NAC632.255. Scope of practice.

An advanced practitioner of nursing may perform the following acts in addition to the functions of a registered nurse if the advanced practitioner of nursing is properly prepared and the acts are currently within the standard of practice for his or her clinical specialty and appear in his or her protocols:

     1. Systematically assess the health status of persons and families by:

     (a) Taking, recording and interpreting medical histories and performing physical examinations; and

     (b) Performing or initiating selected diagnostic procedures.

     2. Based on information obtained in the assessment of a person’s health, manage the care of selected persons and families with common, acute, recurrent or long-term health problems. Management may include:

     (a) Initiation of a program of treatment;

     (b) Evaluation of responses to health problems and programs of treatment;

     (c) Informing a person or family of the status of the patient’s health and alternatives for care;

     (d) Evaluation of compliance with a program of treatment agreed upon by the person or family and the advanced practitioner of nursing;

     (e) Modification of programs of treatment based on the response of the person or family to treatment;

     (f) Referral to appropriate providers of health care; and

     (g) Commencement of care required to stabilize a patient’s condition in an emergency until a physician can be consulted.

     3. Any other act if:

     (a) The advanced practitioner of nursing is certified to perform that act by an organization recognized by the Board;

     (b) The performance of the act was taught in the program of education attended by the advanced practitioner of nursing;

     (c) The performance of the act was taught in a comprehensive program of instruction successfully completed by the advanced practitioner of nursing, which included clinical experience;

     (d) The act is within the scope of practice of an advanced practitioner of nursing as determined by the Board; or

     (e) The advanced practitioner of nursing is trained to perform that act by a physician or another advanced practitioner of nursing and the act:

          (1) Has been described as being performed by an advanced practitioner of nursing in two or more national nursing publications, national nursing practice guidelines or national standards for nursing practice, or any combination thereof, which are listed in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, as adopted by reference in NAC 632.110; or

          (2) Has been individually approved by the Board.

     [Bd. of Nursing, § III subsec. C par. 4, eff. 5-16-79]—(NAC A 4-27-84; 3-28-86, eff. 4-3-86; 9-6-88; R081-06, 6-28-2006; R113-11, 9-14-2012)