The proposed bill aims to authorize advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Arkansas to delegate specific nursing tasks to qualified medical assistants and other unlicensed staff. The new section added to Arkansas Code Title 17, Chapter 87, Subchapter 1, outlines that APRNs can delegate tasks such as the administration of medications and immunizations, as well as phlebotomy activities, provided these tasks do not require specialized judgment. The bill emphasizes that while APRNs can delegate these tasks, they remain responsible for the actions of the healthcare workers performing them, and those workers must not present themselves as licensed professionals.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Arkansas State Board of Nursing will establish rules regarding the delegation process, including the setting in which tasks can be performed, evaluation criteria for delegation based on patient condition, and training requirements for those administering medications and immunizations. It also clarifies that individuals to whom tasks are delegated cannot further delegate those tasks to others, and it specifies that certified registered nurse anesthetists are not permitted to delegate anesthesia administration. The bill does not override any existing state laws that authorize individuals to perform specific tasks.