SB15-197: Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriptive Authority

• Define "advanced practice nurse" as an advanced practice registered nurse licensed in Colorado who obtains specialized education or training and is accepted by the board for inclusion in the advanced practice registry.

• Require advanced practice nurses applying for prescriptive authority to complete 1,800 hours of documented preceptorship with a physician or physician and advanced practice nurse, plus provide evidence of at least 3 years of combined clinical nursing experience.

• Establish a two-stage prescriptive authority process: provisional authority after meeting initial requirements, then full authority after completing 1,800 hours of mentorship and developing a signed articulated plan for safe prescribing with physician oversight.

• Allow remote synchronous communication (excluding email) between mentors and advanced practice nurses during required mentorship periods.

• Add provisions allowing physicians and advanced practice nurses serving as preceptors or mentors to request reimbursement of reasonable expenses and time, and make failure to comply with articulated plan requirements grounds for disciplinary action.