Existing law authorizes a physician, physician assistant, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, podiatric physician or optometrist to prescribe and dispense controlled substances and dangerous drugs under certain circumstances. (NRS 453.226, 454.215, 639.235) Existing law provides that provisions of existing law governing the practice of physicians, physician assistants, perfusionists and practitioners of respiratory care do not apply to any person permitted to practice any other healing art under title 54 of NRS who does so within the scope of that authority. (NRS 630.047) Sections 1, 2.2 and 3-5 of this bill provide similar exemptions from provisions governing dentists, nurses, osteopathic physicians and physician assistants, podiatrists and optometrists for practitioners of healing arts who are acting within the scope of their authority. Section 6 of this bill provides that the provisions of sections 1, 2.2 and 3-5 apply to any conduct by a practitioner of a healing art before, on or after the effective date of this bill which has not been the subject of a final order from the Board of Dental Examiners of Nevada, the State Board of Nursing, the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, the State Board of Podiatry or the Nevada State Board of Optometry. Section 6 also requires those boards to terminate any investigation or disciplinary proceedings for conduct that is outside the scope of those boards. Existing law: (1) provides for the certification of certified registered nurse anesthetists by the State Board of Nursing; and (2) authorizes a certified registered nurse anesthetist to administer anesthetic agents to a person under the care of a licensed physician, dentist or podiatric physician. (NRS 632.014) Section 2.4 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 2.4 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 2.6, 5.1, 5.5 and 5.9 of this bill additionally authorize a certified registered nurse anesthetist working 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 5.2-5.4 and 5.6-5.85 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 2.8 of this bill makes a conforming change to remove a provision now duplicated in section 2.4.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 631.115, 633.171, 635.015, 636.027
Reprint 1: 631.115, 632.014, 633.171, 635.015, 636.027, 639.0125, 453.016, 453.038, 453.091, 453.126, 453.128, 453.226, 453.336, 453.381, 453.391, 454.00958
Reprint 2: 631.115, 632.014, 633.171, 635.015, 636.027, 639.0125, 453.016, 453.038, 453.091, 453.126, 453.128, 453.226, 453.336, 453.381, 453.391, 454.00958
As Enrolled: 631.115, 632.014, 633.171, 635.015, 636.027, 639.0125, 453.016, 453.038, 453.091, 453.126, 453.128, 453.226, 453.336, 453.381, 453.391, 454.00958
BDR: 631.115, 633.171, 635.015, 636.027