Source: http://bon.state.tx.us/faq_practice_aprn.asp
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 02:38:38+00:00

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Can a nurse anesthetist use the term nurse anesthesiologist in the State of Texas? What needs to be on a Prescription?
What is the first step to obtaining an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license in Texas?
from a state that is party to the Nurse Licensure Compact for RNs and LVNs/LPNs before any level of APRN licensure can be granted. If you need to apply for a Texas RN license, you will find endorsement applications on our website by clicking here. For more information about the Nurse Licensure Compact, see below.
Can I send my RN endorsement application and my APRN application in together?
Yes, however we will not grant any level of approval until you hold a current, valid RN license (temporary or full) or privilege to practice in the state of Texas.
How can I obtain the APRN application?
the application by downloading it from the website (click here to download the application). If you are unable to download the application, you may request that an application be mailed to you by emailing the APRN office at aprn@bon.texas.gov or by calling the APRN office at (512) 305-6843. Because applications are sent via bulk mail, it may take 1-3 weeks for you to receive the application by mail, depending on the United States' postal system. Generally, applications will be mailed within 5 business days from the date that the request for the application is received. We regret that we are unable to fax the application to you nor can we send it to you via overnight delivery services.
How long will it take you to approve my application?
We make every attempt to review and respond as quickly as possible, but the process may take up to 30 business days based on the volume of applications received at any given time. Applications and supporting documentation are processed in the order in which they are received.
What can I do to speed up the approval process?
read the application instructions and Rule 221 (and 222 if you are applying for prescriptive authority) carefully to be certain you meet the requirements outlined in Board rules. If you submit your application online, please be certain to provide us with the supporting documentation as indicated in the completion packet that is part of the online application.
What are the educational requirements for APRN licensure in Texas?
The educational requirements may be found in Board Rule 221.3. Although you may have been licensed/authorized as an APRN in another state, you must meet the educational requirements set by the Texas Board of Nursing in order to be licensed as an APRN in Texas. We recommend you review this rule very carefully before you submit your application.
How will I know if you have everything you need to process the application?
Any requests for additional information will be written requests (e-mail if available) that will be mailed to your address of record. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we generally will not call to alert you of mistakes or the need for new information.
Can I call you to check on the status of my application?
Please understand that it generally takes us about 30 days to review and respond to new applications or new information that is sent to our office. If you call our office, we may not have had a chance to review your application. We make every attempt to review information as quickly as possible and to respond in writing (e-mail if available) with an approval or with a request for additional information.
I sent in my transcript and/or national certification with my RN endorsement application. Do I need to send another one with my APRN application?
Yes. Each application to our office requires its own set of documentation.
Can I send my APRN application and Prescriptive Authority application in together?
The application that is currently on the web site allows you to apply for both advanced practice licensure and prescriptive authority in a single application. Prescriptive authority is an optional authorization. If you are requesting only licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse, a $100 processing fee is required. If you are requesting both licensure and prescriptive authority, a $150 processing fee is required.
may grant interim approval when it appears that the applicant will meet the requirements for full licensure as an APRN in Texas but additional information is needed. This type of approval is granted for a period not to exceed 120 days. Per Rule 221.6 (b)(3), extensions of the interim approval period may not be granted.
I just graduated from my APRN program. Can I work before I take the certification exam?
The Texas Board of Nursing no longer issues interim approval to new graduates who have not yet taken and passed their national certification examinations. You must submit evidence of current national certification (must show expiration date) before you will be eligible for interim approval or full advanced practice licensure.
I'm nationally certified as an APRN. Do I still need to apply for licensure?
Yes. National certification is one of the requirements for licensure as an APRN in Texas. However, you must meet all of the requirements that are outlined in Rules 221.3 and 221.4 in order to be licensed, practice, or hold yourself out as an APRN in Texas.
Can I call myself an APRN and/or use my advanced practice title if I have completed an APRN program and/or if I'm nationally certified?
license from the Texas Board of Nursing before you may claim to be an advanced practice registered nurse or hold yourself out as an advanced practice registered nurse in this state. You may not use a title or any other designation tending to imply that you are licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse without current licensure from the Texas Board of Nursing.
I'm licensed as an APRN in another state. Can I endorse into Texas as an APRN?
No, endorsement is not available for those who desire to be licensed as an APRN in Texas. Any person wishing to be licensed as an APRN in Texas must meet the requirements that are outlined in Rule 221, regardless of licensure in another state or prior work experience. APRN requirements vary from state to state. Therefore, please read Rule 221 carefully to determine that you are eligible for APRN licensure in Texas.
The Compact status is only extended to those nurses who meet requirements for licensure in their home state that is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Proof of a nurses's primary state of residence may be required. Documentation to verify this information may include, but is not limited to, a driver's license with a home address, voter registration card displaying a home address, and/or federal income tax return declaring the primary state of residence. A nurse who permanently moves from one Compact state to another must obtain an RN license in the new home state. For more information on the Nursing Licensure Compact, click here: https://www.ncsbn.org/nlc.htm. For a list of current Compact states, please click here: https://www.ncsbn.org/Implementation_dates_list.pdf.
Please note that at this time, Texas has not implemented the APRN compact. Therefore, in order to practice in Texas, you must have a privilege to practice on your RN license from your home state that is party to the Nurse Licensure Compact. If your primary state of residence is not party to the Nurse Licensure Compact, you must obtain a Texas RN license.
How does the Nurse Licensure Compact affect my ability to work as an APRN in Texas?
If you have a current, valid Compact RN license, you are not required to obtain a Texas RN license before applying for APRN licensure in Texas.
What if I have eligibility issues (such as criminal history or disciplinary action in another state or on a different type of professional license)?
This may take up to three months to complete if an eligibility determination is required. Additional fees may also be required. If additional fees are needed, you will be notified in writing. No approvals will be granted until clearance is received from the enforcement department. If you have eligibility issues to declare, you will not be able to submit your application online. You may download an application by clicking here or by e-mailing your request for application materials to aprn@bon.texas.gov.
