SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 2416
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Health & Long Term Care, February 20, 2024
Title: An act relating to changing the legal title for advanced practice nurses.
Brief Description: Changing the legal title for advanced practice nurses.
Sponsors: Representatives Graham and Riccelli; by request of Washington State Board of Nursing.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/12/24, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/16/24, 2/20/24 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Amended Bill
  • Changes the title for advanced registered nurse practitioners to advanced practice registered nurses.
  • Directs the Code Reviser's Office to prepare bill language correcting references in the Revised Code of Washington from "advanced registered nurse practitioner" to "advanced practice registered nurse."
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.
Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Robinson, Vice Chair; Muzzall, Assistant Ranking Member; Conway, Dhingra, Holy, Padden, Randall and Van De Wege.
Staff: Julie Tran (786-7283)
Background:

An advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) assumes primary responsibility and accountability for the care of patients and is authorized to perform all activities registered nurses perform, perform specialized and advanced levels of nursing, and prescribe legend drugs and certain controlled substances.  An ARNP's scope of practice is defined by the Washington State Board of Nursing and includes:

  • examining and diagnosing patients;
  • admitting, managing, and discharging patients to and from health care facilities;
  • ordering, collecting, performing, and interpreting diagnostic tests;
  • managing health care by identifying, developing, implementing, and evaluating a plan of care and treatment for patients;
  • prescribing therapies and medical equipment;
  • prescribing medications when granted prescriptive authority;
  • referring patients to other health care practitioners, services, or facilities; and
  • performing procedures or providing care services within the scope of practice according to the designation and certification of the ARNP.
Summary of Amended Bill:

The title for "advanced registered nurse practitioner" is changed to "advanced practice registered nurse."

 

Code Reviser's Office (CRO) must prepare bill language correcting references in the Revised Code of Washington from "advanced registered nurse practitioner" to "advanced practice registered nurse" and include the bill language in the CRO's 2025 technical corrections bill by December 31, 2024. 
EFFECT OF HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT(S):
  • Directs CRO to prepare bill language correcting references in the Revised Code of Washington from "advanced registered nurse practitioner" to "advanced practice registered nurse" and include this bill language in the CRO's 2025 technical corrections bill by December 31, 2024.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on June 30, 2027.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on House Bill:

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This bill represents a simple technical change to the nursing chapter and aligns the usage with the majority of other states. The change in title is overdue and many of the licensees have an out-of-state address. This will assist the public in understanding clearly who is taking care of them and it would mitigate concerns regarding federal licensing which has created challenges with the portability of the license for states creating licenses with similar yet different titles. The bill's effective date allows for a 3-year period to provide education to the public, employers, insurers, and nursing programs. 
Persons Testifying: PRO: Alison Bradywood, Washington State Board of Nursing; Shannon Fitzgerald, ARNPs United of Washington State.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.