§457-7  Registered nurses; qualifications;

licenses; fees; title; existing licensed nurses; verification of licenses;

eligibility.  (a)  An applicant for a license to practice nursing as a

registered nurse shall submit an application on a form prescribed by the board

and shall provide written evidence that the applicant has completed a nursing

program approved by the board.

     (b)  Licenses shall be granted either by:

     (1)  Examination:  The applicant shall be required to

pass a written examination in nursing subjects as determined by the board. 

Upon the applicant's passage of the examination and compliance with the

applicable requirements of this chapter and the rules of the board, the board

shall issue to the applicant a license to practice nursing as a registered

nurse; or

     (2)  Endorsement:  The board may issue a license to

practice nursing as a registered nurse by endorsement to an applicant who has

been licensed as a registered nurse under the laws of another state, territory,

or foreign country if the applicant has an unencumbered license and, in the

opinion of the board, the applicant meets the qualifications required of

registered nurses in this State at the time of graduation.  Pending

verification of a valid, unencumbered license from another state, a temporary

permit may be issued for employment with a Hawaii employer.

     (c)  The applicant applying for a license to

practice as a registered nurse by examination shall pay application,

examination, and reexamination fees, if applicable, as prescribed by the

board.  Each applicant who successfully passes the examination shall pay a

license fee.  The applicant applying for a license to practice as a registered

nurse by endorsement shall pay application and license fees.

     (d)  Any person who holds a license to practice

nursing as a registered nurse in this State shall have the right to use the

title "Registered Nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N.".  No

other person shall assume the title "nurse" or in any manner imply

that the person is a nurse except as provided in sections 457-8 and 457-8.5 or

use the abbreviation "R.N." or any other words, letters, signs, or

devices to indicate that the person using the same is a registered nurse.

     (e)  Any person who requests verification of a

registered nurse license to a nursing board of another state shall pay a

license verification fee.

     (f)  Applicants applying for a license to

practice as a registered nurse by examination shall submit to the board proof

of eligibility.  Applicants shall be eligible to apply for a license by

examination if they have:

     (1)  Graduated from a registered nursing program at an

educational institution in the United States or any territory or possession

under the jurisdiction of the United States and are qualified as determined by

the board through rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91;

     (2)  Graduated from a registered nursing program at an

educational institution in a foreign jurisdiction and have had their

transcripts evaluated by professional evaluators designated by the board and

are considered qualified as determined by the board through rules adopted

pursuant to chapter 91; or

     (3)  Graduated with a bachelor's degree and

satisfactorily completed the pre-licensure portion of a master's entry program

in nursing at an accredited school of nursing in the United States or any

territory or possession under the jurisdiction of the United States that is

recognized by the board or other state boards of nursing and are qualified as

determined by the board.

     (g)  Unless determined to be insufficient or

otherwise invalid by the board, all transcripts, diplomas, certificates of

graduation, and other credentials submitted by any applicant in compliance with

the application procedures for examination and licensure under this section

shall be retained by the board for two years and shall suffice as proof of

graduation upon subsequent submittals of applications for reexamination within

two years by any applicant. [L 1970, c 71, pt of §1; am L 1972, c 43, §1; am L

1974, c 25, §1; am L 1983, c 119, §5; am L 1984, c 7, §§41 to 43; am L 1990, c

105, §2; am L 1992, c 202, §108 and c 234, §2; am L 1995, c 88, §2; am L 1996,

c 150, §2; am L 1997, c 39, §2 and c 40, §13; am L 2004, c 88, §2; am L 2008, c

23, §1]