Please note: Providing false information on your application is a violation of board rule and the Texas Penal Code. Additional information is available in the board's disciplinary sanction policy on lying and falsification.
Once I am approved as an APRN, do I need to submit a new application to expand into a different role or population focus area of practice? Isn’t an APRN license good for practice in any area?
role and population focus area. You cannot legally expand your scope of practice from one area of licensure to another without meeting the educational and licensure requirements set by the board (see above). This means you must submit a separate application and fee for each APRN role and population focus area in which you are seeking licensure.
This is also the case for prescriptive authority. Although you have prescriptive authority in one role and population focus area, you must apply for and meet the requirements for prescriptive authority in each APRN category in which you wish to be licensed to practice.
The Texas Board of Nursing (Board) recognizes specific certification examinations for specific roles and population focus areas. The Board has an obligation to the public it serves and to its licensees to verify that each certification examination tests for entry level competence in the particular advanced practice role and population focus area. Therefore, the Board must have a process in place whereby each examination is reviewed for initial recognition and on a recurring basis in order to be certain the certification process continues to meet the criteria set forth by the Board in the “Criteria for Evaluation of National Certification Examinations for Recognition from the Texas Board of Nursing,” adopted in October 2003.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) also has a review process in place for advanced practice certification examinations. The NCSBN’s examination review criteria have been reviewed and determined to be substantially equivalent to the evaluation criteria adopted by the Board. Therefore, it shall be the policy of the Board to recognize certification examinations that have previously been reviewed and approved by the NCSBN in lieu of completing a separate evaluation. This shall include both review of new examinations as well as recurrent reviews of existing examinations.
Should the NCSBN review an examination as a result of any of the aforementioned factors, the Board may elect to accept the NCSBN’s review in lieu of completing its own evaluation.
Which certifications are recognized by the Texas Board of Nursing?
Why are APRNs required to be nationally certified?
There is no licensure examination for APRNs. Therefore, national certification examinations serve to assess the nurse’s knowledge of the APRN core and role competencies across the population focus area for which the nurse was educated and is seeking licensure (Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education, 2008). This is one mechanism by which boards of nursing can provide assurance to the public that the APRN demonstrated the minimum level of competency for entry into practice in the APRN role and population focus area prior to issuing an APRN license.
I completed my APRN education prior to January 1, 1996. Do I have to be nationally certified?
The answer to your question depends on whether the program you completed was accredited by a national nursing education accreditation organization recognized by the Texas Board of Nursing (Board) at the time you completed the APRN program. Please note that the accreditation must have covered the specific APRN program or track you completed. Also, please be aware that the entity that accredits the program now may not have accredited the program at the time you completed it. If your program met this accreditation requirement, you are not required to maintain national certification as a requirement to maintain APRN licensure in Texas. However, if your program was not accredited by a national nursing education accreditation organization recognized by the Board at the time you completed it, you must maintain your national certification in order to maintain APRN licensure in Texas.
I was licensed as an APRN in another state where national certification was not required. Do I need to get certified to endorse my APRN license to Texas?
Yes. Texas bases all APRN licensure decisions on whether the education and certification requirements as specified in Board Rule have been met. It is not possible for staff to grant an exemption to the national certification requirement, and the Board has never granted such an exemption. National standards for APRN licensure require licensure decisions that are based on formal education and national certification in the APRN role and population focus area, and the Board’s rules are consistent with this standard. Board staff consider all applications for licensure based on the standards contained in Board Rule.
Does my national certification allow me to practice before I get my Texas APRN license since it is a national document?
No. National certification organizations do not grant authority to practice in any jurisdiction, including Texas. You must have a Texas APRN license in order to practice as an APRN in Texas.
The national certifying organization says I can use my APRN certification credential now that I have passed my test. Is this correct?
APRN titles are protected titles in the state of Texas. Board Rule 221.2(c)(2) prohibits the use of any titles that imply the bearer is an APRN if the individual is not licensed by the Board as an APRN in the state of Texas. Certification credentials for APRNs include the use of various APRN titles. It could be confusing to patients and to the public who may not readily understand the differences between APRN licensure and certification. You may use your national certification credential when you are licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing as an APRN if you choose to do so. Board Rule 221.11 requires only that you use your RN credential and the APRN licensure title that is specified on your APRN license (e.g., RN, FNP or RN, CNS-PMH). Use of certification credentials is optional.
If I am licensed in more than one APRN role and/or population focus area, do I have to be certified in each of the additional roles and/or population focus areas?
Yes. APRN licensure is specific to each role and population focus area. Therefore, in order to obtain or maintain licensure in each role and population focus, you must maintain national certification in each.
The Board recognizes more than one national certification examination for my APRN role and population focus area. Does the Board have a preference for which exam I should take?
No. The Board has never had a preference for one certification organization over another. All certification organizations that offer APRN exams required for licensure purposes are held to the same quality standard. Neither the Board nor its staff can advise you which exam you should take. We recommend that you review information regarding the certification process and determine which exam would be best for you. Questions regarding the process should be directed to the certifying organization.
I have a question about the certification process or renewal of my certification. Can the Board help me with those questions?
No. Board staff cannot speak as experts on requirements that are not within the Board’s jurisdiction. Questions about certification requirements and certification renewal requirements must be directed to the appropriate certification organization. Certification requirements are not determined by the Board, and only the certification organization has the authority to advise on its requirements.
I was certified, but my certification accidentally lapsed. Can I still practice since my APRN license is current?
If your certification has lapsed, you are not eligible to practice as an APRN in Texas until your certification or recertification status is current (Rule 221.8). The Texas Board of Nursing is not notified by the certifying bodies when national certifications lapse or expire, so it is incumbent upon you as an APRN to recognize when your national certification has lapsed or expired and cease practice in the APRN role and population focus area. You may continue to practice as a registered nurse until your national certification or recertification has been returned to current status.
Is the Texas Board of Nursing automatically notified when I pass my certification examination or if my certification status changes?
