HOUSE BILL 35

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Marian Matthews and Candie G. Sweetser and Rebecca Dow

 

 

 

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO NURSING; PROVIDING FOR AN INDEPENDENT ROLE FOR CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 61-3-23.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1991, Chapter 190, Section 15, as amended) is amended to read:

     "61-3-23.3. CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST--

QUALIFICATIONS--LICENSURE--PRACTICE--ENDORSEMENT--EXPEDITED LICENSURE.--

          A. The board may license for advanced practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist an applicant who furnishes evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:

                (1) is a registered nurse;

                (2) has successfully completed a nurse anesthesia education program accredited by the council on accreditation of nurse anesthesia [education] educational programs; provided that, if the applicant is initially licensed by the board or a board in another jurisdiction after January 1, 2001, the program shall be at a master's level or higher; and

                (3) is certified by the [council on] national board of certification [of] and recertification for nurse anesthetists.

          B. A certified registered nurse anesthetist may provide preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative anesthesia care and related services, including ordering of diagnostic tests, in accordance with the current American association of nurse anesthetists' guidelines for nurse anesthesia practice.

          C. Certified registered nurse anesthetists [shall] may function in either an [interdependent] independent role [as a member of a health care team in which the medical care of the patient is directed by a licensed physician, osteopathic physician, dentist or podiatrist licensed in New Mexico pursuant to Chapter 61, Article 5A, 6, 8 or 10 NMSA 1978. The certified registered nurse anesthetist shall collaborate with the licensed physician, osteopathic physician, dentist or podiatrist concerning the anesthesia care of the patient] or in collaboration with other health care providers in accordance with the policies of a health care facility. As used in this subsection, "collaboration" means the process in which each health care provider contributes the health care provider's respective expertise. [Collaboration includes systematic formal planning and evaluation between the health care professionals involved in the collaborative practice arrangement.]

          D. A certified registered nurse anesthetist who has fulfilled the requirements for prescriptive authority in the area of anesthesia practice is authorized to prescribe and administer therapeutic measures, including dangerous drugs and controlled substances included in Schedules II through V of the Controlled Substances Act within the emergency procedures, perioperative care or perinatal care environments. Dangerous drugs and controlled substances, pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act, that have been prepared, packaged or fabricated by a registered pharmacist or doses of drugs that have been prepackaged by a pharmaceutical manufacturer in accordance with the Pharmacy Act and the New Mexico Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act may be prescribed and administered.

          E. A certified registered nurse anesthetist who has fulfilled the requirements for prescriptive authority in the area of anesthesia practice may prescribe in accordance with rules, regulations and guidelines. The board shall adopt rules concerning a prescriptive authority formulary for certified registered nurse anesthetists that shall be based on the scope of practice of certified registered nurse anesthetists. The board, in collaboration with the New Mexico medical board, shall develop the formulary. Certified registered nurse anesthetists who prescribe shall do so in accordance with the prescriptive authority formulary.

          F. From July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2019, upon a determination by the board that an application is complete and approved, the board shall issue a license to a certified registered nurse anesthetist licensed in another state if the applicant meets the qualifications required of certified registered nurse anesthetists in this state. The board shall expedite the issuance of the license within five business days.

          G. A health care facility may adopt policies relating to the providing of anesthesia care.

          H. A certified registered nurse anesthetist licensed by the board shall maintain this certification with the American association of nurse anesthetists' council on certification."

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