1. (a) The content of all courses of continuing education must be relevant to the practice of nursing and must:

   1. (1) Be related to the scientific knowledge and/or technical skills required for the practice of nursing, or
   2. (2) Be related to direct and/or indirect patient/client care.

   3. (3) Enhance the knowledge of the Registered Nurse at a level above that required for licensure. Courses related to the scientific knowledge for the practice of nursing include basic and advanced courses in the physical, social, and behavioral sciences, as well as advanced nursing in general or specialty areas. Content which includes the application of scientific knowledge to patient care in addition to advanced nursing courses may include courses in related areas, i.e., human sexuality; death, dying, and grief; foreign languages (conversational); therapeutic interpersonal relationship skills; pharmacology; generally accepted experimental medical procedures or treatments; and those related to specialty areas of nursing practice. Courses in nursing administration, management, education, research, or other functional areas of nursing relating to indirect patient/client care would be acceptable.

      Courses which deal with self-improvement, changes in attitude, financial gain, and those courses designed for lay people are not acceptable for meeting requirements for license renewal.

   4. (4) Contain curriculum that includes the understanding of implicit bias pursuant to Section 2736.5 of the code, unless the course is dedicated solely to research or other issues that does not include a direct patient care component.

2. (b) For the purposes of this section, “generally accepted experimental medical procedures or treatments” means:

   1. (1) the efficacy of the procedure(s) or treatment(s) is supported by at least two peer-reviewed, publicly available scientific journals or studies, or is published in medical and/or scientific literature, and
   2. (2) there is no clear and convincing contradictory evidence presented in a major peer reviewed medical journal that the treatment or procedure is not safe and effective.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 2715, 2736.5 and 2811.5, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 2736.5 and 2811.5, Business and Professions Code.

History

1. Renumbering of Section 1455 to Section 1456 filed 3-2-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 9).

2. Repealer and new section filed 12-18-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 51).

3. Amendment of section and Note filed 8-12-2022; operative 10-1-2022 (Register 2022, No. 32).