Definitions

As used in this article, the term: (1) “Board” means the Georgia Board of Nursing. (2) “Nurse” means a registered professional nurse licensed or 828 43-26-52 authorized pursuant to Article 1 or Article 4 of this chapter, an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined in paragraph (1.1) of Code Section 43-26-3, or a licensed practical nurse licensed or authorized pursuant to Article 2 or Article 4 of this chapter. History. Code 1981, § 43-26-50, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 830, § 4/HB 315; Ga. L. 2014, p. 866, § 43/SB 340; Ga. L. 2019, p. 219, § 4/SB 168. 43-26-51. Mandatory reporting requirement for violations of grounds for discipline; no reporting requirement for knowledge obtained via privileged communications. A nurse shall report names of subject individuals to the board if the nurse has reasonable cause to believe that any other nurse has violated any of the grounds for discipline provided for in Code Section 43-26-53. A nurse need not duplicate a report if he or she has reasonable cause to believe that such report has been made to the board. A licensed health care professional shall not be required to report a nurse to the board under this Code section as a result of professional knowledge obtained in the course of the health care professional-patient relationship when the nurse is the patient. History. Code 1981, § 43-26-51, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 830, § 4/HB 315; Ga. L. 2014, p. 866, § 43/SB 340. 43-26-52. Institutional reporting requirements; voluntary submission to alternative to discipline program not subject to reporting requirement. (a) Hospitals, nursing homes, temporary staffing agencies, and other employers of registered professional nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, or licensed practical nurses shall report to the board, or ensure that such report has in fact been made to the board, the name of any nurse whose employment has been terminated or who has resigned in order to avoid termination for any reasons stipulated in Code Section 43-26-53. (b) A state agency that licenses, registers, or certifies hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, or other types of health care facilities, or surveys one of these facilities or agencies, shall report to the board when such state agency has evidence that a nurse has violated Code Section 43-26-53 or ensure that such a report has in fact been made to the board. (c) In the event a nurse enters a voluntary alternative to discipline program approved by the board, reporting to the board shall not be required for such nurse by a person under this Code section. The board may approve alternative to discipline programs for monitoring of 829 43-26-53 nurses who agree to seek treatment for impairment by chemical dependency or mental illness that could lead to disciplinary action by the board. The costs for any treatment programs shall be borne by the nurse. (d) The board shall inform, in the manner the board determines appropriate, nurses, facilities, agencies, and other persons of their duty to report under this article. History. Code 1981, § 43-26-52, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 830, § 4/HB 315; Ga. L. 2014, p. 866, § 43/SB 340. 43-26-53. Reportable incidents.