Mississippi Senate Bill 2088 Summary

• Changes the title of the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law to the Mississippi Nurse Practice Law and clarifies the Board of Nursing's role as a consumer protection agency with authority to regulate nursing practice and establish scope of practice.

• Revises the composition of the Mississippi Board of Nursing from a complex structure to thirteen (13) members including seven (7) registered nurses (one of whom is an APRN), four (4) licensed practical nurses, one (1) physician, and one (1) consumer representative.

• Modifies Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) requirements to make collaboration with physicians optional rather than mandatory and establishes four (4) recognized APRN roles: Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Registered Nurse Midwife, and Clinical Nurse Specialist.

• Consolidates and streamlines licensure procedures for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and APRNs by requiring fingerprint-based criminal history checks and clarifying application, examination, endorsement, and renewal processes.

• Establishes procedures for investigation and discipline of licensees, including summary suspension authority, hearing panel requirements, administrative cost recovery, and restoration of revoked or suspended licenses after minimum twelve (12) months.