5412.1 An applicant for a license as a registered nurse may practice registered nursing only in accordance with the Act and this chapter.

5412.2 An unlicensed individual may be authorized to engage in the supervised practice of registered nursing if the individual:

(a) Has submitted an application for a license in accordance with this chapter and the application is currently pending;

(b) Has graduated from an approved nursing program in accordance with § 5402.1, or met the requirements set forth in § 5403; and

(c) Has never taken the NCLEX-RN examination.

5412.3 An applicant seeking to practice pursuant to § 5412.2 shall submit a request for a supervised practice letter. The applicant shall not be permitted to practice unless the supervised practice letter has been issued by the Board. The supervised practice letter is not renewable and shall expire:

(a) Ninety (90) days after the date of issuance; or

(b) Upon receipt of written notice from the Board that the applicant has failed the examination.

5412.4 Upon receipt of the supervised practice letter, the applicant shall inform the employer of the date of expiration of the letter and shall immediately stop the practice of registered nursing on that date, or upon receipt of written notice from the Board that the applicant has failed the examination, whichever date is earlier.

5412.5 The applicant authorized to practice under this section may do so only under the general or immediate supervision of a registered nurse licensed under this chapter.

5412.6 An applicant authorized to practice under this section shall only practice at a hospital, long-term care facility, a health facility operated by the District or federal government, academic institution, or other health care facility considered appropriate and approved by the Board.

5412.7 An applicant authorized to practice under this section shall not assume administrative or technical responsibility for the operation of a nursing program, unit, service, or institution.

5412.8 An applicant authorized to practice under this section shall identify themself as an

applicant practitioner before engaging in the practice of registered nursing. The applicant shall wear a picture identification badge with lettering clearly visible to the client bearing the name of the applicant and the position title.

5412.9 An applicant practicing under this section shall not receive compensation of any nature, directly or indirectly, from a client or client's family member, except for a salary or wage from their employer based on hours of supervised worked.

5412.10 The supervisor of an applicant authorized to practice under this section shall be fully responsible for the practice of the applicant during the period of supervision and may be subject to disciplinary action for violations of the Act or this chapter.

5412.11 The Board may deny an application for licensure by, or take other disciplinary action against, an applicant who is found to have violated the Act or this chapter. The Board may, in addition to any other disciplinary actions permitted by the Act, revoke, suspend, or restrict the privilege of the applicant to practice registered nursing.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 622, 630 (January 20, 1989); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 8613 (September 3, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 69 DCR 010990 (September 2, 2022).