MO HB1491

Expands the definition of "advanced practice registered nursing" to include specific authorized acts such as patient assessment and diagnosis, ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests, performing procedures, ordering treatments and medications, providing palliative care, patient education, and delegating tasks to other health care providers.

Allows all licensed APRNs to prescribe and institute medication therapy within their practice specialty and prescribe, procure, administer, and dispense medication samples without requiring a separate controlled substance prescriptive authority certificate.

Establishes requirements for APRNs seeking controlled substance prescriptive authority, including completion of an advanced pharmacology course, 300 clock hours of preceptorial experience, 1,000 hours of advanced practice nursing, and a collaborative practice arrangement with a physician.

Updates APRN licensure requirements to mandate completion of an accredited graduate-level APRN program in one of four roles with at least one population focus (effective January 1, 2009) and current national certification in the appropriate APRN role and population.

Treats combined APRN and RN licenses as a single license for renewal purposes and makes technical updates to nursing practice definitions and references throughout the chapter.