Alabama Administrative Code
Title 540 - ALABAMA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
Chapter 540-X-8 - ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES: COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE
Section 540-X-8-.01 - Definitions. The following definitions will apply to these rules

(1) BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS. The State Board Of Medical Examiners established pursuant to Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-53.

(2) BOARD OF NURSING. The Board of Nursing established under Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-21-2.

(3) ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE. A registered nurse who has gained additional knowledge and skills through successful completion of an organized program of nursing education that prepares nurse for advanced practice roles and has been approved by the Board of Nursing to engage in the practice of advanced practice nursing. Two categories of advanced practice nurses are subject to the requirements of collaborative practice:

(4) ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING - COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE. The delivery of health care services by registered nurses who have gained additional knowledge and skills through successful completion of an organized program of nursing education that prepares nurses for advanced practice roles as certified registered nurse practitioners or certified nurse midwives:

(5) COLLABORATION. A formal relationship between one or more certified registered nurse practitioners or certified nurse midwives and a physician or physicians under which these nurses may engage in advanced practice nursing as evidenced by written protocols approved according to the requirements of Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-21-80, et. seq. or exempted according to requirements of this statute. The term collaboration does not require direct, on-site supervision of the activities of a certified registered nurse practitioner or a certified nurse midwife by the collaborating physician. The term does require such medical oversight and direction as required by the rules and regulations of the Board of Nursing and the State Board of Medical Examiners.

(6) PHYSICIAN OR COLLABORATING PHYSICIAN. A doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathy licensed to practice medicine in Alabama who agrees in writing to practice in collaboration with one or more certified registered nurse practitioners or certified nurse midwives according to the rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Nursing and the State Board of Medical Examiners.

(7) JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF NURSING AND THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES. The Joint Committee of the Board of Nursing and the State Board of Medical Examiners for Advanced Practice Nurses is a committee composed of the following, pursuant to Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-21-80 et seq.

(8) LEGEND DRUG. Any drug, medicine, chemical or poison bearing on the label the words, "Caution, federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription" or similar words indicating that such drug, medicine, chemical, or poison may be sold or dispensed only upon the prescription of a licensed practitioner, except that the term legend drug will not include any drug, substance, or compound which is listed Schedules I through V of the Alabama Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

(9) PRESCRIBE OR PRESCRIBING. The act of issuing a prescription for a legend drug.

(10) PRESCRIPTION. An order for a legend drug which is issued and signed by a practitioner authorized by law to prescribe and administer such drugs and is intended to be filled, compounded, or dispensed by a pharmacist.

(11) PROTOCOL. A document approved according to Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-21-81, establishing the permissible functions and activities to be performed by certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives and signed by collaborating physicians and any nurse practitioners or nurse midwives practicing with those physicians.

(12) MEDICAL OVERSIGHT. Concurrent and on-going collaboration between a physician and a CRNP or CNM and documentation of time together in a practice site; may include but is not limited to direct consultation and patient care, discussion of disease processes and medical care, review of patient records, protocols and outcome indicators, and other activities to promote positive patient outcomes.

(13) QUALITY ASSURANCE. Documented evaluation of the clinical practice of the certified registered nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife against defined quality outcome measures, using a selected, meaningful sample of patient records which will identify areas needing improvement, set performance goals, and assess progress towards meeting established goals, with a summary of findings, conclusions, and, if indicated, recommendations for change. The physician's signature on the patient record does not constitute quality improvement monitoring.

(14) PRINCIPAL PRACTICE SITE. The main location at which the collaborating physician is engaged in the practice of medicine.

(15) REMOTE PRACTICE SITE. An approved site for collaborative practice without a collaborative or covering physician on-site. The collaborating physician's principal practice site, acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, licensed, special-care assisted living facilities and licensed assisted living facilities are not remote practice sites for the purpose of these rules.

(16) READILY AVAILABLE. Response by the collaborating or covering physician by telephone or telecommunication for consultation, referral or direct medical intervention for a patient as indicated by the needs of a patient and based on usual and customary standards of medical practice.

(17) DIRECT MEDICAL INTERVENTION. Physical presence of a physician to attend the patient as defined in the collaborative practice protocol.

(18) COVERING PHYSICIAN. A doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathy licensed to practice medicine in Alabama who agrees in writing to be readily available to collaborate with and provide medical oversight to one or more certified registered nurse practitioners or certified nurse midwives and, if indicated, to provide direct medical intervention to patients during the absence of the Collaborating Physician. The covering physician shall be either a member of the same medical practice, practice group, or multidisciplinary medical team, or of the same or similar practice specialty as the collaborating physician and shall abide by the rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Nursing and the Board of Medical Examiners.