1995to2002

Transforming Regulation Through Technology

Emerging technologies were changing the world as the beginning of the 21st century approached. NCSBN welcomed new technological tools, resources and mediums that forever changed the trajectory of nursing regulation.

Leadership from 1995to2002

Portrait of Marcia Rachel, PhD, RN

Marcia Rachel, PhD, RN

PRESIDENT | 1994 - 1996

Indeed, the tomorrow for boards of nursing promise to be full of opportunities, and I have no doubt that together, we will face challenges before us with the same determination and same dedication to quality that has been our hallmark since National Council’s inception.”

Portrait of Thomas Neumann, MSN, RN

Thomas Neumann, MSN, RN

PRESIDENT | 1996 - 1998

The history of the National Council is full of the stories of boards of nursing acting and counseling together to ensure the sound regulation of nursing.”

Portrait of  Jo Elizabeth "Joey" Ridenour, MN, RN, FAAN

Jo Elizabeth "Joey" Ridenour, MN, RN, FAAN

PRESIDENT | 1998 - 2002

To me, the real successes of NCSBN occur when the member boards apply the tools and knowledge to meet their public protection mission at the state level.”

Portrait of Donna Dorsey, MS, RN

Donna Dorsey, MS, RN

PRESIDENT | 2002 - 2006

Every question we answer leads to another question as we collectively learn to better protect the public.”

Portrait of Jennifer Bosma, PhD, CAE

Jennifer Bosma, PhD, CAE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 1989 - 1998

The National Council believes that the values of integrity, competence and accountability are key to accomplishment of its mission to promote public policy for safe and effective nursing practice. Our strength is in our member boards working synergistically together and sharing their expertise.”

Portrait of  Eloise Cathcart, MSN, RN

Eloise Cathcart, MSN, RN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 1998 - 2000

We are confident that together we can continue to advance our nurse licensure examination so that it remains the hallmark of quality assessment programs and continues to support member boards in their mission to protect the public health, safety and welfare.”

Portrait of Kathy Apple, MS, RN, CAE, FAAN

Kathy Apple, MS, RN, CAE, FAAN

CEO | 2001 - 2015

At the forefront of NCSBN’s agenda is its ongoing work to lessen the burden of state governments. To that end, the organization continues to develop programs, products, services and technology solutions that will aide its members in their mission to protect the public.”

1995

Delegate Assembly Decisions

  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Regulation

    NCSBN gathered data to reveal the current state of the CNS role from a regulatory standpoint by identifying regulatory needs of member boards, initiating relationships with specialty certification organizations for CNSs and reporting back to the 1996 Delegate Assembly.

Awards

  • R. Louise McManus Award

    • Corinne F. Dorsey
  • Meritorious Service Award

    • Gail M. McGuill

Committees

  • CAT Evaluation Task Force
  • Committee on Nominations
  • Continuing Education Offerings Task Force
  • Educational Programs Task Force
  • Essential and Continued Competence Subcommittee
  • Examination Committee
  • Executive Officer Orientation Task Force
  • Finance Committee
  • Long Range Planning Committee
  • Member Board Education Needs Subcommittee
  • Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Program (NACEP) Task Force
  • Nurse Information System (NIS) Committee
  • Nursing Practice & Education (NP&E) Committee
  • Nursing Regulation Subcommittee
  • Resolutions Committee/New Business
  • Sexual Misconduct Focus Group
  • Task Force on Chemical Dependency Issues
  • Task Force to Identify Core Competencies for Nurse Practitioners
  • Task Force to Implement Education Programs for Disciplinary Investigators
  • Task Force to Implement Education Programs for Nursing Education Program Surveyors
  • Task Force to Study the Feasibility of a Core Competency Exam for Nurse Practitioners
  • Task Force to Study Advanced Nursing Practice Mobility

1996

Delegate Assembly Decisions

  • Unlicened Assistive Personnel (UAPs)

    Delegates requested ongoing monitoring of UAPs substituting for licensed nurses.

  • Licensure Involving Chemical Dependency or Other Criminal/Fraudulent Behavior

    Delegates requested resources on chemical dependency and criminal/fraudulent behavior.

