SC H3580

Allows the Board of Nursing to grant "full practice authority" to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who complete 2,000 clinical hours after initial licensure and possess malpractice insurance, enabling them to practice independently without a physician practice agreement

APRNs with full practice authority may independently perform medical acts including ordering/interpreting diagnostics, diagnosing, prescribing medications (including Schedule II-V controlled substances), and delegating tasks to assistive personnel

Removes requirements for APRNs with full practice authority to have physician supervision, practice agreements, or spend time in underserved/rural areas that currently apply to nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists

Expands medical acts APRNs may perform to include committing patients to psychiatric facilities, holding hospital admitting privileges, certifying medical necessity, and executing do-not-resuscitate or physician orders for scope of treatment

Modifies prescriptive authority rules to allow APRNs with full practice authority to prescribe Schedule II narcotics for up to 30 days for chronic pain, hospice/palliative care, or long-term care patients without requiring physician agreement