Alabama § 34-21-121 - Definitions.

§ 34-21-121. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) ADVERSE ACTION. Any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action permitted by the law of a state which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against a nurse, including actions against the license or multistate licensure privilege of an individual, including revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of a licensee, limitations on the practice of the licensee, the bringing of a cease and desist action against the licensee, or any other encumbrance on licensure affecting the authorization of a nurse to practice.

(2) ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM. A nondisciplinary monitoring program approved by a licensing board.

(3) COMMISSION. The Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators.

(4) COMPACT. The Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact created by this article.

(5) COORDINATED LICENSURE INFORMATION SYSTEM. An integrated process for collecting, storing, and sharing information on nurse licensure and enforcement activities related to nurse licensure laws that is administered by a nonprofit organization composed of and controlled by licensing boards.

(6) CURRENT SIGNIFICANT INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION. Includes any of the following:

a. Investigative information that a licensing board, after a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an opportunity for the nurse to respond, if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate more than a minor infraction.

b. Investigative information indicating that a nurse represents an immediate threat to public health and safety, regardless of whether the nurse has been notified and has had an opportunity to respond.

(7) ENCUMBRANCE. A revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of nursing imposed by a licensing board.

(8) HOME STATE. The party state which is the primary state of residence of a nurse.

(9) LICENSING BOARD. The regulatory body of a party state that is responsible for issuing nurse licenses.

(10) MULTISTATE LICENSE. A license to practice as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse issued by a home state licensing board that allows a licensed nurse to practice in any state authorized to grant multistate licensure privileges under the compact.

(11) MULTISTATE LICENSURE PRIVILEGE. A legal authorization associated with a multistate license that allows the practice of nursing as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse in a remote state.

(12) NURSE. A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse as those terms are defined by the practice laws of the party state.

(13) PARTY STATE. Any state that has adopted this compact.

(14) REMOTE STATE. A party state, other than the home state.

(15) SINGLE STATE LICENSE. A nurse license issued by a state participating in the compact that authorizes practice only within the issuing state and does not include a multistate licensure privilege to practice in any other state.

(16) STATE. A state, territory, or possession of the United States and the District of Columbia.

(17) STATE PRACTICE LAWS. The laws, rules, and regulations of a party state that govern the practice of nursing, define the scope of nursing practice, and create the methods and grounds for imposing discipline. The term does not include requirements necessary to obtain and retain a license, except for qualifications or requirements of the home state.