FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1259

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

C 104 L 15

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Allowing advanced registered nurse practitioners to sign and attest to certain documentation.

Sponsors: Representatives Cody, Schmick, Clibborn, Harris, Jinkins, Robinson and Buys.

House Committee on Health Care & Wellness

Senate Committee on Health Care

Background:

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners.

An advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) is a registered nurse who practices independently and assumes primary responsibility for continuous and comprehensive management of a broad range of patient care, concerns, and problems. An applicant for licensure as an ARNP must hold a registered nurse license, have graduated from an accredited advanced nursing education program, and hold a certification from a program approved by the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (Commission).

An ARNP may:

Physician Assistant Signature Authority.

Physician assistants are licensed to practice medicine to a limited extent under the supervision of a physician and only under a delegation agreement approved by the Medical Quality Assurance Commission. Similarly, osteopathic physician assistants are licensed to practice osteopathic medicine to a limited extent and only under a delegation agreement approved by the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery.

A physician assistant or osteopathic physician assistant may sign and attest to any certificates, cards, forms, or other required documentation that the supervising physician or osteopathic physician may sign, so long as it is within the physician assistant's or osteopathic physician assistant's scope of practice and is consistent with the terms of the delegation agreement.

Summary:

An advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) may sign and attest to any certificates, cards, forms, or other required documentation that a physician may sign, so long as it is within the ARNP's scope of practice.

Votes on Final Passage:

House

96

0

Senate

49

0

Effective:

July 24, 2015