DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 620 Original 2016 Regular Session Willmott
Abstract: Exempts any nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and certified nurse midwife who
meets certain qualifications from a requirement to practice under a collaborative practice
agreement with one or more physicians or dentists.
Present law relative to the practice of nursing provides that an advanced practice registered nurse
(APRN) is a licensed registered nurse who is certified by a nationally recognized certifying body as
having an advanced nursing specialty and who meets criteria established in present law and in rules
of the La. State Board of Nursing, referred to hereafter as the "board". Provides that the types of
APRNs may include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides nine enumerated functions of advanced practice registered nursing, two of
which are:
(1)Analyzing multiple sources of data and identifying and performing certain acts of medical
diagnosis in accordance with a collaborative practice agreement with one or more consulting
physicians or dentists.
(2)Consulting with or referring patients to licensed physicians, dentists, and other health care
providers in accordance with a collaborative practice agreement.
Proposed law revises present law to provide that certain APRNs may perform these two functions
without necessity of a collaborative practice agreement if they are exempted from the collaborative
practice agreement requirement in accordance with proposed law.
Proposed law provides that each nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and certified nurse
midwife who meets all of the following qualifications shall be exempt from any requirement to enter
into a collaborative practice agreement set forth in present law as a condition for performing
advanced practice registered nursing:
(1)Currently holds unencumbered, unrestricted, and valid registered nurse and advanced
practice registered nurse licenses in this state and is not subject to disciplinary proceedings
for any of the grounds provided in present law.
(2)Has experience as recognized by the board to be no less than 250 hours in collaborative
practice. (3)Has successfully completed academic coursework in physical assessment, advanced
pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology.
Proposed law stipulates that the board shall have the exclusive and final authority to determine
whether a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse midwife has met the
qualifications for exemption from the collaborative practice agreement requirement as provided in
proposed law.
Proposed law provides that upon application of a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or
certified nurse midwife, if the board determines that all qualifications required by proposed law have
been met, the nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse midwife shall not be
required to enter into a collaborative practice agreement in order to perform advanced practice
registered nursing.
Proposed law requires that the board issue to each nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and
certified nurse midwife it deems to be qualified for the exemption provided in proposed law a
certificate which bears all of the following:
(1)The name of the applicant.
(2)The date of approval for the exemption.
(3)A statement of reliance verifying the exemption.
(4)The signature of a designee of the board, under the seal of the board.
Proposed law provides that each certificate issued in accordance with proposed law shall be
admissible as evidence in all state courts as verification of the exemption from the collaborative
practice agreement requirement provided in proposed law without the necessity of a personal court
appearance by a member of the board.
Proposed law authorizes the board to revoke an exemption granted pursuant to proposed law at any
time if it determines that an APRN no longer meets the qualifications required by proposed law.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 37:913(3)(a)(vii) and (ix), (8), and (9)(intro. para.); Adds R.S. 37:1018.1)