Section 2811.5.

(a) Each person renewing his or her license under Section 2811 shall submit proof satisfactory to the board that, during the preceding two-year period, he or she has been informed of the developments in the registered nurse field or in any special area of practice engaged in by the licensee, occurring since the last renewal thereof, either by pursuing a course or courses of continuing education in the registered nurse field or relevant to the practice of the licensee, and approved by the board, or by other means deemed equivalent by the board.

(b) For purposes of this section, the board shall, by regulation, establish standards for continuing education. The standards shall be established in a manner to assure that a variety of alternative forms of continuing education are available to licensees, including, but not limited to, academic studies, in-service education, institutes, seminars, lectures, conferences, workshops, extension studies, and home study programs. The standards shall take cognizance of specialized areas of practice. The continuing education standards established by the board shall not exceed 30 hours of direct participation in a course or courses approved by the board, or its equivalent in the units of measure adopted by the board.

(c) The board shall encourage continuing education in spousal or partner abuse detection and treatment. In the event the board establishes a requirement for continuing education coursework in spousal or partner abuse detection or treatment, that requirement shall be met by each licensee within no more than four years from the date the requirement is imposed.

(d) In establishing standards for continuing education, the board shall consider including a course in the special care needs of individuals and their families facing end-of-life issues, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Pain and symptom management.

(2) The psycho-social dynamics of death.

(3) Dying and bereavement.

(4) Hospice care.

(e) In establishing standards for continuing education, the board may include a course on pain management.

(f) This section shall not apply to licensees during the first two years immediately following their initial licensure in California or any other governmental jurisdiction.

(g) The board may, in accordance with the intent of this section, make exceptions from continuing education requirements for licensees residing in another state or country, or for reasons of health, military service, or other good cause.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 791, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1999.)