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  • Attention: Newly Revised Position Statement: Telehealth/Telenursing

    The Telehealth/Telenursing Position Statement has been revised to provide information and clarification for the nurse’s role for telehealth. 

  • Xylazine Clinician Memo from NC Department of Health and Human Services

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services – Chronic Disease and Injury Section has issued xylazine exposure guidance. The memo is intended to provide health care professionals with information regarding health impacts and management of patients exposed to xylazine through illicit drug use.

    Click here to read full memo.

  • 2023 NCBON Rebranding

    It has been nearly 20-years since the North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) underwent rebranding.  At that time, the use of our logo was limited to building signage and printed documents.  With the ever-expanding reach of the internet and social media, NCBON leadership determined in early 2022 that it was time to renew our brand to be more reflective of our purpose instead of just our location.

    Our iconography, depicted by four overlapping leaves of four distinct colors, is representative of the four regions of North Carolina -- Mountain, Piedmont, Inner-Coastal Plain, and Outer-Coastal Plain. Rooted in our mission to protect the public by regulating the practice of nursing, our vision branches upward -- reaching towards exemplary nursing care for all.  

    We have internally referred to ourselves as NCBON as reflected in our website address and emails, but now we formally recognize it as a primary identifier.  

    Nurses, organizations, and members of the general public should expect to begin seeing this logo and its respective color scheme used in our communications as we work through this transition.

    We are invigorated as we turn the page on this exciting chapter of NCBON's history and look forward to continuing our duty protecting the public by regulating the practice of nursing.

  • DHHS Releases New Buprenorphine Practice Guidelines

    On April 28, 2021, DHHS removed required training that was part of the process for obtaining a waiver to treat up to 30 patients with buprenorphine.


    Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse-Midwives with NC Approval to Practice and a valid DEA registration, may be exempt from the certification requirements related to training, counseling and other ancillary services.

    The exemption applies to:

    • Schedule III, IV, and V drugs and does not apply to Schedule II medication such as methadone for the treatment of opioid use disorders.
    • those treating no more than 30 patients at any one time. NC regulations still require a supervising physician with the same level DEA registration and a collaborative practice agreement.

    Addition information and resources:

    For questions or concerns, please email the NCBON APRN Practice Consultant .

  • Press Release: Individuals Targeting Nurses

    The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) has received information that individuals are contacting nurses via telephone regarding pending investigations and reinstatement following discipline.  The callers may identify themselves as an employee of the NCBON investigating the nurse, or as an employee of a company working with the NCBON to facilitate the licensure reinstatement process following discipline, for a fee.  The caller may have the nurse’s license number or other personal information. These individuals are not affiliated with the NCBON.  The NCBON notifies any nurse under investigation via written correspondence (not telephone), does not request personal bank account information and does not work with a third party company to process reinstatements due to discipline; any request for reinstatement following discipline should go directly through NCBON staff.

  • 7/22 Press Release: Scam Targeting Nurse Practitioners
    Posted: 07/22/2020

    North Carolina Board of Nursing


    4516 Lake Boone Trail ~ Raleigh, NC ~ 27607

    The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) has received information regarding a scam targeting Nurse Practitioners. The scammers identify themselves as investigators from the NCBON via fraudulent documents from the NCBON. The documents indicate the Nurse Practitioner’s approval to practice has been suspended and that the Nurse Practitioner needs to contact the investigator listed. The names on the document are not employees of the NCBON. The document provides the Nurse Practitioner’s approval number and National Provider Identifier (NPI) number (information that is publicly available). There are also documents reportedly from the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement with protocols that should be followed by the Nurse Practitioner. To verify complaints pending with the NCBON you may call the NCBON directly – (919) 782-3211.

  • Continuing Education: Your Voice, Your Vote: NCBON Election 2020

    Continuing Education Offering

    Learning Outcome: Licensed nurses will increase their knowledge related to board composition, duties and responsibilities of the Board, use of the candidate biographies in voting decision-making, and the election process.

  • Summer 2020 Issue of the Nursing Bulletin

    Publication of the North Carolina State Board of Nursing. Volume 16; Edition 48

  • NCSBN Statement on Diversity and Equality in America
  • Notice of Proposed NLC Rulemaking

    The Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators (ICNLCA) proposes uniform rules pursuant to Article VIII of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The proposed rules are necessary to provide proper guidance and clarification to licensees and applicants of the party states as well as the Compact Commissioners that will promote compliance with the NLC.

  • Continuing Education: Implications for use of Marijuana and Marijuana Containing Products Among Nurses

    Continuing Education Offering: The purpose of this article is to provide nurses with:

    • enhanced knowledge of federal and North Carolina laws related to the legal use of marijuana
    • understanding that the legal use of marijuana and CBD oil would not be a defense for THC positive drug screens
  • Winter 2020 Issue of the Nursing Bulletin

    Publication of the North Carolina State Board of Nursing. Volume 16; Edition 47

  • Fall 2019 Issue of the Nursing Bulletin

    Publication of the North Carolina State Board of Nursing. Volume 15; Edition 46

  • Newly revised NCBON and NCOEMS Joint Position Statement

    Alternative Practice Settings for EMS Personnel is now available on our website. The Joint Position Statement provides guidance for health care entities that are interested in developing alternative practice settings, as well as clarifying EMS and nursing personnel roles and responsibilities in these settings.

