‘More nurses in CNMI maintain their licenses’

More nurses in the CNMI may be maintaining their licenses which could be due to factors such as an increased focus on workforce retention or changes in licensing requirements that encourage renewals, according to the NMI Board of Nursing yesterday.

The NMI BON in its Fiscal Year 2024 Citizen Centric Report submitted to the CNMI Office of the Public Auditor, disclosed that during the transition period, there was a noticeable decline in initial applications for the National Council Licensure Examination or NCLEX.

However, BON said, there was an increase in license renewal applications.

During a meeting with representatives from various agencies in the Philippines, BON staff provided an overview and introductory training on the Optimal Regulatory Board System or ORBS.

In addition to the training, BON members engaged in discussions regarding the ongoing transition to the new system (ORBS), as well as various regulatory updates and changes to processes.

BON said the discontinuation of wallet cards and physical certificates led to increased inquiries or requests for alternative ways to verify their professional status.

BON collected $360,780 from application fees, $228,061 from renewals/reinstatements, and $52,425 from others (license, verification, etc.), or for a total of $641,266 in revenue resources in FY 2024.

In that fiscal year, BON issued 1,966 licenses—12 Advance Practice Registered Nursing, 1,912 Registered Nurses, five Licensed Practical Nurses, 33 Certified Nursing Assistants, two Graduate Nurses, and two Hemodialysis Technicians.

BON’s budget for FY 2024 was derived from the application fees and renewals/reinstatements. BON’s expenditures comprised of $247,444 in salaries and benefits, $97,767 in operational expenses, $136,309 from travels, $90 in board compensation, $16,105 in office rent, $7,500 in donation, or for total expenditures of $500,216.

Expenditures involve acquiring new hardware and software tools necessary for the digitization of paper files and hiring temporary data clerks to facilitate the successful completion of this digitization project.

Majority of the BON members and staff have already completed certification and hold investigator badges.

Some members have successfully completed the first and second tier of investigative training in Austin, Texas, further enhancing the board’s capacity to effectively carry out its regulatory responsibilities.

Regarding its future outlook, BON is updating its administrative rules and regulations to ensure that healthcare practitioners continue to provide safe, competent care.

BON believes that addressing these changes is crucial, given the ever-evolving nature of healthcare, including advancements in technology, medical practices, and patient care standards.

BON regulates the practice of nursing in the CNMI. Its purpose is to provide for the regulation of the practice of nursing affecting the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the CNMI by regulating the practice of nursing, establishing standards for educational programs preparing students for nursing practice, and prescribing penalties for violations of the provisions of the Nurse Practice Act.

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