To amend section 35 to replace the requirement that nurses include first and last name on identification badges with a requirement for only first name and last initial.

In accordance with Virginia law, the petition to amend 18VAC90-20-35 was posted on the Virginia Regulatory Townhall at www.townhall.virginia.gov.  It has also been filed with the Register of Regulations for publication on October 17, 2016. Comment on the petition from interested parties is requested until November 8, 2016.

 Following receipt of all comments on the petition, the request will be considered by the Board of Nursing at its meeting on November 15, 2016 to decide whether to make any changes to the regulatory language.

At its meeting on November 16, 2016, the Board decided to issue a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) in order to initiate rulemaking.  The Board recognized the strong support for such a change but decided it needed to consider various options and to gather additional information.  Those options may include, but are not limited to, maintaining the current language, amending to require first name and last initial, amending to require identification of the title under which one is practicing (RN, LPN, etc.), or eliminating the name tag provision completely.

The Board will be submitting a NOIRA for the Governor’s approval.  Once approved for publication, there will be a 30-day comment period, and the Board will consider what, if any, amendment to propose.