The bill seeks to remove practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs) in New Jersey, enabling them to fully utilize their education and training, particularly in light of a physician shortage and the need for healthcare access in underserved areas. Key amendments include the elimination of the requirement for APNs to collaborate with a physician for prescribing medications and devices, as well as the removal of joint protocols and supervision requirements. The definition of "collaborating provider" is updated to encompass experienced APNs, and new provisions allow them to manage preventive care, diagnose and monitor long-term illnesses, and administer anesthesia. The bill also highlights the positive outcomes observed during the temporary waivers of practice restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, the legislation introduces new requirements for APNs to issue prescriptions, including the use of New Jersey Prescription Blanks and completion of continuing education in pharmacology for controlled substances. APNs with less than 24 months or 2,400 hours of active practice must establish a joint protocol with a collaborating provider to prescribe, while more experienced APNs can practice independently. The bill clarifies that certified APNs in anesthesia can operate without supervision or joint protocols, and it mandates that any legal requirement for a physician's signature will also apply to APNs. Outdated sections of law are repealed, and the New Jersey Board of Nursing and the Commissioner of Health are tasked with adopting regulations to implement these new provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 45:11-23, 45:11-49, 45:11-49.3, 45:11-50