2005 Idaho Code - 54-1402 — DEFINITIONS

                                  TITLE  54
                    PROFESSIONS, VOCATIONS, AND BUSINESSES
                                  CHAPTER 14
                                    NURSES
    54-1402.  DEFINITIONS. As used in this act:
    (1)  "Advanced practice professional nurse" means a professional nurse
licensed in this state who has gained additional specialized knowledge, skills
and experience through a nationally accredited program of study as defined
herein and is authorized to perform advanced nursing practice, which may
include the prescribing, administering and dispensing of therapeutic
pharmacologic agents, as defined by board rules. An advanced practice
professional nurse shall perform only those acts as provided herein and for
which the individual is educationally prepared. Advanced practice professional
nurses shall include certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists,
nurse practitioners, and registered nurse anesthetists as defined in this
subsection.
    (a)  "Certified nurse-midwife" means a licensed professional nurse who has
    graduated from a nationally accredited nurse-midwifery program, passed a
    qualifying examination recognized by the board, and has current initial
    certification or current recertification from a national organization
    recognized by the board. Certified nurse-midwives who meet these
    qualifying requirements and are licensed by the board, may manage women's
    health care, which may include pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic
    therapeutic and corrective measures which focus on pregnancy, childbirth,
    the postpartum period, care of the newborn, reproductive and gynecological
    needs of well women as defined by the rules of the board. The certified
    nurse midwife collaborates with other health professionals in providing
    health care.
    (b)  "Clinical nurse specialist" means a licensed professional nurse who
    has graduated from a nationally accredited graduate program in nursing
    with a clinical focus, passed a qualifying examination recognized by the
    board, and has current initial certification or current recertification
    from a national group recognized by the board. Clinical nurse specialists
    who meet these qualifying requirements and are licensed by the board may
    practice as expert clinicians in a particular specialty or subspecialty of
    nursing practice. The clinical nurse specialist provides direct client
    care, which may include assessing, diagnosing, planning, and prescribing
    pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapeutic and corrective measures,
    health promotion and preventive care within this specialized area of
    practice, as defined by rules of the board. The clinical nurse specialist
    collaborates with other health professionals in providing health care.
    (c)  "Nurse practitioner" means a licensed professional nurse who has
    graduated from a nationally accredited nurse practitioner program, passed
    a qualifying examination recognized by the board, and has current initial
    certification or current recertification from a national group recognized
    by the board. Any person authorized by the board to practice nursing as a
    nurse practitioner in this state as of July 1, 1998, shall be licensed as
    a nurse practitioner under the provisions of this act and shall be
    eligible for renewal of such license under the conditions and standards
    prescribed in this act. Nurse practitioners who meet these qualifying
    requirements and are licensed by the board may perform comprehensive
    health assessments, diagnosis, health promotion and the direct management
    of acute and chronic illness and disease which may include the prescribing
    of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments as defined by rules of
    the board. The nurse practitioner collaborates with other health
    professionals in providing health care.
    (d)  "Registered nurse anesthetist" means a licensed professional nurse
    who has graduated from a nationally accredited nurse anesthesia program,
    passed a qualifying examination recognized by the board and, has current
    initial certification or current recertification from a national group
    recognized by the board. Registered nurse anesthetists who meet these
    qualifying requirements and are licensed by the board may, in
    collaboration with a physician, dentist or podiatrist authorized to
    practice in Idaho, provide anesthesia care services as defined by the
    rules of the board. The scope of practice for registered nurse
    anesthetists shall incorporate acts identified in board rules, including
    selecting, ordering and administering medications appropriate for
    rendering anesthesia care services.
    (2)  "Board" means the board of nursing.
    (3)  "Licensed practical nurse" means a person who practices nursing by:
    (a)  Functioning at the direction of a licensed professional nurse,
    licensed physician, or licensed dentist;
    (b)  Contributing to the assessment of the health status of individuals
    and groups of individuals;
    (c)  Participating in the development and modification of the strategy of
    care;
    (d)  Implementing the appropriate aspects of the strategy of care as
    defined by the board, including administering medications and treatments
    as prescribed by those health care providers authorized to prescribe
    medication;
    (e)  Maintaining safe and effective nursing care rendered directly or
    indirectly;
    (f)  Participating in the evaluation of responses to interventions; and
    (g)  Delegating nursing interventions that may be performed by others and
    that do not conflict with this act.
    (4)  "Licensed professional nurse" means a person who practices nursing
by:
    (a)  Assessing the health status of individuals and groups of individuals;
    (b)  Identifying health care problems that are amenable to nursing
    intervention;
    (c)  Establishing goals to meet identified health care needs;
    (d)  Planning a strategy of care;
    (e)  Prescribing nursing interventions to implement the strategy of care;
    (f)  Implementing the strategy of care, including administering
    medications and treatments as prescribed by those health care providers
    authorized to prescribe medication;
    (g)  Authorizing nursing interventions that may be performed by others and
    that do not conflict with this act;
    (h)  Maintaining safe and effective nursing care rendered directly or
    indirectly;
    (i)  Evaluating responses to interventions;
    (j)  Teaching the theory and practice of nursing;
    (k)  Managing the practice of nursing; and
    (l)  Collaborating with other health professionals in the management of
    health care.
    (5)  "Nursing education program" means a course of instruction offered and
conducted to prepare persons for the practice of nursing, or to increase the
knowledge and skills of the practicing nurse.
    (6)  "Practice of nursing" means assisting individuals or groups of
individuals to promote, maintain or restore optimal health throughout the life
process by assessing and evaluating their health status, planning and
implementing a strategy of care to accomplish defined goals, and evaluating
responses to care and treatment.