Generally, the answer to this question is no. Some certifying organizations provide notice to boards of nursing when a certificate holder’s status changes; however, this is not the case for all certifying organizations. If your certification status changes for any reason, you should submit a copy of the status change document you received from the certification organization to the Texas Board of Nursing. You may submit a copy via email to aprn@bon.texas.gov, by fax to 512-305-8101—Attention: APRN Office, or by postal mail to Texas Board of Nursing, Attention APRN Office, 333 Guadalupe, Ste 3-460, Austin, TX, 78701.
The certification organization will not let me sit for the examination because they said I completed my program too long ago. Can the Board require them to let me sit for the certification examination?
No. The national certification organizations have authority to determine the requirements to sit for national certification. The Board has no authority to require these organizations to amend or waive their published eligibility requirements. You must comply with the certification requirements set by the organization.
If I am not eligible to obtain national certification, is there something I can do in lieu of the certification requirement so I can obtain my Texas APRN license?
No. Requiring national certification in the advanced practice role and population focus area is a national standard for APRN licensure. The Texas Board of Nursing has required national certification as a requirement for APRN licensure since January 1996.
I obtained a specialty certification related to the specialty area in which I currently practice. May I maintain the specialty certification in lieu of the certification in the role and population focus area since my practice is in the specialty area?
No. You must maintain your national certification in the advanced practice role and population focus area of licensure in order to maintain your Texas APRN license. Specialty certifications demonstrate expertise in a particular area of your practice and may be utilized for the purpose of demonstrating knowledge related to a specific health care need (e.g., oncology, orthopedics, or diabetes education). The national certification that you are required to obtain and maintain for APRN licensure purposes is based on your formal education in an APRN role and population focus area. Specialty certification does not demonstrate the breadth of your education and expertise in the full scope of your role and population focus area and is therefore not accepted for APRN licensure purposes.
If I attain national certification in an additional role and/or population focus area, will this allow me to automatically expand my scope of APRN practice since I already have an APRN license?
No. The Board does not issue a generic APRN license; rather, the APRN license is specific to an advanced practice role and population focus area. National certification in an additional role and/or population focus does not automatically expand your APRN scope of practice in Texas. To expand your scope to the additional role and/or population focus area, you must meet the educational and licensure requirements to do so and apply for expanded licensure through the Texas Board of Nursing.
I completed my APRN program in 1992 and am not required by the Texas Board of Nursing (Board) to maintain national certification to maintain my license. However, my employer says I have to be nationally certified. Can my employer require this if the Board does not?
Yes. The Board determines requirements for licensure only; the Board does not set requirements for employment settings. Employers may set requirements for employment that are more restrictive than those set by the Board for licensure purposes. Therefore, if your employer requires you to hold national certification to practice in that setting, you must meet this requirement as a condition of your employment.
I am trying to get credentialed as a Medicare provider. They refuse to credential me because I am not nationally certified. Can the Board help me?
When it comes to credentialing as a Medicare provider, federal law determines the requirements for credentialing. If federal law requires national certification as a requirement for credentialing, then you must be nationally certified to be credentialed. Although you may be licensed, third party entities, including the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services may set their own requirements for providers who wish to be credentialed for reimbursement. The Texas Board of Nursing has no jurisdiction over these requirements nor can it require any other entity to credential you.
Will my national certification meet the requirements for continuing education?
Attaining, maintaining or renewing national certification will meet the requirement for 20 contact hours of continuing education for APRNs in accordance with Rule 216.3(c). National certification cannot be used to meet the continuing education requirements for prescriptive authority nor can it serve to meet certain specific continuing education requirements such as the requirement for two contact hours of continuing education targeted for nursing jurisprudence and nursing ethics.
I am a family nurse practitioner who obtained national certification as an emergency nurse practitioner. How can I add this to my license?
The Board cannot grant an Emergency Nurse Practitioner licensure title to FNPs who obtain certification as ENPs. We understand that some national certifying organizations are now offering this as a specialty certification credential. It is acceptable to list this title on CVs or resumes, employment applications, and so forth for individuals who have been granted this credential. However, there is not a mechanism to add this certification to one's APRN licensure. Under Texas law, the Board issues APRN licensure titles based on the role and population focus area in which the APRN was educated and that is the title the APRN is required to use. The APRN is required to maintain the national certification that is congruent with his/her formal APRN education for licensure purposes. In this regard, the Board's Rule is consistent with the Consensus Model.
I am a nurse in Texas and recently graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Can I use the title "Dr" when I work with patients and other healthcare providers?
of addressing a person with an earned doctoral degree as "doctor" began many centuries ago as did the tradition of addressing a physician as "doctor." The number of healthcare professionals with earned doctoral degrees may contribute to confusion for the public and for members of the healthcare team.
Known as the Healing Art Identification Act, Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 104 addresses the use of the term doctor. All nurses must know and comply with the Nursing Practice Act and Board’s Rules as well as all federal, state, and local laws [Board Rule §217.11(1)(A)]. To comply with this law, a nurse is required to include the degree that allows him/her to use the title Dr. ___ as a credential and indicate the profession being practiced. The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) must be identified both as an RN as well as use the appropriate advanced practice title that has been authorized by the Board of Nursing.
The Nursing Practice Act and Board’s Rules do not prohibit the use of ‘Dr. ____’; however, based on requirements in the Texas laws, doctorally prepared nurses cannot simply identify themselves as Dr. _____. The nurse must include the academic credentials and licensure level with appropriate APRN title. Board staff recommends review of “When the Profession is Nursing and the Title is Doctor….” available in the July, 2011 BON Quarterly Newsletter, page 4.
The Texas Board of Nursing has not discussed this issue and does not have a position on the issue at this time. Additionally, although the board would never discourage nurses from furthering their education, nothing in current rules requires that advanced practice registered nurses be educated at the doctoral level to obtain licensure in an advanced practice role and population focus.
I am an APRN. Can I just complete the APRN refresher course in lieu of completing the RN refresher course?
No. You must complete the RN refresher course in its entirety before your RN license may be reinstated. You must have a current RN license in order to complete an APRN refresher course/extensive orientation.