  • 9/23 Press Release: North Carolina Updates Nursing Practice Act
    Posted: 9/23/2019

    North Carolina Board of Nursing


    4516 Lake Boone Trail ~ Raleigh, NC ~ 27607

    By Catherine Moore, PhD, RN; North Carolina Board of Nursing Regulatory Consultant and Legislative Liaison

    Updates to the North Carolina Nursing Practice Act (NPA) became effective October 1st, 2019. Self-reports regarding arrests or indictments should now be made to the North Carolina Board of Nursing within 30 days for any of the following: (1) any felony arrest or indictment; (2) any arrest for driving while impaired or driving under the influence; and (3) any arrest or indictment for the possession, use, or sale of any controlled substance. It is also important to note that failure to respond to the Board’s inquiries in a reasonable manner or time regarding any matter affecting the license to practice nursing is reason for disciplinary action by the Board (North Carolina Session Law 2019-180, 2019 - Part II). These changes are among several updates to the NPA outlined in legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Cooper. Updates to the NPA are made to reflect the current practice of nursing in an ever-changing health care environment and to ensure that the laws governing the regulation of nursing practice in North Carolina facilitate the work of the Board in its legislated mandate to protect the safety of the public.

    The North Carolina General Assembly has not made major updates to the NPA for several years. However, during the 2019-2020 legislative session, Representative Donna McDowell White (a registered nurse) championed legislation to make much-needed changes to the NPA to protect the safety of the public and enhance the operational efficiency of the Board. The updates outlined in Session Law 2019-180 include revision of vague, outdated (pre-HIPAA) language in the NPA, formatting and definition revisions, clarification of the subpoena power and disciplinary authority of the Board, and confidentiality protections for materials gathered by the Board. The Board regulates the practice of nursing for more than 160,000 nurses in North Carolina. Updates to the NPA are made to reflect the current practice of nursing in an ever-changing health care environment and to ensure that the laws governing the regulation of nursing practice in North Carolina facilitate the work of the Board in its legislated mandate to protect the safety of the public.

  • Hurricane Season: What to Know

    How to prepare for storms:

    • Find a shelter if you need one. You can find an up-to-date list of storm shelters on the NC Department of Public Safety website . Information about housing assistance is also available at 2-1-1 .
    • Prepare your emergency plan . Prepare for flooding and loss of power, and make sure you are stocked up on supplies.
    • Gather your emergency supply kit . Your kit should contain food, water, prescription medicines, charging cords, batteries and other essentials to support your family for several days.
    • Remember preparing or evacuating from a storm can be particularly challenging for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs. FEMA has a guide to disaster planning for those with disabilities, and DHHS has resources for Mental Health Disaster Preparedness .

    Stay safe:

    • Prepare your well . DHHS has steps you can take to prepare and protect your private well ahead of adverse weather, and recommendations for what to do to ensure your well is safe to use after a flood.
    • Turn around, don't drown . Don't drive through standing water during and after the storm. Visit DriveNC.gov for the latest road conditions.
    • Don't use gas-powered generators inside. Never use gas-powered generators/burners inside your house or in enclosed spaces because of the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning .

    Get needed support:

    Medicaid services. DHHS has received federal authority to make it easier for beneficiaries to access services and for health care providers to deliver care. This includes filling prescriptions early, receiving or providing care in a temporary shelter, transfers to another nursing home facility, and more. Visit the Medicaid webpage for details.

    Behavorial health assistance.
    • If you are in need of, or are receiving, behavioral health care, or if you are uninsured or are a Medicaid beneficiary, you can access care by calling your regional behavioral health Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO).
    • Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. It is available year-round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
    • Learn more about other behavioral health resources available from DHHS and our partners.
    Help with food.
    • If your household needs help purchasing food, please apply for Food and Nutrition Services benefits at your local DSS office or online at ePASS . You can also contact 2-1-1 for food assistance.
    • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC ) participants in storm-affected counties who were scheduled to receive their benefits should have had those benefits automatically added to their eWIC card by their local WIC agency. WIC participants can confirm that benefits have been added by calling the eWIC customer service line at 844-230-0813 or by accessing their account at www.mybnft.com . This automatic renewal will continue through the weekend in storm-affected counties.

    How you can help:

    • Governor Cooper has issued Executive Order 105, which temporarily waives North Carolina licensing requirements for behavioral health providers who are licensed in another state in order for these professionals to volunteer their services for those impacted by Hurricane Dorian. This includes psychologists, licensed clinical social works, licensed professional counselors and certified substance abuse treatment professionals. The North Carolina Psychological Association is coordinating the efforts of behavioral health professionals who are interested in volunteering to help storm-impacted individuals.
    • The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is accepting contributions for Hurricane Dorian damage. Contributions help with the unmet needs of hurricane victims.

    Information:

    Please visit the NC Department of Public Safety website and ReadyNC.org for information. You can also download the free ReadyNC app , which features traffic, power outage and shelter information.

  • Continuing Education: Continuing Competence Self-Assessment: Have You Met Your Professional Responsibility?

    Continuing Education Offering: The purpose of this article is to assist nurses in being able to describe and implement the self-assessment step of the continuing competence process. 

  • Continuing Education: Getting to Know Your Licensing Board: the North Carolina Board of Nursing at a Glance

    Continuing Education Offering: The purpose of this article is to describe the primary functions of the Board, discuss the use of the Nursing Practice Act in evaluating nursing practice, and develop skills to navigate the Board’s website for access to resources and information.

  • First in Nursing, A Journey of Regulatory Excellence

    First in Nursing, A Journey of Regulatory Excellence: The North Carolina Board of Nursing 1903-2013 is a book about the history of the Board of Nursing, by Shirley P. Toney, RN, Ph.D.

  • Continuing Education: Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Nursing

    Continuing Education Offering: The purpose of this article is to increase awareness of the North Carolina legislative rule related to boundary violations and sexual misconduct, and assist nurses in understanding what constitutes a boundary violation and sexual misconduct as well as the necessity to avoid these behaviors.

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