Bill No.: SF0093                  Drafter:  LGC

 

LSO No.:  05LSO-0322              Effective Date:  7/1/2005

 

Enrolled Act No.:  SEA0097

 

Chapter No.:       224

 

Prime Sponsor:       Senator Massie

 

Catch Title:         Nursing practice act amendments.

 

Subject:   Amends the Nurse Practice Act and provides for licensing and recognition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.

 

Summary/Major Elements:

 

·         Recognizes and allows the board of nursing to license advance practice registered nurses (APRN) and expands their authority to include prescribing medications without the direct collaboration of a licensed physician.

 

·         Updates definitions of various nursing professions;  Changes the makeup of the board of nursing; Allows the board of nursing to report violations of the nurse practices act to the county attorney.

 

·         Requires the director of the board to have at least a master's degree in nursing; Increases the maximum fees that may be charged by the board; Removes restriction on making rules and regulations that are more strict than federal regulations.

 

·         Allows the board to utilize a national organization to administer nursing board exams; Removes grace period for renewal of licenses.

 

·         Gives the board authority to define the process for board approval of nursing education programs and allows the board to charge a fee of up to five thousand dollars for the approval process.

 

·         Provides that the act does not prohibit the practice of any nurse licensed in another jurisdiction from providing care in the case of an emergency or disaster.

 

·         Updates nurse practices act to reflect currently used language.

 

Comments:

 

· Creates/amends major program – Amends the Nurse Practice Act