The physician I work with wants me to perform a specific procedure as part of the services I provide in my practice setting. I did not learn how to do this procedure in my advanced practice program, but the physician is willing to teach me. Is it ok if the physician shows me how to perform the procedure?
However, all nurses frequently find themselves in the position of needing to learn new procedures. Nurses at all levels of licensure are obligated to make a reasonable effort to obtain orientation/training for competency when encountering new equipment, technology, or unfamiliar patient care situations [Rule 217.11(1)(H)]. The BON also holds all nurses, including advanced practice registered nurses, accountable for their own continuing competence in nursing practice and individual professional growth [Rule 217.11(1)(R)]. The most appropriate mechanism for learning the new procedure and documenting competence will depend on the nature of the procedure. It is imperative that you and the physician work together to find an existing educational activity or develop a program that will prepare you appropriately to perform the procedure and provide the concomitant advanced practice nursing care to the patient.
It is important to remember that there is more to this issue than simply learning how to perform a particular procedure. Patient selection criteria, underlying physiology and/or pathophysiology (depending on the nature of the procedure) as well as indications for and contraindications to the procedure are among the many concepts that are fundamental to learning a new procedure. You must also learn to respond to and manage (as appropriate) untoward events/adverse reactions/complications that may occur as a result of the procedure. In many cases, on-the-job training will not include this type of content. If you are ever required to defend your practice for any reason (whether to the BON or any other entity), you will likely be required to provide evidence of education/training and documentation of competence related to the specific service you provided. As an advanced practice registered nurse, you retain professional accountability for any advanced practice registered nursing services you provide [Rule 221.13(e)].
I am licensed to practice in a particular population focus area. I want to expand my scope of practice to include a second population focus area. (Examples of this situation include but are not limited to: adult health expanding to include pediatrics, family practice expanding to include care of patients with complex psychiatric pathologies, and primary care expanding to include acute/critical care). Can I do this by completing continuing nursing education activities specific to the population focus and working with another advanced practice registered nurse licensed in that population focus or a physician?
population focus from the BON. When incorporating a new patient care activity or procedure into one's individual scope of practice, the board expects the advanced practice registered nurse to verify that the activity or procedure is consistent with the professional scope of practice for the licensed role and population focus and permitted by laws and regulations in effect at the time. For example, a women's health nurse practitioner or nurse-midwife who wishes to incorporate performance of colposcopies in his/her practice may do so without obtaining an additional licensure to practice from the BON because this activity is consistent with the professional scope of practice for those roles.
If the activity is not consistent with the professional scope of practice for the licensed role and population focus, additional formal education and authorization from the BON in the second role and/or population focus is required. For example, an advanced practice registered nurse who is licensed to practice in gerontological nursing wishes to provide advanced practice nursing care to all adult patients. In order to do so, he/she must complete education that will prepare him/her in an advanced practice role and population focus that encompasses advanced practice registered nursing care of adults of all ages. Rule 221.4(c) requires that this additional education meet the curricular requirements outlined in Rule 221.3, relating to advanced practice registered nursing education. After completing the additional formal education, you must obtain national certification in the additional role and population focus as well as licensure to practice in the particular role and population focus from the BON before you begin practicing in the additional population focus or role.
An advanced practice registered nurse has recently joined my practice. I have requested that this advanced practice registered nurse provide certain services that he/she says are not within his/her scope of practice. As a registered nurse, his/her scope of practice encompasses nursing care of patients across the lifespan in all settings—from critical care to home health and everything in between. Why isn't his/her advanced practice scope of practice the same? As a physician, I can see any patient.
experiences that provided him/her with the knowledge, skills, and competence to provide nursing care to patients regardless of age, diagnosis or practice setting. Therefore, RN licensure is not limited based on practice setting or specific patient population.
Similarly, physicians complete broad education that encompasses the provision of medical care to patients across the lifespan, regardless of diagnosis or practice setting. Physicians do not specialize or sub-specialize in medical school; rather, they do so after completing their initial medical education.
In order to be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse, this individual completed additional educational preparation to expand his/her scope of practice beyond that of the RN. His/Her advanced practice registered nursing education, however, focused on expanding his/her nursing scope of practice in a particular advanced practice role and population focus (e.g. anesthesia, women's health, gerontology). Although he/she may have gained experience in a particular area in the RN role, experiences gained as an RN are not equivalent to and cannot replace formal education in the particular advanced practice role and population focus.
Does the BON consider the scope of practice for a clinical nurse specialist equivalent to the nurse practitioner scope of practice?
The BON has been regulating advanced practice registered nurses since 1980. It has always viewed the clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner roles as separate and distinct roles. The Board acknowledges that there may be some overlap in the scopes of practice of these two categories of advanced practice registered nurses. The amount of overlap will vary based on the individual's advanced practice educational preparation.
What requirements need to be met for advanced practice registered nurses who want to first assist and be reimbursed for their services?
Is either (1) certified in perioperative nursing (CNOR) OR (2) recognized by the board as an advanced practice registered nurse and qualified by education, training or experience to perform the tasks involved in perioperative nursing.
Therefore, if you are recognized by the board as an advanced practice registered nurse and qualified by education, training or experience to perform the tasks involved in perioperative nursing, you will only need to complete a nurse first assistant educational program. The nurse first assistant educational programs recognized by the Texas Board of Nursing are the nurse first assistant educational programs that are included on the Competency and Credentialing Institute's (CCI's) list of acceptable RNFA programs. You may access that list of programs on-line at the following URL: CCI Competency & Credentialing Institute, Steps to Become a CRNFA, http://cc-institute.org/crnfa/certification/steps/programs.aspx.
Please note: Advanced practice registered nurses who are recognized by the BON as nursemidwives may complete the American College of Nurse-Midwives' (ACNM's) process for incorporating first assistant responsibilities for obstetrical and/or gynecological procedures into their scopes of practice in lieu of a course accepted by CCI.
