Existing law provides for the certification of certified registered nurse anesthetists, who are registered nurses who: (1) have completed a nationally accredited program in the science of anesthesia; and (2) administer anesthetic agents to a person under the care of a licensed physician, a licensed dentist or a licensed podiatric physician. (NRS 632.014) Section 2 of this bill requires the State Board of Nursing to issue a certificate of registration to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist to a registered nurse who meets the requirements prescribed by existing law for such certification and any additional requirements prescribed by the Board. Section 2 also requires the Board to adopt regulations governing certified registered nurse anesthetists. Existing law authorizes a registered nurse to possess and administer controlled substances and dangerous drugs under certain circumstances. (NRS 453.375, 454.213) Sections 3, 5, 10 and 16 of this bill additionally authorize a certified registered nurse anesthetist, under the supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine in this State, to order, prescribe, possess and administer controlled substances, poisons, dangerous drugs and devices to treat a person under the care of a licensed physician in a critical access hospital before, during and after surgery or childbirth. Sections 6-9 and 11-15 of this bill make additional changes necessary to authorize a certified registered nurse anesthetist to order, prescribe, possess and administer controlled substances, poisons, dangerous drugs and devices in such circumstances. A certified registered nurse anesthetist who unlawfully possesses, prescribes or administers a controlled substance, dangerous drug or poison would be subject to discipline and criminal and civil penalties to the same extent as other practitioners who unlawfully possess, prescribe or administer such drugs. (NRS 453.236, 453.305, 453.326, 453.3363, 453.553, 454.170, 454.356) Section 4 of this bill makes a conforming change to remove a provision now duplicated in section 2.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 629.515, 630.021, 630.0257, 630.261, 630.268, 632.237, 632.345, 632.347, 632.352, 633.711, 639.0015, 639.01535, 639.1375, 639.2351, 422.2721, 433.314, 433.4295, 439.245, 439.916, 439B.220, 449.1925, 453.023, 454.0015, 616C.730, 687B.490, 689A.0463, 689B.0369, 689C.195, 695A.265, 695B.1904, 695C.1708, 695D.216, 695G.162, 632.014
Reprint 1: 632.014, 639.0125, 453.016, 453.038, 453.091, 453.126, 453.128, 453.226, 453.336, 453.381, 453.391, 454.00958
Reprint 2: 632.014, 639.0125, 453.016, 453.038, 453.091, 453.126, 453.128, 453.226, 453.336, 453.381, 453.391, 454.00958
BDR: 629.515, 630.021, 630.0257, 630.261, 630.268, 632.237, 632.345, 632.347, 632.352, 633.711, 639.0015, 639.01535, 639.1375, 639.2351, 422.2721, 433.314, 433.4295, 439.245, 439.916, 439B.220, 449.1925, 453.023, 454.0015, 616C.730, 687B.490, 689A.0463, 689B.0369, 689C.195, 695A.265, 695B.1904, 695C.1708, 695D.216, 695G.162, 632.014