HI SB2490

Requires licensed registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to complete continuing competency requirements every two years, starting July 1, 2017.

Mandates three core components: completion of a board-approved self-assessment of practice, development of a continued learning plan, and selection of one approved learning activity option.

Learning activity options include 30 contact hours of continuing education for RNs (20 for LPNs), board-approved refresher courses, post-licensure academic education, or 15 contact hours plus research, publication, teaching, active practice hours, or nurse residency program completion.

Exempts nurses maintaining active advanced practice licenses with current national certification, nurses with current national certifications in their practice role, and first-time licensees whose initial license was issued 12 months or less before renewal.

Allows board to randomly or selectively audit compliance, requires nurses to attest compliance under oath, and establishes grounds for extension requests based on illness, military service, geographic isolation, or undue hardship.