Is it within the advanced practice registered nurse's scope of practice to provide services such as ordering home health services or performing FAA medical examinations for pilots?
federal laws, other state laws (e.g., Texas Health and Safety Code), or JCAHO requirements] significantly impact an advanced practice registered nurse's ability to provide a specific service. Although the BON may state that the performance of a particular procedure or provision of a specific patient care activity is within an advanced practice registered nurse's professional scope of practice, the advanced practice registered nurse may not perform the procedure or provide the particular service if other laws and regulations prohibit this.
The Standards of Nursing Practice in Rule 217.11 remind nurses at all levels of licensure that they are obligated to know and conform to the Nursing Practice Act and BON rules in addition to all federal, state and local laws, rules or regulations affecting their current area of nursing practice [(1)(A)]. BON staff cannot speak as experts on other agencies' laws and regulations. Therefore, it is important for advanced practice registered nurses to investigate whether other laws or regulations prohibit the performance of a procedure or patient care activity before they perform it.
My office practice employs two advanced practice registered nurses who are approved in different population foci. I understand that there is overlap in their scopes of practice. [An example of such a situation is an OB/GYN setting in which both a family nurse practitioner (FNP) and a women's health nurse practitioner (WHNP) practice]. Does this mean both advanced practice registered nurses have the same scope of practice in this setting?
The patient population, individual advanced educational program content and competencies attained in the advanced practice registered nursing educational program always serve as the foundation for advanced practice registered nursing practice. Rule 221.13(b), relating to the core standards for advanced practice, further states that advanced practice registered nurses must practice within the role and population focus appropriate to their educational preparation.
Although both programs included content related to a particular specialty or sub-specialty, the depth of the content included in each program varies significantly. As in the example of OB/GYN specialty content for the FNP and WHNP, the FNP educational program provided some content related to OB/GYN. It did not, however, include OB/GYN specialty content to the same depth that the WHNP's program did. Therefore, although there will be overlap in the scope of the services each advanced practice registered nurse provides in this setting, there may be procedures or patient care activities that are within the WHNP's scope of practice that are not within the FNP's scope of practice in this particular setting. Each advanced practice registered nurse is responsible for practicing within the role and population focus licensed by the board and appropriate to his/her educational preparation. Additionally, each advanced practice registered nurse is responsible for recognizing when he/she is in danger of exceeding his/her personal and professional scope of practice.
May an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) delegate tasks to other nurses or unlicensed assistive personnel using the same rules a physician uses?
assistive personnel utilizing the applicable RN Delegation Rules 224 or 225 as appropriate and in compliance with Rule 217.11(3)(B). Advanced practice registered nurses are not authorized to exceed the delegation criteria in Rules 224 and 225.
Nurses should use their professional judgment when deciding to maintain current CPR certification, taking into consideration whether they are employed in patient care settings in which CPR may be necessary to resuscitate and stabilize a client condition [(217.11(1)(M)]. Nurses have a responsibility to maintain continuing competence in nursing practice through educational opportunities that promote individual professional growth (Board Rule 217.11(1)(G)(H)(R).
Do all nurses have an obligation to initiate CPR for a client? Does the Texas Board of Nursing have rules that establish a nurse's duty to initiate CPR?
A do-not-resuscitate/out of hospital do-not-resuscitate order is a medical order that must be given by a physician and in the absence thereof; it is generally outside the standard of nursing practice to determine that CPR will not be initiated. The initiation of CPR does not require a physician’s order in the absence of do-not-resuscitate/out of hospital do-not-resuscitate order.
In the absence of a do-not-resuscitate/out of hospital do-not-resuscitate order from a physician, all nurses should initiate CPR immediately in a witnessed arrest, regardless of healthcare setting. CPR should continue and the physician should be notified of the client’s change in condition to include current life-saving interventions being provided to the client.
Does the BON have a position statement that addresses the RN's role in the management of an unwitnessed cardiac or respiratory arrest in a long-term care facility?
This position statement is specific to long-term care facilities and is not to be construed as applicable to other healthcare settings in which nurses are employed.
After assessment of the resident is completed and appropriate interventions are implemented, documentation of the circumstances and the assessment of the resident in the medical record are required.
Additionally, nurses should know and follow their facility, agency or employer’s policies. The American Heart Association recommends that all clients receive CPR immediately unless attempts at CPR would be futile; such as when clients exhibit obvious clinical signs of irreversible death. Obvious clinical signs of irreversible death include decapitation (separation of head from body), decomposition (putrefactive process; decay), dependent lividity (dark blue staining of the dependent surface of a cadaver, resulting from blood pooling and congestion), transection, or rigor mortis (body stiffness that occurs within two to four hours after death and may take 12 hours to fully develop).
No. The Board of Nursing does not have purview over physician practice, employer policies, or the laws regulating the pronouncement of death in Texas. Additional information on Texas regulations regarding pronouncement of death may be found in the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 671.
CPR should not be delayed to review the client’s medical record or chart to determine the client’s wishes or search physician orders for do-not-resuscitate/out of hospital do-not-resuscitate documentation. Employers and nurses should take a proactive approach to ensure that healthcare setting policies are in place to ascertain a physician’s order for resuscitative status upon admission and to update the plan of care to anticipate the immediate need to access a client’s current resuscitation status physician’s order so that CPR is initiated appropriately and without delay.
The Texas Health and Safety Code chapter 671 requires that in order for an RN to pronounce death, the facility, institution, or entity must have a written policy which is jointly developed and approved by the medical staff or medical consultant and the nursing staff, specifying under what circumstances an RN can make a pronouncement of death.
Other information as the physician may require.
It is imperative that LVNs document their focused assessment findings, nursing interventions, and communication with physician and physician’s orders.
Nurses have a duty to report patient information, including mental health information, to members of law enforcement, a patient's family and others when a patient is a serious danger to himself or others. The confidentiality rule also known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) does not prevent nurses, when acting in "good faith", from reporting necessary information about a patient to those who may be able to prevent or lessen a danger to a patient or the public. The confidentiality rule is balanced to protect a patient's health information while allowing information to be disclosed that could protect both the public and a patient from harm.
