(1) There is created an Oregon State Board of Nursing composed of nine members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate in the manner provided in ORS § 171.562 and 171.565. All members of the board must be residents of this state. Of the members of the board:

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(a) Five must be registered nurses;

(b) One must be a licensed practical nurse;

(c) One must be a certified nursing assistant; and

(d) Two must be members of the public who are otherwise not eligible for appointment to the board.

(2)(a) Board members required to be nurse members may be selected by the Governor from a list of three to five nominees for each vacancy, submitted two months before the expiration of the term of office of a nurse member by:

(A) The Oregon Nurses Association or any other professional organization representing registered nurses, if the vacancy is in a registered nurse position;

(B) The Oregon Licensed Practical Nurses Association or any other professional organization representing licensed practical nurses, if the vacancy is in a licensed practical nurse position; or

(C) A professional organization representing certified nursing assistants, if the vacancy is in a certified nursing assistant position.

(b) Each nurse or certified nursing assistant member must:

(A) Be currently licensed and not under disciplinary status with the board in the category for which the member is appointed; and

(B) Have at least five years’ experience in the category in which the member is appointed, three of which were immediately prior to appointment.

(c) The public members and any person who is a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent or sibling of a public member may not be licensed by the board.

(d) In making appointments of registered nurses, the Governor shall ensure that the following areas of practice are represented on the board:

(A) One nursing educator;

(B) One nursing administrator;

(C) Two nonsupervisory nurses involved in direct patient care; and

(D) One nurse practitioner.

(e) In selecting the members of the board, the Governor shall strive to balance the representation on the board according to:

(A) Geographic areas of this state;

(B) Ethnic group; and

(C) For the members who are nurses or a certified nursing assistant, the setting in which the member practices nursing or provides care, with priority given to members who practice or provide care in facilities or other locations that are licensed by the Department of Human Services or the Oregon Health Authority.

(3)(a) The members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor for terms of three years, beginning on January 1. A member serves at the pleasure of the Governor. The terms must be staggered so that no more than three terms end each year. A member is eligible for reappointment. An unexpired term of a board member shall be filled in the same manner as an original appointment is made. The appointment shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(b) A board member shall be removed immediately from the board if, during the member’s term, the member:

(A) Is not a resident of this state;

(B) Has been absent from three consecutive board meetings, unless at least one absence is excused; or

(C) Is not a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse or a retired registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who was a registered nurse in good standing or licensed practical nurse in good standing at the time of retirement, if the board member was appointed to serve on the board as a nurse member.

(4) Members of the board are entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in ORS § 292.495. The board may provide by rule for compensation to board members for the performance of official duties at a rate that is greater than the rate provided in ORS § 292.495. [Amended by 1953 c.254 § 16; 1957 c.316 § 26; 1971 c.650 § 27; 1973 c.584 § 12; 1973 c.792 § 34; 1981 c.206 § 1; 1983 c.113 § 1; 1995 c.79 § 342; 1997 c.141 § 1; 2009 c.535 § 9; 2023 c.412 § 1]