Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 067 - Board of Nursing
Rule 067.00.18-003 - Rules, Chapter 3
Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 067.00.18-003
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
CHAPTER THREE REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER
SECTION I
SCOPE OF
PRACTICE
A.
REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER
A registered nurse practitioner is a licensed professional nurse prepared in the manner stated herein who provides direct care to individuals, families, and other groups in a variety of settings, including homes, hospitals, offices, industry, schools, and other institutions and health care settings. The service provided by the nurse practitioner is directed toward the delivery of primary, secondary, and tertiary care which focuses on the achievement and maintenance of optimal functions in the population. The nurse practitioner engages in independent decision making about the nursing care needs of clients and collaborates with health professionals and others in making decisions about other health care needs. The practitioner plans and institutes health care programs as a member of the health care team. The nurse practitioner is directly accountable and responsible to the recipient for the quality of care rendered.
Rules which apply to registered nurses are hereby incorporated by reference.
B.
ACTS
PROPER TO BE PERFORMED BY A REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER
1. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing
authorizes the registered nurse practitioner, in collaboration with and under
the direction of a licensed physician, to perform particular acts at the
advanced and specialized levels as recognized by the nursing profession and
which are in conformity with the Nurse Practice Act.
a. Secures, records, and evaluates the
health, psychosocial, and developmental history of patients;
b. Performs physical examinations using
techniques of observation, inspection, auscultation, palpation and percussion,
and uses appropriate diagnostic tests;
c. Discriminates between normal and abnormal
findings on the history and physical examination and refers the individuals who
need further evaluation or supervision;
d. Documents the processes of nursing care
delivery;
e. Contributes to the
comprehensive care of the ill in collaboration with the health care
team.
f. Coordinates health care
plans to enhance the quality of health care and diminish both fragmentation and
duplication of service;
g.
Contributes to the health education of individuals and groups and applies
methods designed to increase each person's motivation to assume responsibility
for his own health care;
h.
Facilitates entry into and through the health care system by appropriate
route;
i. Counsels with families
and/or individuals regarding family planning, pregnancy, child care, emotional
stresses, long term illness, and general health problems;
j. Performs periodic health evaluations and
plans for health maintenance of clients; and
k. Conducts community clinics for case
finding and screening for health problems.
2. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing
authorizes the registered nurse practitioner, in collaboration with and under
the direction of a licensed physician, to perform particular acts recognized by
the nursing profession and which are in conformity with the Nurse
Practice Act.
a. Assumes
responsibility for ongoing health maintenance and clinical management of stable
chronically ill patients;
b.
Provides initial care of emergencies and initiates arrangements for continuing
definitive care;
c. Identifies,
manages, and initiates treatment for common medical problems by "Protocols" as
described in Section
I.C.;
and
d. Evaluates progress and
manages prenatal and postpartum care.
C.
PROTOCOLS
1. Any nurse practicing as a registered nurse
practitioner shall practice in accordance with protocols developed in
collaboration with and signed by a licensed physician.
2. Protocols shall address:
a. Established procedures for the management
of common medical problems in the practice setting;
b. The degree to which collaboration,
independent action, and supervision are required; and c. Acts including, but
not limited to, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation.
3. Protocols shall not include
controlled substances.
4.
Documentation.
a. Orders transmitted from
protocols shall be documented on the client's medical record;
b. Orders transmitted from protocols to
inpatient medical records shall contain:
(1)
Name of medication, therapeutic device, or treatment;
(2) Strength;
(3) Dose;
(4) Length of time or amount
prescribed;
(5) Directions for
use;
(6) RNP Signature;
and
(7) Physician's name, printed,
followed by notation "protocol."
5. Any deviation from written protocols shall
require:
a. A specific written or verbal
order from the collaborating physician before the order is transmitted or
implemented; and
b. Documentation
in the medical record as specified in 4b.(1) -(6) above, and notation that
order was by consultation, to be signed by the RNP.
6. Review of Protocols
a. The RNP shall document annual joint review
with the licensed physician, and revise when necessary.
b. The RNP shall, upon request, provide the
Board with current protocols.
7. Nothing in this regulation shall be
construed to prohibit any registered nurse practitioner from transmitting a
prescription order orally or telephonically, or from administering a legend
drug pursuant to a lawful direction of a licensed physician, dentist, or
advanced practice nurse who holds a certificate of prescriptive
authority.
D.
SERVICES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The RNP shall, upon request of the Board, provide documentation outlining the extent of services, responsibilities, and required supervision of nurse practitioners, and the accompanying responsibilities of collaborating physicians.
E.
DELEGATED ACTS
The registered nurse practitioner shall demonstrate competence in any act or procedure delegated by the collaborating physician.
SECTION II
LICENSURE
A. Initial licensing of registered nurse
practitioners terminated on November 30, 2000.
B.
RENEWAL
1. The date for renewal of licensure to
practice as a registered nurse practitioner shall coincide with the renewal of
the applicant's registered nurse license.
2. An application for renewal of a registered
nurse practitioner license shall submit to the Board:
a. A completed application form;
and
b. Payment of the nonrefundable
renewal fee.
C.
LAPSED LICENSE
1. The license is lapsed if not renewed or
placed in an inactive status by the expiration date.
2. Failure to receive the renewal notice at
the last address of record at the Board office shall not relieve the licensee
of the responsibility for renewing the license by the expiration
date.
3. Any licensee whose license
has lapsed shall submit to the Board:
a. A
completed Board renewal application form; and
b. The renewal fee and the reinstatement
fee.
4. Fees are
nonrefundable.
5. Any person
practicing as a registered nurse practitioner during the time his or her
license has lapsed shall be considered an illegal practitioner and shall be
subjected to the penalties provided for violation of the Nurse Practice
Act.
D.
INACTIVE STATUS
1. Any licensee
who desires to temporarily inactivate their registered nurse practitioner
license shall submit a request to the Board.
2. The current license shall be placed on
inactive status.
3. While the
license is inactive, the licensee shall not engage in registered nurse
practitioner nursing nor be subject to the payment of renewal fees.
4. If the nurse desires to resume practice,
he or she shall submit a reinstatement application and meet the continuing
education requirements.
5. If
disciplinary proceedings on an inactive licensee have been initiated, the
license shall not be reinstated until the proceedings have been
completed.
SECTION
III
DUPLICATE LICENSE
A. The licensee shall immediately report a
lost, stolen, or destroyed license to the Board.
B. A duplicate license shall be issued when
the licensee submits a notarized statement to the Board that the document is
lost, stolen, or destroyed, and pays the required fee.
SECTION IV
NAME OR ADDRESS
CHANGE
A. A licensee whose
name is legally changed shall be issued a replacement license following
submission a name change form, a copy of marriage license or court action, and
the required fee.
B. A licensee,
whose address changes from the address on file with the Board, shall
immediately notify the Board in writing of the change.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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