THE SAVE ACT.

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View NCGA Bill Details2019-2020 Session
House Bill 185 (Public) Filed Tuesday, February 26, 2019
AN ACT TO DELIVER SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, VALUE DIRECTED AND EXCELLENT (SAVE) HEALTH CARE THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA BY MODERNIZING NURSING REGULATIONS.
Intro. by Dobson, Lambeth, Stevens, Adcock.

Status: Ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action) (Feb 27 2019)

SOG comments (1):

Identical bill

Identical to S 143, filed 2/26/19.

H 185

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Feb 26 2019 - View Summary

    Enacts new GS 90-171.36B to prohibit an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) from practicing as such without a license. Defines advanced practice registered nurse or APRN as an individual licensed by the The North Carolina Board of Nursing (Board) as an advanced practice registered nurse within one of the following four roles: (1) nurse practitioner or NP, (2) certified nurse midwife or CNM, (3) clinical nurse specialist or CNS, or (4) certified registered nurse anesthetist or CRNA. Sets out six requirements for licensure, including: holding a current North Carolina registered nurse license, having completed a graduate level APRN program accredited by a nursing or nursing‑related accrediting body that is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as acceptable to the Board, and being certified by a national certifying body recognized by the Board in the APRN role and population focus appropriate to educational preparation. Enacts GS 90-171.36C, which specifies conditions under which the Board must issue an APRN license to an applicant who does not meet the education or certification requirements. Enacts GS 90-171.36D, which specifies the process for APRN license renewal and reinstatement. Makes conforming changes to GS 90-171.43, GS 90-171.43A, and GS 90-171.44.

    Amends the definitions of terms used in the Nursing Practice Act. Adds definitions for advanced assessment, advanced practice registered nurse, nurse anesthesia activities, population focus, practice of nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse or APRN, practice of nursing as a certified nurse midwife or CNM, practice of nursing as a certified registered nurse anesthetist or CRNA, practice of nursing as a clinical nurse specialist or CNS, and practice of nursing as a nurse practitioner or NP. Amends the components listed that define the practice of nursing by a registered nurse to include collaborating with other health care providers in determining the appropriate health care for a patient (previously, limited to not prescribing a medical treatment regimen or making a medical diagnosis, except under the supervision of a licensed physician). Makes clarifying, organizational, and technical changes.

    Amends GS 90-18(c) to establish that the practice of nursing by a certified registered anesthetist does not constitute practicing medicine or surgery. Amends GS 90-29(b) to establish that a certified registered anesthetist administering anesthetic in collaboration with a licensed dentist pursuant to GS 90-171.20 does not constitute practicing dentistry.

    Amends the powers of the Board in GS 90-171.23 by empowering the Board to grant prescribing, ordering, dispensing, and furnishing authority to holders of the advanced practice registered nurses license (deletes the power of the Board to appoint and maintain a subcommittee to work with the NC Medical Board to develop rules and regulations to govern the performance of medical acts by registered nurses and to determine related application fees).

    Amends GS 90-171.27 to set out fees for application for licensure, license renewal, and reinstatement of lapsed licenses for APRNs.

    Enacts new GS 90-171.49 to allow the Board to waive the requirements of the Act to permit providing emergency health services to the public during states of emergency.

    Repeals GS 90-171.28, Nurses Registered Under Previous Law, and Article 10A of GS Chapter 90, Practice of Midwifery (makes a conforming change to GS 90-18).

    Applies to licenses applied for or renewed on or after January 1, 2020.