Awards

  • R. Louise McManus Award

    • Joan Bouchard
  • Meritorious Service Award

    • Tom O’Brien

Committees

  • APRN Task Force
  • Chemically Impaired Nurse Issues Task Force
  • Committee on Nominations
  • Communications Evaluation Task Force
  • Complex Discipline Cases Subcommittee
  • Computerized Clinical Simulation Testing (CST) Task Force
  • Continued Competence Subcommittee Examination Committee
  • Examination Committee
  • Information Services Evaluation Task Force
  • Institute of Regulatory Excellence Board Committee
  • Licensure Examination Comparison Task Force
  • Licensure Verification Task Force
  • Long Range Planning Task Force
  • NCLEX Evaluation Task Force
  • Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Program (NACEP) Task Force
  • Nurse Information System (NIS) Committee
  • Nursing Practice & Education (NP&E) Committee
  • Nursing Regulation Task Force
  • Research Advisory Panel
  • Resolutions Committee/New Business
  • Sexual Misconduct Focus Group
  • Subcommittee to Analyze Clinical Experiences
  • Task Force to Analyze Advisory Opinions/Rulings
  • Telecommunications Issues Task Force
  • Testing Subcommittee Regarding Assessment
  • Unlicensed Assistive Personnel Task Force

1997

Delegate Assembly Decisions

  • Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

    Approved the proposed language for an interstate compact in support of a standard approach to a mutual recognition model of nursing regulation.

Awards

  • R. Louise McManus Award

    • Jean Caron
  • Meritorious Service Award

    • Helen Kelley
    • Sister Teresa Harris
  • Member Board Award

    • Nebraska Board of Nursing

Committees

  • APRN Task Force
  • Bylaws Task Force
  • Committee on Nominations
  • Computerized Clinical Simulation Testing (CST) Task Force
  • Disciplinary Data Bank Task Force
  • Discipline Modules Task Force
  • Examination Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Institute for the Promotion of Regulatory Excellence
  • Licensure Examination Comparison Task Force
  • Licensure Verification Task Force
  • Long Range Planning Task Force
  • Multistate Regulation Task Force
  • Nursing Practice & Education (NP&E) Committee
  • Nursing Program Accreditation/Approval Subcommittee
  • Research Advisory Panel
  • Resolutions Committee/New Business
  • Subcommittee to Revise Model Act and Rules
  • Unlicensed Assistive Personnel Task Force

1998

Delegate Assembly Decisions

  • Display of Credentials

    The Delegate Assembly endorsed the practice that nursing personnel clearly display on their employment identification badge their licensing credentials in order to protect the public’s right to know the licensure status of nursing care personnel.

Awards

  • R. Louise McManus Award

    • Elaine Ellibee
    • Jennifer Bosma
    • Marcia M. Rachel
  • Meritorious Service Award

    • Helen P. Keefe
    • Gertrude Malone
  • Member Board Award

    • Utah State Board of Nursing
  • Silver Achievement Award

    • Joyce Schowalter

Committees

  • APRN Task Force
  • Committee on Nominations
  • Examination Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Nursing Practice & Education (NP&E) Committee
  • Nursing Program Accreditation/Approval Subcommittee
  • Nursing Practice and Education Discipline Resources Subcommittee

1999

Delegate Assembly Decisions

  • NCLEX Containing an English Proficiency Component

    NCSBN explored the feasibility of the development of an English proficiency examination in a health care context because the ability to comprehend and speak the predominant language of the U.S. is an important component of licensure requirements. While English proficiency examinations were in use to assist boards of nursing in licensure decisions, none were designed to measure the English proficiency levels for safe nursing practice.

  • Uniform Core Requirements

    Adopted the proposed uniform core licensure requirements for initial licensure of RNs and LPN/VNs, and recommended that states move toward incorporation of the uniform core licensure requirements at the state level.

  • NCSBN Acts as Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB) Reporting Agent

    NCSBN began serving as the reporting agent for member boards for HIPDB.

  • NCSBN Conducts English Proficiency Research

    Adopted a proposal for NCSBN to conduct research to determine appropriate cut scores for currently available examinations to establish the relationship of the examination to competency in English proficiency needed for safe practice. Based on research findings, NCSBN provided recommendations to member boards on standards for English proficiency requirements.

Awards

  • R. Louise McManus Award

    • Donna Dorsey
  • Meritorious Service Award

    • Katherine Thomas

Committees

  • APRN Task Force
  • Commitment to Excellence Project Technical Working Group
  • Committee on Nominations
  • Computerized Clinical Simulation Testing (CST) Task Force
  • Examination Committee
  • Examination Committee Item Review Subcommittee
  • Finance Committee
  • Information Systems User Group
  • Institute for the Promotion of Regulatory Excellence Task Force
  • Mutual Recognition Interim Compact Administrators Group
  • Mutual Recognition Interim Compact Administrators Group Subcommittee – Rules
  • Mutual Recognition Interim Compact Administrators Group Subcommittee – Structure
  • Mutual Recognition Discipline Work Group #2
  • Mutual Recognition Master Plan Coordinating Group
  • Mutual Recognition Trial by Distance Planning Work Group
  • Nursing Practice & Education (NP&E) Committee
  • NP&E Continued Competence Subcommittee
  • NP&E Subcommittee on Education
  • Phase II User Group (Nursys)
  • Policy Futures Panel Advisory Committee for Commitment to Excellence Project
  • Resolutions Committee
  • Trend Analysis Study Focus Group

