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May 31, 2020 Deadline for Renewal Fast Approaching for Illinois, Florida & South Carolina Nurses

May 31st, 2020 | Deadline approaching for Illinois Nurses. 

Effective Jan 1, 2020, Illinois registered nurses with a license renewal deadline of May 31st, 2020 are required to complete 1-hour of Sexual Harassment Prevention training as part of the 20 annual CE hour requirement under Illinois Public Act 100-0762 and Ill. Admin Code Title 68, § 1130.400.



March 21, 2020 | Florida's Governor Extends Renewal Period for Registered Nurses as part of COVID-19 response

    On March 21, 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis extended the licensure renewal date for Florida Registered Nurses with licenses currently up for renewal to May 31, 2020. This is part of the COVID-19 response efforts and applies to all health care practitioners with licensure renewal deadlines between March 21 and April 30, 2020. For additional information go to the Florida Board of Nursing.

March, 2020 | South Carolina has extended LPN, RN and APRN licenses which expire April 30th, 2020 until May 31, 2020. 

     LPN's, RN's and APRN's with a valid South Carolina license may continue to work until midnight May 31st, 2020. It is important that nurses renew by this extended date as failure to do so will result in a lapsed license requiring the licensee to apply for reinstatement. For additional information visit the South Carolina Board of Nursing website.

March 19, 2020 | Shortage of PPE: CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for COVID-19

     The CDC has reported shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly N-95 respirators, eye protection, face-masks and gowns. According to the CDC, early reports suggest that, based on other coronaviruses, transmission of COVID-19 most commonly occurs via respiratory droplets, spread from person-to-person, in close proximity to each other (less than 6 feet). 

    Given the shortage of PPE and the suggested mode of transmission, the CDC emphasizes that infection prevention and control is multifaceted and includes not only prioritizing PPE for aerosol-generating procedures such as suctioning and intubation, but also adhering to other key concepts including, but not limited to; hand hygiene, physical barriers to limit contact between patients, limiting staff and visitors, using tele-medicine when possible, screening patients for respiratory symptoms, placing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in private rooms and encouraging good respiratory hygiene such as tissues and covering ones mouth when coughing.

     The CDC also suggests that N-95 alternatives be utilized when feasable such as other classes of filtering face-piece respirators (FFR's), elastomeric half-mask and full face-piece air purifying respirators and powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs). 

To read the full CDC list of recommendations go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations.html

March 11,  2020 | Florida Passes Legislation which Allows Nurse Practitioners to Practice Independently.

Florida Legislature passes House Bill 607 (HB607 : Direct Care Workers) which will allow experienced Nurse Practitioners to practice without a supervising physician. The bill was opposed by the Florida Medical Association which has been against expanding the scope of Nurse Practitioners in Florida for decades. 

To view the full context of HB 607 go to The Florida Senate HB 607: Direct Care Workers.