Section 1903B - [See note.] DefinitionsAs used in this Compact:
(a) "Advanced practice registered nurse" or "APRN" means a registered nurse who has gained additional specialized knowledge, skills and experience through a program of study recognized or defined by the Interstate Commission of APRN Compact Administrators ("Commission"), and who is licensed to perform advanced nursing practice. An advanced practice registered nurse is licensed in an APRN role that is congruent with an APRN educational program, certification, and Commission rules.(b) "Adverse action" means any administrative, civil, equitable or criminal action permitted by a state's laws which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against an APRN, including actions against an individual's license or multistate licensure privilege such as revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, limitation on the licensee's practice, or any other encumbrance on licensure affecting an APRN's authorization to practice, including the issuance of a cease and desist action.(c) "Alternative program" means a non-disciplinary monitoring program approved by a licensing board.(d) "APRN licensure" means the regulatory mechanism used by a party state to grant legal authority to practice as an APRN.(e) "APRN uniform licensure requirements" means the minimum uniform licensure, education and examination requirements set forth in § 1904B(b) of this chapter.(f) "Coordinated licensure information system" means an integrated process for collecting, storing and sharing information on APRN licensure and enforcement activities related to APRN licensure laws that is administered by a nonprofit organization composed of and controlled by licensing boards.(g) "Current significant investigatory information" means:(1) Investigative information that a licensing board, after a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an opportunity for the APRN to respond, if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate more than a minor infraction; or(2) Investigative information that indicates that the APRN represents an immediate threat to public health and safety regardless of whether the APRN has been notified and has had an opportunity to respond.(h) "Encumbrance" means a revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of nursing imposed by a licensing board in connection with a disciplinary proceeding.(i) "Home state" means the party state that is the APRN's primary state of residence.(j) "Licensing board" means a party state's regulatory body responsible for regulating the practice of advanced practice registered nursing.(k) "Multistate license" means an APRN license to practice as an APRN issued by a home state licensing board that authorizes the APRN to practice as an APRN in all party states under a multistate licensure privilege, in the same role and population focus as the APRN is licensed in the home state.(l) "Multistate licensure privilege" means a legal authorization associated with an APRN multistate license that permits an APRN to practice as an APRN in a remote state, in the same role and population focus as the APRN is licensed in the home state.(m) "Non-controlled prescription drug" means a device or drug that is not a controlled substance and is prohibited under state or federal law from being dispensed without a prescription. The term includes a device or drug that bears or is required to bear the legend "Caution: federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription" or "prescription only" or other legend that complies with federal law.(n) "Party state" means any state that has adopted this Compact.(o) "Population focus" means one of the six population foci of family/individual across the lifespan, adult-gerontology, pediatrics, neonatal, women's health/gender-related, and psych/mental health.(p) "Prescriptive authority" means the legal authority to prescribe medications and devices as defined by party state laws.(q) "Remote state" means a party state that is not the home state.(r) "Role" means one of the four recognized roles of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), certified nurse-midwives (CNM), clinical nurse specialists (CNS), and certified nurse practitioners (CNP).(s) "Single-state license" means an APRN license issued by a party state that authorizes practice only within the issuing state and does not include a multistate licensure privilege to practice in any other party state.(t) "State" means a state, territory or possession of the United States and the District of Columbia.(u) "State practice laws" means a party state's laws, rules, and regulations that govern APRN practice, define the scope of advanced nursing practice and create the methods and grounds for imposing discipline except that prescriptive authority shall be treated in accordance with § 1904B(f) and § 1904B(g) of this chapter. "State practice laws" does not include:(1) A party state's laws, rules, and regulations requiring supervision or collaboration with a healthcare professional, except for laws, rules, and regulations regarding prescribing controlled substances.(2) The requirements necessary to obtain and retain an APRN license, except for qualifications or requirements of the home state.Added by Laws 2021, ch. 110,s 1, eff. on the date on which the Commission adopts the APRN uniform licensure requirements as defined in §1903B of this chapter, notice of which the Director of the Division of Professional Regulation must provide to the Registrar of Regulations..