Code of Massachusetts Regulations
244 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN NURSING
Title 244 CMR 4.00 - Advanced Practice Registered Nursing
Section 4.06 - Responsibility, Accountability and Scope of Practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Universal Citation: 244 MA Code of Regs 244.4
Current through Register 1518, March 29, 2024
Each APRN is responsible and accountable for their nursing judgments, actions, and competency.
(1) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
(a) A CRNA will only practice in the clinical
category(s) for which the CRNA has attained and maintained certification. A
CRNA may attain additional competencies within their category(s) consistent
with the scope and standards of CRNA practice. It is the responsibility of each
CRNA to maintain records of competency-based training and submit evidence to
the Board upon request.
(b) The
scope of CRNA practice is reflective of standards for the provision of
healthcare services in diverse settings for for individuals across the
lifespan, whose health status may range from healthy through all recognized
levels of acuity, including persons with immediate, severe, or life-threatening
illness or injury, including anesthesia care and anesthesia-related care, acute
and chronic pain management, palliative care, emergency care, critical care,
resuscitative and sedation services. In order to issue prescriptions, the CRNA
must register with the Department of Public Health's Drug Control Program
pursuant to M.G.L. c. 94C, and
105 CMR
700.00: Implementation of M.G.L. c.
94C, as well as with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), if
applicable.
(c) A CRNA who does not
register for prescriptive authority administers anesthesia pursuant to the
signed order of a registered prescriber. Such CRNA may select anesthetic agents
based upon protocols that are mutually developed with a registered prescriber
responsible for the perioperative care of a patient, as appropriate for the
practice setting.
(d) Pursuant to
M.G.L. c. 112, § 80H, the administration of anesthesia by a CRNA directly
to a patient does not require a prescription.
(2) Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).
(a) A CNM will only
practice in the clinical category(s) for which the CNM has attained and
maintained certification. A CNM may attain additional competencies within their
category(s) consistent with the scope and standards of CNM practice. It is the
responsibility of each CNM to maintain records of competency-based training and
submit evidence to the Board upon request.
(b) The scope of CNM practice is reflective
of the standards established by a Board recognized national organization for
midwifery practice for the provision of primary health care services in diverse
settings to individuals throughout the lifespan, including gynecologic care,
abortion for pregnancy less than 24 weeks, family planning services,
preconception care, prenatal and postpartum care, childbirth, care of the
newborn and treatment of the partner of their clients for sexually transmitted
disease, transgender care, sexual health and reproductive health for which the
CNM has been educationally prepared and for which competency has been
established and maintained. A CNM practices within a healthcare system and
develops clinical relationships with obstetrician-gynecologists.
(3) Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP).
(a) A CNP
will only practice in the clinical category(s) for which the CNP has attained
and maintained certification. A CNP may attain additional competencies within
their category(s) consistent with the scope and standards of CNP practice. It
is the responsibility of each CNP to maintain records of competency-based
training and submit evidence to the Board upon request.
(b) The scope of CNP practice is reflective
of standards for the provision of health care services in diverse settings to
individuals throughout the lifespan, including health promotion, disease
prevention, health education, abortion for pregnancy less than 24 weeks,
counseling and making referrals to other members of the health care team, as
well as the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic illness and
disease.
(c) Pursuant to M.G.L. c.
112, § 80I, when a law or rule requires a signature, certification, stamp,
verification, affidavit or endorsement by a physician, when relating to
physical or mental health, that requirement may be fulfilled by a CNP, provided
that the signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit, or
endorsement is consistent with established scope of practice standards and does
not expand the scope of practice of the CNP.
(d) Pursuant to St. 2012, c. 369 and M.G.L.
c. 112, § 80I, CNPs with independent practice authority, and CNPs under
supervised practice pursuant to mutually agreed upon guidelines between the CNP
and Qualified Healthcare Professional, as defined in
244
CMR 4.07, supervising the CNP's prescriptive
practice, are authorized to issue written certifications of marijuana for
medical use.
(4) Psychiatric Nurse Mental Health Clinical Specialist (PNMHCS).
(a) A PNMHCS will only
practice in the clinical category(s) for which the PNMHCS has attained and
maintained certification. A PNMHCS may attain additional competencies within
their category(s) consistent with the scope and standards of PNMHCS practice.
It is the responsibility of each PNMHCS to maintain records of competency-based
training and submit evidence to the Board upon request.
(b) The scope of PNMHCS practice is
reflective of standards for the provision of psychiatric health care services
in diverse settings to individuals throughout the lifespan, including health
promotion, disease prevention, health education, counseling and making
referrals to other members of the health care team, as well as the diagnosis
and management of acute and chronic psychiatric illness and psychiatric
disease.
(5) Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).
(a) A CNS will only practice in the clinical
category(s) for which the CNS has attained and maintained certification. A CNS
may attain additional competencies within their category(s) consistent with the
scope and standards of CNS practice. It is the responsibility of each CNS to
maintain records of competency-based training and submit evidence to the Board
upon request.
(b) The scope of CNS
practice is reflective of standards for the integration of an advanced level of
direct and indirect nursing care beyond the scope of RN practice. In addition
to the provision of assistance to other nurses and health professionals in
establishing and meeting health goals of individuals and groups, a CNS may
provide health care services in diverse settings to individuals throughout the
lifespan, including health promotion, disease prevention, health education,
counseling and making referrals to other members of the health care team, as
well as the diagnosis and management of illness and disease.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts 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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