Montana could soon eliminate continuing education requirements for its nurses, according to the Daily Montanan.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte's administration seeks to "repeal all continuing education requirements for registered nurses," the outlet reported. It's a change unanimously approved by the Montana state Board of Nursing.
There is no continuing education requirement for registered physicians in the state, so the rule falls in line with that; however, the proposal has still been met with opposition from the state's largest nursing organization.
Vicky Byrd, CEO of the Montana Nurses Association, told the Daily Montanan that it has not been clear from the state Board of Nursing or the Department of Labor that oversees it, why the change is being pushed forward.
"Apparently, the administration has identified stakeholders who do not agree, but they won’t name them…" Ms. Byrd told the news outlet, stating that this rule will negatively affect patients and will make it "absolutely crippling our ability to do business in the state of Montana."
Jessica Nelson, a spokesperson for the Department of Labor told the Daily Montanan, "The board's goal in eliminating the continuing education requirement is to reduce the administrative burden on nurses, so they can focus on the skills they need to deliver quality health care," and that "The board requires a nurse who holds a license in Montana to 'exercise technical competence' in their practice as part of the professional conduct rule that governs a nurse's license — that is not changing."