Statements
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 18.79 and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 246-840 provide the statutory and legal basis of nursing practice. The board provides policy statements, advisory opinions, and guidance documents related to specific areas of nursing practice.
RCW 34.05.230 provides a framework for interpretive and policy statements, and provides a way for a person to request the conversion of an interpretive or policy statement into rule.
Interpretive Statement
Interpretive Statement means a written expression of the opinion of an agency as to the meaning of a statute or other provision of law, of a court decision, or of an agency order. The definition for “Interpretive statement” can be found in RCW 34.05.010 (8).
An interpretive statement does not have the force and effect of law. It is merely an explanatory document intended to convey the board’s interpretation of the law and regulation as it existed at the time the statement was issued.
Current Interpretive Statements
Policy Statement
Policy Statement means a written description of the current approach of an agency to implementation of a statute or other provision of law, of a court decision, or of an agency order, including where appropriate the agency's current practice, procedure, or method of action based upon that approach. The definition of “Policy statement” can be found in RCW 34.05.010 (15).
A policy statement informs the public of the agency’s current approach to implementation of its own law or rule. A policy statement does not have the force and effect of law.
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If you have questions, please contact our rules staff at WABONRules@doh.wa.gov.
More agency rule resources
Department of Health Rule Making