HB0312 Summary

• Changes all references in the Nurse Practice Act from "advanced practice nurse" (APN) to "advanced practice registered nurse" (APRN) throughout relevant sections concerning scope of practice, collaborative agreements, prescriptive authority, titles, advertising, continuing education, and professional conduct reporting.

• Requires all postgraduate APRNs to maintain written collaborative agreements with a collaborating APRN or physician until completing 3,000 hours of clinical practice, after which they may petition for full practice authority without a collaborative agreement.

• Defines "full practice authority" for APRNs certified as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, or nurse midwives, allowing them to practice independently with prescriptive authority for all Schedule II-V controlled substances upon meeting specified requirements.

• Removes most provisions allowing APRNs to practice in hospitals, hospital affiliates, or ambulatory surgical treatment centers without collaborative agreements, except for anesthesia services and requirements to comply with other state laws.

• Modifies collaborative agreements to allow agreements with either APRNs or physicians (removing podiatrists as collaborators for most contexts) and prohibits non-employment collaborative agreements from restricting patient categories, third-party payors, geographic area, or practice location.