At its September 2009, meeting, the Nevada State Board of Nursing voted to eliminate the issuance of hard cards licenses/certificates, effective January 1, 2010.

The card issued by the Board was initially created to be a barrier against fraud, but sadly the card no longer serves its intended purpose.  Additionally, some employers accept the card as proof of current licensure/certification status and do not verify the current status on the Board’s verification system.  The accuracy of the information on the card is only guaranteed to be valid on the day the card is issued.  After that, a license/certificate may be suspended, revoked or have other discipline imposed and the hard card will not reflect that.  The Board recommends that all employers of nurses/CNAs verify current licensure/certification status online at the Board’s website. 

The Board does not require you to have the card in your possession.  If your license/certificate is active and in good standing with the Board, you may practice the full scope of nursing that you have been licensed/certified for.  Employers, educational institutions, or other entities that require the card will need to revise their internal policies as all nurses/CNAs that are issued a license/certificate on or after January 1, 2010, will not be issued a hard card license/certificate.

If you would like some proof of your current status to show your employer or other interested parties, you may print out the verification information from the Board’s website. 

This change is not without some angst for many of you who carry their hard card faithfully each day while carrying out their duties as a nurse or CNA.  But the Board has decided that it is the best decision to make to help ensure protection of the public. 

If you have a specific question or concern, we invite you to contact us by email at nursingboard@nsbn.state.nv.us or you may contact our office by telephone (888) 590-6726 and speak to an administrative staff member.