Dear Nurses,
During this last Legislative session, Assembly Bill 327 was passed and will become effective January 1, 2022. The bill requires that all licensee holders (RNs, LPNs, APRNs, CRNAs) complete one or more courses of instruction that provide at least 2 hours of continuing education (CEs/CEUs) relating to cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is to be completed with EVERY renewal cycle. While CNAs are not mandated to complete this instruction, we do encourage you to do so. The training:
(1) May include the training provided pursuant to NRS 449.103, where applicable. (2) Must be based upon a range of research from diverse sources.
(3) Must address persons of different cultural backgrounds, including, without limitation:
I. Persons from various gender, racial and ethnic backgrounds;
II. Persons from various religious backgrounds;
III. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning persons;
IV. Children and senior citizens;
V. Veterans;
VI. Persons with a mental illness;
VII. Persons with an intellectual disability, developmental disability or physical disability;
VIII. Persons who are part of any other population that a person licensed pursuant to this chapter may need to better understand, as determined by the Board.
Please be advised that this mandate goes into effect on January 1, 2022. Any licensee who submits a renewal application on or after January 1, 2022, will be required to attest that they have completed this requirement to be eligible for license renewal. Therefore, it is vital to plan ahead to make sure that you have completed all continuing education requirements before submitting your renewal application.
The courses that currently meet the above requirement are included below and will be posted on our website at www.nevadanursingboard.org. Although the law requires that the course be at least 2 hours in duration, the courses currently available that meet the statutory requirement are greater than 2 hours. You will, however, receive credit for the total number of continuing education hours towards your 30-hour continuing education requirement.
Regards,
Cathy Dinauer, MSN RN, FRE
Executive Director
Nevada State Board of Nursing
Links:
Making Health Happen website: https://www.makinghealthhappen.org/pages/cultural-competency-info-page
Nevada Cultural Competency website: https://www.nvculturalcompetency.com/