standards shall take into account the types of advanced levels of
nursing practice that are or may be performed and the clinical and
didactic education, experience, or both needed to practice safety at
those levels. In setting the standards, the board shall consult with
clinical nurse specialists, physicians and surgeons appointed by the
Medical Board with expertise with clinical nurse specialists, and
health care organizations that utilize clinical nurse specialists.
(c) A registered nurse who meets one of the following requirements
may apply to become a clinical nurse specialist:
(1) Possession of a master's degree in a clinical field of
nursing.
(2) Possession of a master's degree in a clinical field related to
nursing with course work in the components referred to in
subdivision (a).
(3) On or before July 1, 1998, meets the following requirements:
(A) Current licensure as a registered nurse.
(B) Performs the role of a clinical nurse specialist as described
in subdivision (a).
(C) Meets any other criteria established by the board.
(d) A nonrefundable fee of not less than seventy-five dollars
($75), but not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150), shall be
paid by a registered nurse applying to be a clinical nurse specialist
for the evaluation of his or her qualifications to use the title
"clinical nurse specialist." A biennial renewal fee shall be paid
upon submission of an application to renew the clinical nurse
specialist certificate and shall be established by the board at no
less than fifty dollars ($50) and no more than one hundred dollars
($100). The penalty fee for failure to renew a certificate within the
prescribed time shall be 50 percent of the renewal fee in effect on
the date of the renewal of the license, but not less than twenty-five
dollars ($25), nor more than fifty dollars ($50). The fees
authorized by this subdivision shall not exceed the amount necessary
to cover the costs to the board to administer this section.

2838.3. This article shall become operative on July 1, 1998.

2838.4. Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit,
revise, or expand the current scope of practice of a registered
nurse.