Bill H. 3580 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, APRNs must complete 2,000 clinical hours post-licensure, maintain malpractice insurance, and provide documentation of compliance to the board. The bill also includes provisions for APRNs to notify the board of changes in practice settings and outlines the definition of "full practice authority," which encompasses a range of medical and non-medical acts.

The bill also amends existing sections to clarify definitions and requirements for APRNs, ensuring that those with full practice authority are not subject to the same practice agreement requirements as those without it. It mandates biennial random audits of practice agreements and requires licensees without full practice authority to notify the board of changes in practice settings or physicians within fifteen business days. Additionally, it outlines requirements for nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists applying for prescriptive authority, including education hours in pharmacotherapeutics and controlled substances. The bill 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:
12/12/2024: 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