FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5805

                           C 64 L 00

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Completing the prescriptive authority of advanced registered nurse practitioners.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Thibaudeau, Prentice, Deccio, Kohl‑Welles and Costa).

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

House Committee on Health Care

Background:  Advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) are registered nurses with formal specialized training which qualifies them to function more independently than a registered nurse in a variety of health care specialities.  ARNPs may have specialities in such areas as pediatrics, geriatrics, midwifery, anesthesiology, neonatology.  They must maintain a current certification in their specialized field in order to practice independently.

ARNPs have authority to prescribe legend drugs and controlled substances contained in Schedule V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Chapter 69.50 RCW.  ARNPs are required to have 30 hours of education in pharmacotherapeutics related to their scope of specialized and advance practice.  All ARNPs, except nurse anesthetists, are prohibited from prescribing schedules I through IV.  Certified registered nurse anesthetists may prescribe schedule II through IV drugs limited to those drugs which are to be directly administered to patients who require anesthesia.

In 1991 legislation proposed expanding the authority of ARNPs to prescribe schedules II through IV.  The Department of Health conducted a sunrise review to analyze issues of health and safety related to this request.

Summary:  Advanced registered nurse practitioners are given expanded prescriptive authority to include schedules II through IV drugs of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.  ARNPs may order or prescribe these drugs under joint practice arrangements and collaboration with a physician or osteopathic physician.

The Medical Quality Assurance Commission, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, and the Nurse=s Quality Assurance Commission are directed to jointly adopt a process and criteria to implement the joint practice arrangements.

The dispensing of schedules II through IV controlled substances is limited to a maximum of a 72-hour supply of the prescribed controlled substance.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 440

House980

Effective:June 8, 2000

          July 1, 2000 (Sections 1-3)