CHAPTER 378
NURSING
Table of Contents
Sec. 20-101. Construction of chapter. Permitted practices. Temporary practice.
Sec. 20-101. Construction of chapter. Permitted practices. Temporary practice. No provision of this chapter shall confer any authority to practice medicine or
surgery nor shall this chapter prohibit any person from the domestic administration of
family remedies or the furnishing of assistance in the case of an emergency; nor shall
it be construed as prohibiting persons employed in state hospitals and state sanatoriums
and subsidiary workers in general hospitals from assisting in the nursing care of patients
if adequate medical and nursing supervision is provided; nor shall it be construed to
prohibit the administration of medications by dialysis patient care technicians in accordance with section 19a-269a; nor shall it be construed as prohibiting students who are
enrolled in schools of nursing approved pursuant to section 20-90, and students who
are enrolled in schools for licensed practical nurses approved pursuant to section 20-90, from performing such work as is incidental to their respective courses of study; nor
shall it prohibit graduates of schools of nursing or schools for licensed practical nurses
approved pursuant to section 20-90, from nursing the sick for a period not to exceed
ninety calendar days after the date of graduation, provided such graduate nurses are
working in hospitals or organizations where adequate supervision is provided, and such
hospital or other organization has verified that the graduate nurse has successfully completed a nursing program. Upon notification that the graduate nurse has failed the licensure examination, all privileges under this section shall automatically cease. No provision of this chapter shall prohibit any registered nurse who has been issued a temporary
permit by the department, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 20-94, from caring for
the sick pending the issuance of a license without examination; nor shall it prohibit any
licensed practical nurse who has been issued a temporary permit by the department,
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 20-97, from caring for the sick pending the issuance
of a license without examination; nor shall it prohibit any qualified registered nurse or
any qualified licensed practical nurse of another state from caring for a patient temporarily in this state, provided such nurse has been granted a temporary permit from said
department and provided such nurse shall not represent or hold himself or herself out
as a nurse licensed to practice in this state; nor shall it prohibit registered nurses or
licensed practical nurses from other states from doing such nursing as is incident to their
course of study when taking postgraduate courses in this state; nor shall it prohibit
nursing or care of the sick, with or without compensation or personal profit, in connection
with the practice of the religious tenets of any church by adherents thereof, provided
such persons shall not otherwise engage in the practice of nursing within the meaning
of this chapter. This chapter shall not prohibit the care of persons in their homes by
domestic servants, housekeepers, nursemaids, companions, attendants or household
aides of any type, whether employed regularly or because of an emergency of illness,
if such persons are not initially employed in a nursing capacity.
(1949 Rev., S. 4437; 1953, S. 2226d; 1957, P.A. 280, S. 1; P.A. 76-315, S. 4, 6; P.A. 80-484, S. 37, 176; P.A. 81-471,
S. 26, 71; P.A. 85-46, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-207, S. 2; 88-362, S. 18, 22; P.A. 89-350, S. 20, 21; P.A. 90-13, S. 10; P.A. 04-221,
S. 10; P.A. 05-66, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 76-315 stated that chapter shall not prevent nursing graduates from performance of duties pending examination results from other states; P.A. 80-484 required consent of health services commissioner for approval of postgraduate
courses; P.A. 81-471 changed "certification" to "licensure" and provided that temporary permits are obtained from department instead of board; P.A. 85-46 deleted the requirement that postgraduate courses be approved by the nursing board
with the consent of the commissioner of health services; P.A. 88-207 stated that chapter shall not prohibit any licensed
nurse registered in another state or territory who has been issued a temporary permit from caring for the sick pending the
issuance of a license without examination and made technical changes by removing references to examinations scheduled
by the board in two places; P.A. 88-362 added the exceptions for licensed practical nurses who have been issued temporary
permits; P.A. 89-350 added "nursing homes" as a place graduates of licensed practical nursing programs may work pending
the results of the first examination scheduled following their graduation; P.A. 90-13 substituted references to nursing schools
"approved pursuant to section 20-90" for references to "accredited" nursing schools; P.A. 04-221 included graduates of
schools for licensed practical nurses, limited practice of nursing school graduates to ninety days after graduation and
required hospital verification of such graduation, and provided that no nursing practice be allowed if examination is failed;
P.A. 05-66 added provision re administration of medications by dialysis patient care technicians in accordance with Sec.
19a-269a.