KBN OPERATIONS As the Commonwealth of Kentucky continues to undertake extraordinary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the direction of Governor Beshear, the Kentucky Board of Nursing will cease providing in-person government services to the public or accept walk-in requests effective 5:00 pm March 17, 2020. Services will be provided by mail, fax, email, videoconferencing, internet-based methods or telephone. Board of Nursing staff is currently subject to a substantial reduction of on-site personnel with many employees telecommuting. Unfortunately, this circumstance is likely to result in delays in processing applications and other core functions, agency-wide but is a necessary precaution to prevent spread of COVID-19 to the public and Board staff. Beginning March 17, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. the KBN will no longer accept in-person walk-ins. All materials that need to be submitted to the KBN should be emailed, scanned/emailed, faxed, or mailed. - Phone: 502-429-3300 (Follow the prompts for needed services)
- FAX: 502-429-3311
- Mailing Address: Kentucky Board of Nursing, 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 300, Louisville, Kentucky 40222.
The chart below identifies appropriate staff to contact via email, according to the issue of concern. Please realize that while all responses will be addressed to as soon as possible, some responses may be delayed. Updates will be communicated through the KBN website www.kbn.ky.gov While the Board and staff regret the inconvenience resulting from these current and unprecedented circumstances, be assured that staff members who are available, will continue to work diligently to carry out the KBN mission and will address individual cases as soon as possible. Note to Employers: Please continue to use KBN Online Validation and www.Nursys.com for nurse license verification. Please visit www.KYCOVID19.KY.GOV for more information on Kentucky’s efforts to combat this international situation. Citizens can also contact the Commonwealth of Kentucky COVID-19 hotline at (800) 722-5725. Thank you for your patience with us and with each other. REGISTRY FOR OUT-OF-STATE LICENSEES TO PRACTICE IN KENTUCKY DURING COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY During the duration of the current state of emergency related to COVID-19, the Good Samaritan Act of 2007, KRS 39A.350-366, and KRS 314.101(1)(a) authorize the KBN to create a registry and authorize practice in the Commonwealth of nurses and board certified dialysis technicians who are not otherwise licensed to practice in Kentucky and who do not hold multistate practice privileges under the Nurse Licensure Compact but who are currently licensed and in good standing in another state. The Kentucky Registration for Emergency System for Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Practitioners is applicable to both paid and unpaid positions. Individuals are regularly added to the registry. To determine if an individual is on the out-of-state registry who is not listed please contact Michelle.Rudovich@ky.gov Out-of-State Licensee Master List More information can be obtained here. Kentucky Registration for Emergency System for Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Practitioners Purpose of Service for Intended Practice: COVID‐19 Application PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS On March 26, 2020 the Kentucky Office of Inspector Generalprovided guidance to allow for long-term care facilities to train and hirePersonal Care Attendants during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. Revisedguidance was issued on April 14, 2020. This temporary waiverpermits a long-term care facility to employ a trained Personal Care Attendant(“PCA”) to perform defined resident care procedures that do not require theskill or training required for a State Registered Nurse Aide (“SRNA”) who hassuccessfully completed the nurse aide training and competency evaluationprogram established by 907 KAR 1:450. Facilities who intend to hire PersonalCare Attendants during the State of Emergency must ensure that the following requirementsare satisfied: - A candidate for training must be at least eighteen (18) years of age. There are no minimum educational requirements;
- A candidatemust complete the training requirements outlined in the April 14, 2020 Officeof Inspector General memo;
- A candidatewho completes training and is employed by a facility must:
- Satisfy the same criminal background checks requirements asrequired for long-term care facility employees pursuant to KRS 216.788-216.793;
- Submit to a check of the nurse aide abuse registry; and
- Be registered through the Kentucky Board of Nursing.
Once the requirements outlined in the Kentucky Office of InspectorGeneral memorandum are complete, the facility must send the completed spreadsheet with information regarding the Personal Care Attendants and the agenda that shows that all required areas/competencies outlined in the OIG Memorandum were trained on by the Personal Care Attendants to Michelle.Rudovich@ky.gov The spreadsheet that is to be completed is located here and should be emailed as an Excel file and not a pdf. The Office of Inspector General memo that provides information about PCAs can be obtained here. KARE/Disciplinary Monitoring Participants For individuals who are currently being monitored by Compliance Branch staff (which includes the KARE for Nurses Program, those in Board ordered monitoring through an Agreed Order or Decision, and those working toward the reinstatement of licensure) you must continue to maintain compliance with all aspects of monitoring. The Guidance Letter is being offered by Board staff to assist you with the various aspects of monitoring. Guidance Letter here GUIDANCE FOR APRNS Please note that prescribing limitations for APRNs have not changed. Telehealth Resources Telehealth Resources Prescribing During State of Emergency Emergency Refill Memo Guidance for Elective Procedures Elective Procedure Directive DEA updates DEA State Reciprocity Oral CII for Regular CII Script DEA SAMHSA Buprenorphine Telemedicine DEA Decision Tree
PROGRAMS OF NURSING The Kentucky Board of Nursing has received multiple inquiries from our programs of nursing related to classes and clinical in relation to the spread of the Coronavirus across the U.S. Please see the Guidance Document provided here.
COMMONLY ASKED PRACTICE QUESTIONS The Kentucky Board of Nursing has received many calls and emails with concerns about nurses’ safety in providing care for patients with suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19 and the actual and projected shortage of PPE provided in facilities across the Commonwealth. Many nurses have expressed concerns regarding what to do if they feel they are putting themselves and their families at risk or are not provided enough resources to protect themselves. The CDC has established guidelines to identify individuals who are “at-risk” for contracting COVID-19, the proper use of PPE and guidelines for alternative plans with limited PPE supplies, and measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. After reviewing CDC guidelines and Kentucky Nursing Laws, the Kentucky Board of Nursing has worked to create a FAQ and resource guide in response to the many questions and concerns our constituents have expressed regarding COVID-19, and this will be updated as new information is released. Safe Care During Pregnancy COVID-19 Safe Care During Pregnancy FAQ Patient Abandonment by Nurses COVID-19 Patient Abandonment by Nurses |