The Texas Board of Nursing has developed standards of nursing practice that apply to nurses' duty to report confidential health information and require licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses to: understand and follow the laws applicable to their area of practice; provide a safe environment for a patient and others; and respect a patient's right to confidentiality and disclose information to the proper authorities when necessary to protect a patient and the public from harm. To learn more about the standards of nursing practice, see Rule 217.11, Standards of Nursing Practice.
Can a nurse anesthetist use the term nurse anesthesiologist in the State of Texas?
The Nursing Practice Act limits the title to “nurse anesthetist”, and the Board is not authorized to expand the title beyond that specified in statute. As such, a CRNA must conform his/her title to that recognized by the Nursing Practice Act.
What needs to be provided on a prescription?
Rule 222.4(b): Minimum Standards for Signing Prescriptions.
Does the physician’s name need to be included on the prescription?
facility-based protocols must also be submitted within this time frame, each licensing board has the authority to request this information. Failure to provide the requested information could result in disciplinary action against the professional license.
patient’s release from the hospital, as defined by §551.003, Occupations Code and §481.002, Health and Safety Code. A prescription is an order to dispense a drug or device to a patient for self-administration as defined by §551.003, Occupations Code.
there has been no change in the law that requires that a physician must provide adequate supervision of delegates. In any given case, the distance between a physician’s primary practice and the practice site at which the physician’s delegates provide medical services may be an important factor in determining the quality of the physician’s supervision.
Do I need to have a protocol in addition to a prescriptive authority agreement?
APRNs and PAs are required to have delegated authority to provide medical aspects of patient care. Historically, this delegation has occurred through a protocol or other written authorization. Rather than have two documents, this delegation can now be included in a prescriptive authority agreement if both parties agree to do so.
Can more frequent meetings be required?
meet more frequently than required by law. You may not meet less frequently than what is required by law. An APRN or PA should meet the requirements of the prescriptive authority agreement which may have more frequent meetings required.
What constitutes a license that is in good standing for purposes of entering a prescriptive authority agreement?
disciplinary order that specifically prohibits entering into a prescriptive authority agreement. If the Texas Board of Nursing or Texas Medical Board limits an APRN’s or PA’s authority to order or prescribe drugs or devices, the licensee may enter into a prescriptive authority agreement and order or prescribe drugs and devices only to the extent permitted by the board order.
A physician may not may enter into a prescriptive authority agreement if the physician’s license has been revoked, suspended, is delinquent, is inactive, has been voluntarily surrendered, or is subject to a disciplinary order that restricts his or her practice.
Do I have to disclose information regarding investigations and discipline? If so, to whom must this information be disclosed?
includes disciplinary action taken by licensing boards in other states. Once you are a party to a prescriptive authority agreement, you are required to immediately notify the other party/parties to the agreement if you receive notice that you are the subject of an investigation.
What needs to be included in a prescriptive authority agreement?
Describe a quality assurance and improvement plan and how it will be implemented. The plan must include plans for chart reviews and periodic face to face meetings.
How many charts must be reviewed?
to the prescriptive authority agreement. The number may vary from one practice setting to another. Factors such as the length of time the APRN or PA has been in practice, the length of time the physician and APRN or PA have practiced together, whether the parties to the prescriptive authority agreement practice together in the same practice setting, and the complexity of patient care needs should be given consideration when making this determination. That said, there has been no change in the law that requires that a physician must provide adequate supervision of delegates. In any given case, the number or percentage of charts reviewed may be an important factor in determining the quality of the physician’s supervision.
How often are face to face meetings required?
required physician supervision for at least five of the last seven years, face to face meetings must occur at least monthly until the first anniversary of the date the agreement is signed. Once the required period of time for monthly face to face meetings has been completed, the parties to the prescriptive agreement must have face to face meetings at least quarterly with monthly meetings held between the quarterly meetings via remote electronic communication systems such as videoconferencing technology or the internet. If for any reason the APRN’s or PA’s delegating physician changes, face to face meetings will be required at least monthly as indicated.
Is credit given for time practiced in a supervised prescriptive authority arrangement prior to November 1, 2013?
authority of a physician under a prescriptive authority agreement shall include the amount of time the APRN or PA practiced under the delegated prescriptive authority of that same physician prior to November 1, 2013. You must be practicing with the same physician you practiced with prior to November 1, 2013 in order to get credit under this provision.
Can we skip doing face to face meetings if the physician and APRN or PA practices together at the same location?
No. You must have the face to face meetings as part of your quality assurance and improvement plan.
What if an alternate physician is involved in delegation of prescriptive authority on a temporary basis?
The prescriptive authority agreement designates who may serve as an alternate physician if alternate physician supervision will be utilized. If an alternate physician(s) will participate in the quality assurance and improvement meetings with the APRN or PA, this information must be included in the prescriptive authority agreement.
If I work in a clinic owned by the hospital, is this considered a facility-based practice?
No. Free standing clinics, centers or other medical practices that are owned or operated by or associated with a hospital or long term care facility that are not physically located within the hospital or long term care facility are not considered facility based practices. Prescriptive authority agreements are required in these settings.
Is a prescriptive authority agreement required in a hospital or long term care facility-based practice?
Although it is possible to use a prescriptive authority agreement in a hospital or long term care facility based practice, it is not required. You may continue to practice under protocols in these settings. APRNs and PAs must exercise prescriptive authority under one of these delegation mechanisms.
At how many facilities can one physician delegate prescriptive authority through protocols?
A physician may delegate prescriptive authority via facility based protocol at no more than one licensed hospital or no more than two long term care facilities.
Who may delegate prescriptive authority in a hospital facility-based practice?
In a hospital facility based practice, the delegating physician may be the medical director, the chief of medical staff, the chair of the credentialing committee, a department chair, or a physician who consents to the request of the medical director or chief of the medical staff to delegate.
Who may delegate prescriptive authority in a long term care facility based practice?
In a long term care facility based practice, delegation is by the medical director.
Is a nurse anesthetist required to have prescriptive authority and register that delegation with the Texas Medical Board?
providing anesthesia or anesthesia-related services, The CRNA may provide these services in accordance with facility policy or medical staff bylaws pursuant to a physician’s order for anesthesia or anesthesia-related services. CRNAs are not required to have prescriptive authority from the Texas Board of Nursing nor are they required to be registered with the Texas Medical Board. The delegation is limited to the hospital or ambulatory surgery center in which the CRNA is credentialed to practice.
