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Statements of the Nursing Commission

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 nursing commission provides advisory opinionsinterpretive statements, 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 Statements are 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. They are intended to convey general guidance to assist interested parties by indicating the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission’s current analysis and conclusion(s) on issues that are neither case, nor fact-specific, and that may come before the nursing commission at a time in the future.

An interpretive statement does not have the force and effect of law. It is merely an explanatory document intended to convey the nursing commission’s interpretation of the law and regulation as it existed at the time the statement was issued.

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If you have questions, please contact our rules staff at NCQAC.Rules@doh.wa.gov

More agency rule resources

Department of Health Rule Making

State Board of Health Rules

Other Department rules in WAC Title 246

Rule Petition