Board of Directors    Meetings      Chapter President's Message      Ambassadors   

   Bylaws and Policies    Forms    Member Scholarship Application    CJD Update    Home

      Workshops   TCORN Website    Willingness to Serve   Being an RNFA 

Meds of the Month       Pay It Forward       Gen X Corner       Member Orientation Packet

Image Matters       Legislative Updates       Delegates' Congress Reports 2008

      

NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR RN LICENSE RENEWAL

 

New Regulations are in effect.  I am one of the fortunate ones to receive a notice from the Board of Nurse Examiners that I have to have my fingerprints made.  If I do not have them made prior to renewing my nursing license, I may not get a renewal. 

Prior to your receiving a notice for your RN license renewal, you will receive a letter from the Board of Nurse Examiners outlining what you need to do for the BNE to perform your criminal history check.  This is based on Section 301.3011 of the Nursing Practice Act. 

Every RN and LVN is required to submit legible fingerprints.  You can get your fingerprints made by the company the BNE has designated as the provider for electronic fingerprints.  If you cannot use this company you can get the required FBI forms from the BNE.  You can also get your fingerprints made at the Austin Police Department, on East 7th and IH 35.  Fingerprints are done on Wednesday’s between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM.  The cost is $11.75.  I do not know if they send the prints to the BNE.  Call the police department prior to going to have your fingerprints made. 

If you will use the company suggested in your notice from the BNE, do as the letter states, do not wait to schedule an appointment.  The process is faster if you do everything via email and use a credit card as payment.  Should you call to make an appointment, be prepared to call back several times to make contact with an individual.  They will call you back if you leave a message.  If you can’t get the call, you will be playing telephone tag.   

The representative gives you the address, 7904 Shoal Creek, by Scandinavia furniture. This is well and good, but there is no building or door next to Scandinavia that has L1 Identity Solutions on it.  After driving and or wandering around, go into Scandinavia, they will tell you it is upstairs.  Now don’t expect to find L1 Identity Solutions on a door, it is not there.  You take a chance and go in a door on the 2nd floor. Actually it is in suite 205.  Once you get inside, expect the same customer service you receive in most places today.  Also, be prepared to wait without receiving any information. 

The fingerprint is not a simple index and thumb as I had, years ago, when I first went to work for the City of Austin.  You will have all fingers and thumbs printed.  I am surprised that there was not a palm print. 

The prints will be sent to the proper place.  Now for the criminal history check by the Department of Public Safety and the FBI.

I have now received my license renewal notice.  Once I submit the necessary information my license renewal still depends on the result of the criminal history check. 

When you receive your notices don’t delay in getting the process started. 

Loyce J. McCullough, RN, MS