In outpatient anesthesia settings, the drugs administered and devices applied by a CRNA who provides anesthesia or anesthesia-related services are supplied by the practice setting. Therefore, they are ordered for use in that setting by the surgeon. Just as in the hospital or ambulatory surgery center, the CRNA selects and administers drugs and applies devices pursuant to an order to administer anesthesia or an anesthesia-related service in this setting. Because the surgeon has supplied the drugs and devices for the purpose of providing anesthesia or anesthesia-related services, the CRNA is not required to have prescriptive authority for this purpose. All parties are required to follow the laws and regulations for ordering, storing, wasting and tracking the use of medications and devices in these settings.
If CRNAs are practicing in settings in which they are writing prescriptions, such as a CRNA who may be working with a pain management specialist, the CRNA must have prescriptive authority and all requirements for delegation of prescriptive authority must be met. This includes requirements for a prescriptive authority agreement or facility-based protocol as appropriate and registration of physician delegation on the Texas Medical Board’s website. If controlled substances will be prescribed, the CRNA must also have the required controlled substance registrations (DEA and DPS).
Who can prescribe Schedule II drugs under physician delegation?
as part of the plan of care for the treatment of a person who has executed a written certification of a terminal illness, has elected to receive hospice care, and is receiving hospice treatment from a qualified hospice provider.
Can schedule II authority be delegated in a free standing emergency department that is affiliated with a hospital?
No. A free standing emergency department is not located within the hospital anddoes not qualify as an eligible site for delegation of schedule II authority. The physician may only delegate authority to prescribe controlled substances in schedules III through V in this setting. Authority to prescribe dangerous drugs, nonprescription drugs and devices may be delegated in any setting.
How often is physician consultation required when prescribing controlled substances?
APRNs and PAs must consult with the delegating physician for refills of a prescription for controlled substances after the initial 90 day supply. Consultation is also required when prescribing controlled substances for children under the age of two years. In both cases, the consultation must be documented in the patient’s medical record.
Can APRNs and PAs in hospital-based clinics continue to prescribe drugs in schedules III through V?
Yes. Nothing changed for delegation of prescriptive authority for controlled substances in schedules III through V.
Where and when may a physician assistant (PA) or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) prescribe a Schedule II Controlled Substance?
A PA or APRN may also issue such prescriptions as part of the plan of care for the treatment of a person who has executed a written certification of a terminal illness, has elected to receive hospice care, and is receiving hospice treatment from a qualified hospice provider.
Outside of such a hospital facility-based practice or qualified hospice provider setting, a PA or APRN may not issue prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances.
Section 157.0511(b-1)(1) of the Medical Practice Act relates to prescribing to patients while in a hospital facility-based practice under Section 157.054. This language allows a properly authorized PA or APRN, consistent with policies approved by the hospital's medical staff or a committee of the hospital's medical staff as provided by the hospital bylaws, to issue a Schedule II controlled substance prescription as long as the prescription is filled at the in-hospital pharmacy for a patient who is either admitted to the hospital for an intended length of stay of at least 24 hours or is receiving services in the emergency department of the hospital.
May a PA or an APRN prescribe Schedule II prescriptions to the patient as part of the hospital’s discharge process?
PAs and APRNs who issue Schedule II prescriptions upon discharge must educate patients regarding the requirement to have the prescription filled at the facility-based pharmacy in order to avoid disruption of care. If a Schedule II prescription is to be filled anywhere outside the hospital facility-based setting, the prescription must be completed by a licensed physician.
In accordance with Section 157.054(a-1) of the Medical Practice Act and Board Rule §193.2(6), a hospital facility-based practice setting does not include free standing clinics—including clinics located on hospital grounds, but not physically attached to the hospital’s main structure—community health centers, or other medical practices associated with or owned and operated by the hospital.
Section 157.0511(b-1)(2) of the Medical Practice Act allows for PAs and APRNs to write Schedule II controlled substance prescriptions as part of the plan of care for the treatment of a person who has executed a written certification of a terminal illness, has elected to receive hospice care, and is receiving hospice treatment from a qualified hospice provider. Under this section, Schedule II prescriptions written by a PA or APRN may not be for any other purpose than hospice care being provided to a patient.
What will my new license number look like?
The new license number is alpha-numeric. It will be AP followed by 6 digits (example: AP999999).
How can I find out what my APRN license number is?
To find out your license number, click on “Verify license.” In order to be provided your APRN license number, you must look up your license using either your Texas RN license number or your date of birth and last four digits of your social security number.
Will the Board notify all appropriate parties of my new number, or is that my responsibility?
The Board has notified a large number of key stakeholders regarding the change in procedure, but will not notify each individual stakeholder or distribute a list of numbers detailing what a particular APRN’s new license number is. It is up to the APRN to notify all appropriate parties of his/her new Texas APRN license number.
Which license number will I need to provide to other parties (e.g. credentialing, 3rd party payers, Texas Medical Board website)?
The Board of Nursing advises you to check with these entities directly. The Board of Nursing notified a large number of key stakeholders regarding this upcoming change to APRN licensure. However, the Board of Nursing cannot speak to the requirements of other jurisdictions or agencies. Click here to see the stakeholder notification letter.
Can (I, my employer, credentialer, 3rd party payer, etc…) look up my APRN number online by using my Texas RN number?
Yes. Nurse licensure can be verified online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be searched by first and last name, license number, or date of birth and last four digits of social security number. Your APRN license number will be provided through our online verification system if your license is searched using either your Texas RN license number or date of birth and last four digits of your social security number. Your license number will not appear online if your license is searched using only your name.
Will I get a new number for each APRN title I hold?
No. Only one APRN license number will be issued and each title will be tied to that number.
Will I receive a new wall certificate?
