The bill S. 45 seeks to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws to enhance the practice authority of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) by introducing a new section, 40-33-31. This section allows the Board of Nursing to grant full practice authority to APRNs who meet specific criteria, such as completing 2,000 clinical hours and possessing malpractice insurance. This change eliminates the current requirement for practice agreements for many medical acts, enabling APRNs to operate independently. The bill also includes conforming changes to existing definitions and requirements related to nursing practice and the delegation of tasks to unlicensed personnel.

Additionally, the bill mandates biennial random audits of practice agreements and requires licensees without full practice authority to notify the board of any changes in practice settings or physicians within fifteen business days. It outlines the requirements for nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists applying for prescriptive authority, including education in pharmacotherapeutics. The bill clarifies the prescribing capabilities of APRNs with full practice authority and addresses their use of telemedicine, allowing them to perform medical acts and establish nurse-patient relationships while adhering to specific standards of care. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/11/2024: 40-33-31, 40-33-20, 40-33-34, 40-33-42, 40-33-110
Latest Version: 40-33-31, 40-33-20, 40-33-34, 40-33-42, 40-33-110