1. The Board may issue a license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse to a registered nurse:

(a) Who is licensed by endorsement pursuant to NRS 632.161 or 632.162 and holds a corresponding valid and unrestricted license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse in the District of Columbia or any other state or territory of the United States; or

(b) Who:

(1) Has completed an educational program designed to prepare a registered nurse to:

(I) Perform designated acts of medical diagnosis;

(II) Prescribe therapeutic or corrective measures; and

(III) Prescribe controlled substances, poisons, dangerous drugs and devices;

(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, submits proof that he or she is certified as an advanced practice registered nurse by the American Board of Nursing Specialties, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, or their successor organizations, or any other nationally recognized certification agency approved by the Board; and

(3) Meets any other requirements established by the Board for such licensure.

2. An advanced practice registered nurse may:

(a) Engage in selected medical diagnosis and treatment;

(b) Order home health care for a patient;

(c) If authorized pursuant to NRS 639.2351 and subject to the limitations set forth in subsection 3, prescribe controlled substances, poisons, dangerous drugs and devices; and

(d) Provide his or her signature, certification, stamp, verification or endorsement when a signature, certification, stamp, verification or endorsement by a physician is required, if providing such a signature, certification, stamp, verification or endorsement is within the authorized scope of practice of an advanced practice registered nurse.

An advanced practice registered nurse shall not engage in any diagnosis, treatment or other conduct which the advanced practice registered nurse is not qualified to perform.

3. An advanced practice registered nurse who is authorized to prescribe controlled substances, poisons, dangerous drugs and devices pursuant to NRS 639.2351 shall not prescribe a controlled substance listed in schedule II unless:

(a) The advanced practice registered nurse has at least 2 years or 2,000 hours of clinical experience; or

(b) The controlled substance is prescribed pursuant to a protocol approved by a collaborating physician.

4. An advanced practice registered nurse may perform the acts described in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection 2 by using equipment that transfers information concerning the medical condition of a patient in this State electronically, telephonically or by fiber optics, including, without limitation, through telehealth, as defined in NRS 629.515, from within or outside this State or the United States.

5. Nothing in paragraph (d) of subsection 2 shall be deemed to expand the scope of practice of an advanced practice registered nurse who provides his or her signature, certification, stamp, verification or endorsement in the place of a physician.

6. The Board shall adopt regulations:

(a) Specifying any additional training, education and experience necessary for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse.

(b) Delineating the authorized scope of practice of an advanced practice registered nurse, including, without limitation, when an advanced practice registered nurse is qualified to provide his or her signature, certification, stamp, verification or endorsement in the place of a physician.

(c) Establishing the procedure for application for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse.

7. The provisions of subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of subsection 1 do not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse who obtains a license before July 1, 2014.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 1525; A 1991, 790; 2001, 407; 2011, 1004; 2013, 2015, 2016, 2072, 2073; 2015, 624, 3005, 3881; 2017, 1739; 2019, 147)