One APRN wall certificate will be mailed as a courtesy with your next APRN renewal, provided that your license is renewed between April 2014 and April 2016. For those wanting a copy before or after these dates, please visit our website and print the online verification for your records. Remember, you must search by either the license number or Date of Birth and last four digits of social security number to be get the most specific information on licensure.
When will I receive a new wall certificate?
An APRN wall certificate will be mailed to you the next time you renew your APRN license provided the renewal occurs between April 2014 and April 2016.
Is this number required to be on a prescription?
The required prescription information does not currently require your RN or APRN number. It requires your Prescriptive Authority Number as well as other information. A list of this information can be found under What Needs to be on a Prescription?
Do I still have to maintain and renew my RN license?
Yes. You must maintain your RN license in order to have an APRN license.
If the expiration date on my compact RN license from another state does not coincide with my Texas APRN License #, what will my expiration date be for my Texas APRN license?
The APRN license will still be issued in accordance with the rules and regulations stating that the license expiration date is based on birth month and year (biennium).
Can I renew my APRN License online?
At this time, only Texas RNs who are also licensed APRNs can renew their APRN license online in conjunction with their RN renewal. Please be aware that certain eligibility issues may prohibit online renewal. A paper renewal application is still required for APRNs using a compact RN license from another state or those wishing to renew their Texas RN only (thereby placing the APRN license on inactive status).
Why are APRN’s being issued license numbers?
It has been the goal of the Texas Board of Nursing to comply as closely as possible with the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education. Senate Bill 406, passed during the 83rd Regular Legislative session, has given the Texas Board of Nursing clear authority to issue an APRN license. Like LVNs and RNs, APRNs now have the term “license” used when talking about their authorization to practice in the state of Texas.
What is the benefit of issuing an APRN License number?
Advanced practice nursing has evolved as a result of the complexity of services provided and the level of knowledge, skills, and competence required by individuals who are authorized to provide such care. The services provided by APRNs exceed the scope of practice of registered nurses. Therefore, the potential for harm to the public is significantly greater for APRNs than for RNs, and a higher level of accountability for the APRN is necessary. Typically, licensure is considered the preferred method of regulation when the regulated activities are complex, requiring specialized knowledge, skills, and decision-making. Licensure in any profession is required when the potential for greater risk of harm to the public exists and the professional must be held to the highest level of accountability. Issuance of a license number provides a better mechanism to track APRNs and will make it easier for employers, credentialing organizations, third party payers and others who need to quickly and easily identify an APRN as a licensed provider.
Will there be separates fee to renew my APRN License # and my RN #?
The fee structure has not changed. APRNs with a Texas RN license already pay combined fees to renew both the RN and APRN license at the same time.
The Texas Board of Nursing, Texas Medical Board and Texas State Board of Pharmacy advise their respective licensees that the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published a final rule reclassifying hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) as Schedule II controlled substances. The reclassification becomes effective on October 6, 2014. HCPs include products such as Lortab®, Vicodin®, and Norco®.
All providers who order, dispense, or prescribe HCPs in the state of Texas must comply with requirements for prescribing Schedule II medications as set forth in state and federal law beginning on October 6, 2014. Advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants may only prescribe hydrocodone combination products when providing care to hospice patients or practicing in hospital facility based practices as provided for in Chapter 157.0511(b-1) of the Texas Occupations Code and if registered with DEA and DPS to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances.
It is important for all prescribers, pharmacists, and pharmacy staff to be aware that prescriptions written for HCPs on or after October 6, 2014, must be written on a DPS official prescription form and no refills may be authorized. Any prescriptions for HCPs that are dispensed before October 6, 2014, that have additional refills authorized may be dispensed in accordance with state and federal law. The allowance to dispense these refills expires on April 8, 2015.
The Boards of Nursing, Medicine and Pharmacy also remind their respective licensees that the DEA classified tramadol as a Schedule IV controlled substance. This change became effective on August 18, 2014. All prescribers and pharmacy personnel must comply with requirements for ordering, prescribing and handling Schedule IV medications as set forth in state and federal law.
Information regarding the requirements to prescribe controlled substances is available in Board Rule 222.8, available at: www.bon.texas.gov/rr_current/222-8.asp.
Information regarding obtaining or modifying a controlled substance registration from the Texas Department of Public Safety is available at: www.txdps.state.tx.us/RSD/ControlledSubstances/csRegistration.htm.
Information regarding DEA registration may be found at: www.justice.gov/dea/index.shtml.
May a CRNA hand off care of an anesthetized patient to an Anesthesia Assistant (AA)?
A CRNA has a duty and responsibility to ensure the safety of a patient when handing off patient care because his/her practice is regulated by the Texas Board of Nursing. This duty is derived from the Nursing Practice Act and Texas Board of Nursing Rules. A physician’s order for a CRNA to turn over the care of an anesthetized patient to an AA does not relieve the CRNA of his/her duty to the patient.
Prior to patient hand-off, the CRNA must ensure that the AA has obtained the appropriate delegation from an anesthesiologist to take over that patient’s care. Delegation to the AA by the anesthesiologist is regulated by the Texas Medical Board and the application of Texas Occupations Code, §157.001. Because this is within the purview of the Texas Medical Board regulations, they have developed an FAQ related to delegation to an AA by an anesthesiologist. The CRNA is not considered to be delegating authority to provide anesthesia or an anesthesia-related service to an AA during patient hand-off. The CRNA is required by the Board of Nursing to ensure that a patient hand-off is safe. To do this, the CRNA must know that the AA has the appropriate authority and is competent to take over patient care.
If the hand-off is unsafe or puts a patient at risk, the CRNA will be held responsible by the Board of Nursing for unsafe practice. This is distinguished from an AA, whose authority to care for the patient originates through anesthesiologist delegation. It is important for CRNAs to keep in mind that they retain professional accountability for the advanced practice nursing care they provide [22 Tex. Admin. Code, §221.13(e)]. CRNAs are not accountable for care provided by AAs under the delegated authority of an anesthesiologist if the hand-off was safe at the time the CRNA turned over care of the patient to the AA.

References: §217
 §551
 §481
 §551
 V.

 §193
 §157
 §221