Bill S. 45 seeks to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws to grant full practice authority to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who meet specific criteria. The new section 40-33-31 allows the Board of Nursing to grant this authority, enabling APRNs to independently perform medical acts without a practice agreement. To qualify, an APRN must complete 2,000 clinical hours post-licensure, maintain malpractice insurance, and provide documentation of compliance to the board. The bill also outlines the responsibilities of APRNs with full practice authority, including notifying the board of any changes in practice settings and ensuring timely review of applications for full practice authority.

In addition to establishing full practice authority, the bill amends several existing sections of the South Carolina Code to clarify definitions and requirements for APRNs, including revisions to terms like "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse" and "Practice Agreement." It mandates biennial random audits of practice agreements and requires licensees without full practice authority to notify the board of changes in practice settings within fifteen business days. The bill also details requirements for nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists applying for prescriptive authority, including education hours in pharmacotherapeutics. Furthermore, it clarifies the role of certified registered nurse anesthetists in delivering anesthesia care and allows APRNs to perform medical acts via telemedicine under a practice agreement, emphasizing the importance of maintaining medical records for such services. 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