2000

Awards

  • Meritorious Service Award

    • Margaret Howard
  • Member Board Award

    • Arkansas Board of Nursing
  • Silver Achievement Award

    • Nancy Wilson

Committees

  • Advanced Practice Task Force
  • Bylaws Audit Group
  • Commitment to Public Protection through Excellence in Nursing Regulation Project
  • Committee on Nominations
  • Examination Committee
  • Executive Officer Fellowship Program Advisory Group
  • Finance Committee
  • Item Review Subcommittee
  • Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators
  • Nursing Practice and Education Committee

2001

Delegate Assembly Decisions

  • Bylaws Changes

    Adopted revisions to NCSBN Bylaws.

  • Strategic Initiatives

    Adopted the 2002-2004 Strategic Plan.

  • NCLEX-PN Test Plan

    Adopted changes to the NCLEX-PN test plan.

  • Congruence Among Education, Practice and Regulation (PERC)

    Resolved that NCSBN assume the leadership role and develop an action plan to clearly delineate and establish congruence among education, practice and regulation for the respective roles of nurses.

  • Position on Overtime Patient Abandonment

    The Delegate Assembly endorsed the resolution that NCSBN promotes safe and effective nursing practice in the interest of protecting public health and welfare.

Awards

  • R. Louise McManus Award

    • Charlie Dickson
  • Meritorious Service Award

    • Shirley Brekken
  • Regulatory Achievement Award

    • Alabama Board of Nursing
  • Exceptional Leadership Award

    • June Bell
  • Exceptional Contribution Award

    • Julie Gould
    • Ruth Lindgren
    • Lori Scheidt

Committees

  • Advanced Practice Task Force
  • Awards Panel
  • Board Investigators Curriculum Advisory Panel
  • Bylaws Committee
  • Commitment to Excellence Advisory Group
  • Committee on Nominations
  • Delegate Assembly Advisory Panel
  • Examination Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Item Review Subcommittee
  • Member Board Leadership Development Task Force
  • NCSBN 25th Anniversary Planning Advisory Panel
  • Nursing Practice and Education Committee
  • Nursys Advisory Panel
  • Practice Breakdown Research Task Force
  • Practice Education Regulation Congruence Task Force
  • Resolutions Committee
  • Test Service Technical Subcommittee

2002

Delegate Assembly Decisions

  • PERC

    The action plan presented to the Delegate Assembly for adoption enhanced the relationships among education, practice and regulation to improve public protection and the professional lives of all nurses. Incorporating input from NCSBN members and many external stakeholders, implementation of the plan involved collaborative efforts by educators, practice organizations, employers and regulators.

  • NCLEX Examinations Offered Abroad

    Adopted the amended recommendations to proceed with negotiations for a contract amendment with test service for purposes of international administration of the NCLEX examination.

  • Uniform APRN Licensure/Authority to Practice Requirements

    The revisions to the Alternative Mechanism Element of the Uniform APRN Licensure/Authority to Practice Requirements were adopted: “For applicants for whom there is no appropriate certifying exam available, states may develop alternative mechanisms to assure initial competence until Jan.1, 2005. Evidence of an equivalent mechanism to certification examinations will not be accepted after Jan. 1, 2005, and initial licenses as an APRN will no longer be issued without an approved certification examination.”

  • APRN Compact

    Adopted the NLC for APRNs, which addressed the need to promote consistent access to quality advanced practice nursing care within states and across state lines. The APRN Compact offers states the mechanism for mutually recognizing APRN licenses/authority to practice.

Awards

  • R. Louise McManus Award

    • Katherine Thomas
  • Regulatory Achievement Award

    • West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses
  • Exceptional Leadership Award

    • Richard Sheehan
  • Exceptional Contribution Award

    • Cora Clay
  • NCSBN Special Award

    • Patricia Benner

Committees

  • APRN Task Force
  • APRN Compact Development Subcommittee
  • Awards Recognition Panel
  • Bylaws Committee
  • Commitment to Excellence Advisory Group
  • Committee on Nominations
  • Disaster Preparedness Task Force
  • Disciplinary Curriculum Advisory Panel
  • Examination Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Member Board Leadership Development Task Force
  • NCSBN 25th Anniversary Panel
  • Nursys Advisory Panel
  • PERC Task Force
  • Practice Breakdown Research Task Force
  • PR&E Committe
  • PR&E Subcommittee on Foreign Nurse Issues
  • Regulatory Credentialing Program Development Task Force
  • Resolutions Committee