Honorable Margaret L. Rowland, R.N. Executive Secretary Board of Nurse Examiners 7600 Chevy Chase Drive Austin, Texas 78762
Re: Whether the Board of Nurse Examiners may promulgate rules limiting use of the abbreviation R.N. and, prohibiting other practices which suggest a person is a licensed registered nurse.
Dear Ms. Rowland:
You have requested our opinion as to whether the Board of Nurse Examiners may promulgate rules regarding the use of titles indicating that a person is a licensed registered nurse. Section 3 of article 4527a provides:
No person, unless he is licensed under this chapter, may use in connection with his name the abbreviation "R.N." or any designation tending to imply that he is a licensed registered nurse.
The Board proposes to promulgate rules, regulations, and guidelines which implement this provision.
The Board of Nurse Examiners is empowered by article 4514, V.T.C.S., to
make such by-laws and rules as may be necessary . . . to carry into effect the purpose of this law.
In our opinion, the clear purpose of section 3 of article 4527a is to prohibit unlicensed persons from using any designation tending to imply that the individual is a licensed registered nurse. We believe that the Board is authorized by article 4514 to enact regulations indicating those designations which it deems to be misleading. Since the Board is directed in article 4525(d) to "cause the prosecution of all persons violating any provisions of this chapter," such regulations would have the effect of apprising potential violators of those designations whose use the Board intends to prosecute. Of course, any regulations would not have the force of law, since a prosecution would have to be based on a violation of the statute rather than a violation of the rule.
Although an administrative agency "has only such powers as are expressly granted to it by statute together with those necessarily implied from the authority conferred or duties imposed," Stauffer v. City of San Antonio, 344 S.W.2d 158, 160 (Tex. 1961), we believe that the Board's authority to enact such regulations is a necessary derivative of its express authority under the statute. See Texas State Board of Examiners in Optometry v. Carp, 412 S.W.2d 307 (Tex. 1967). Of course, the use of certain terms may confer a reasonable doubt or ambiguity as to whether a violation of article 4527b has occurred. See Attorney General Opinion M-1217 (1972). In addition, the statute exempts particular persons from its operation. See Attorney General Opinions H-395 (1974); O-4044 (1941). Within these limitations, however, it is our opinion that the Board of Nurse Examiners may promulgate rules regarding the use of titles indicating that a person is a licensed registered nurse.
SUMMARY The Board of Nurse Examiners is authorized to promulgate rules regarding the use of titles indicating that a person is a licensed registered nurse. Any prosecution must be based on a violation of the statute rather than a rule.
Very truly yours,
John L. Hill Attorney General of Texas
APPROVED:
David M. Kendall First Assistant
C. Robert Heath Chairman Opinion Committee