Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 17 - PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS, AND BUSINESSES (§§ 17-1-101 — 17-107-311) › Subtitle 3 - MEDICAL PROFESSIONS (§§ 17-80-101 — 17-107-311) › Chapter 87 - NURSES (§§ 17-87-101 — 17-87-808) › Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 17-87-101 — 17-87-106) › Section 17-87-102 - Definitions

As used in this chapter:
(1)
"Board" means the Arkansas State Board of Nursing;
(2)
"Collaborative practice agreement" means a written plan that identifies a physician who agrees to collaborate with an advanced practice registered nurse in the joint management of the health care of the advanced practice registered nurse's patients and that outlines procedures for consultation with or referral to the collaborating physician or other healthcare professional as indicated by a patient's healthcare needs;
(3)
"Consulting physician" means a physician licensed under the Arkansas Medical Practices Act, §
17-95-201
et seq., §
17-95-301
et seq., and §
17-95-401
et seq., with obstetrical privileges in a hospital, who has agreed to practice in consultation with a certified nurse midwife;
(4)
(A)
"Practice of advanced practice registered nursing" means the delivery of healthcare services for compensation by a professional nurse who has gained additional knowledge and skills through successful completion of an organized program of nursing education that certifies nurses for advanced practice roles as certified nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists.
(B)
"Practice of advanced practice registered nursing" includes the practice of nursing as a:
(i)
Certified nurse practitioner;
(ii)
Certified registered nurse anesthetist;
(iii)
Certified nurse midwife; and
(iv)
Clinical nurse specialist;
(5)
"Practice of certified nurse midwifery" means the performance for compensation of advanced nursing practices by a certified nurse midwife that are relevant to the management of women's health care, focusing on pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, care of the newborn, family planning, and gynecological needs of women within a healthcare system that provides for consultation, collaborative management, or referral as indicated by the health status of the client;
(6)
"Practice of certified nurse practitioner nursing" means the performance for compensation of advanced nursing practices by a registered nurse who, as demonstrated by national certification, has advanced knowledge and practice skills in the delivery of nursing services;
(7)
(A)
"Practice of certified registered nurse anesthesia" means the performance for compensation of advanced nursing practices by a certified registered nurse anesthetist that are relevant to the administration of anesthetics in consultation with, but not necessarily in the presence of, a licensed physician, licensed dentist, or other person lawfully entitled to order anesthesia.
(B)
(i)
A certified registered nurse anesthetist may order nurses, within his or her scope of practice, to administer drugs preoperatively and postoperatively in connection with an anesthetic or other operative or invasive procedure, or both, that will be or has been provided.
(ii)
A certified registered nurse anesthetist may select, obtain, and administer Schedule II drugs only during the perioperative, peri-obstetrical, and medical procedure period.
(C)
As used in this subdivision (7):
(i)
(a)
"Consultation" means the manner and process utilized between a certified registered nurse anesthetist and a licensed physician, licensed dentist, or other person lawfully entitled to order anesthesia performing the procedure or directly involved with the procedure when working jointly toward a common goal of providing services for the patient.
(b)
In consultation, the consulting party shall remain immediately available for consultation during the delivery of anesthesia for diagnosis, consultation, and treatment of medical conditions.
(c)
The hospital's administrative staff, medical staff, and governing body shall determine the guidelines on "immediately available for consultation";
(ii)
"Medical procedure" means a course of action intended to achieve a result in the delivery of health care as consulted by a licensed physician, licensed dentist, or other person lawfully entitled to order anesthesia;
(iii)
"Peri-obstetrical" means preanesthetic preparation or evaluation, anesthesia induction, maintenance or emergence, or postanesthesia care of the pregnant female; and
(iv)
"Perioperative" means preanesthetic preparation or evaluation, anesthesia induction, maintenance or emergence, or postanesthesia care of clients.
(D)
For purposes of this subdivision (7), a licensed physician, licensed dentist, or other person lawfully entitled to order anesthesia is not liable for any act or omission of a certified registered nurse anesthetist who orders or administers anesthetics;
(8)
"Practice of clinical nurse specialist nursing" means the performance for compensation of advanced nursing practices by a registered nurse who, through study and supervised practice at the graduate level and as evidenced by national certification, has advanced knowledge and practice skills in a specialized area of nursing practice;
(9)
"Practice of licensed practical nursing" means the performance for compensation of nursing practices by a licensed practical nurse that are relevant to the care of the ill, injured, or infirm, or the delegation of certain nursing practices to other personnel as set forth in rules established by the board, under the direction of a registered nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse, a licensed physician, or a licensed dentist that do not require the substantial specialized skill, judgment, and knowledge required in professional nursing;
(10)
"Practice of professional nursing" means the performance by a registered nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse for compensation of any acts involving:
(A)
The observation, care, and counsel of the ill, injured, or infirm;
(B)
The maintenance of health or prevention of illness of others;
(C)
The supervision and teaching of other personnel;
(D)
The delegation of certain nursing practices to other personnel as set forth in rules established by the board; or
(E)
The administration of medications and treatments as prescribed by practitioners authorized to prescribe and treat in accordance with state law when such acts require substantial specialized judgment and skill based on knowledge and application of the principles of biological, physical, and social sciences;
(11)
"Practice of psychiatric technician nursing" means the performance for compensation of nursing practices by a licensed psychiatric technician nurse that are relevant to the care of the physically and mentally impaired, injured, or infirm or the delegation of certain nursing practices to other personnel as set forth in rules established by the board, and the carrying out of medical orders under the direction of a professional registered nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse, a licensed physician, or a licensed dentist, when such activities do not require the substantial specialized skill, judgment, and knowledge required in professional nursing; and
(12)
(A)
"Practice of registered nurse practitioner nursing" means the performance for compensation of nursing practices by a registered nurse practitioner that are relevant to the delivery of healthcare services in collaboration with and under the direction of a licensed physician or under the direction of protocols developed with a licensed physician.
(B)
A registered nurse practitioner is authorized to engage in nursing practices as recognized by the nursing profession and as authorized by the board.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 449,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 1539, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 1538, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 1537, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2015, No. 1156,§ 14, eff. 7/22/2015.
Acts 1971, No. 432, § 2; 1979, No. 404, §§ 1, 7; 1979, No. 613, § 2; A.S.A. 1947, § 72-746; Acts 1995, No. 409, § 2; 1997, No. 1065, § 1; 1999, No. 1208, § 1.