Colorado § 12-255-111 - Requirements for advanced practice registered nurse registration - legislative declaration - advanced practice registry - rules.

§ 12-255-111. Requirements for advanced practice registered nurse registration - legislative declaration - advanced practice registry - rules.

(1) The general assembly hereby recognizes that some registered professional nurses practicing pursuant to this part 1 have acquired additional preparation for advanced nursing practice and hereby determines that it is appropriate for the state to maintain a registry of those individuals. The registry shall be known as the "advanced practice registry".

(2) The board shall establish the advanced practice registry and shall require that a registered professional nurse applying for registration on the advanced practice registry identify the nurse's role and population focus. The board shall establish reasonable criteria for designation of specific role and population foci based on currently accepted professional standards. A registered professional nurse who is included in the advanced practice registry has the right to use the title "advanced practice registered nurse" or, if authorized by the board, to use the title "certified nurse midwife", "clinical nurse specialist", "certified registered nurse anesthetist", or "nurse practitioner". These titles may be abbreviated as "A.P.R.N.", "C.N.M.", "C.N.S.", "C.R.N.A.", or "N.P.", respectively. It is unlawful for any person to use any of the titles or abbreviations listed in this subsection (2) unless included in the registry and authorized by the board to do so.

(3) (a) On and after July 1, 2008, the requirements for inclusion in the advanced practice registry shall include the successful completion of an appropriate graduate degree as determined by the board; except that individuals who are included in the registry as of June 30, 2008, but have not successfully completed that degree, may thereafter continue to be included in the registry and to use the appropriate title and abbreviation.

(b) On and after July 1, 2010, in addition to the requirements of subsection (3)(a) of this section, a registered professional nurse shall obtain national certification from a nationally recognized accrediting agency, as defined by the board by rule, in the appropriate role and population focus in order to be included in the advanced practice registry; except that registered professional nurses who are included in the registry as of June 30, 2010, but have not obtained the national certification, may thereafter continue to be included in the registry and to use the appropriate title and abbreviation.

(c) A registered professional nurse may be included in the advanced practice registry by endorsement if the registered professional nurse meets the requirements of the occupational credential portability program.

(4) A nurse who meets the definition of advanced practice registered nurse and the requirements of section 12-255-112 may be granted prescriptive authority as a function in addition to those defined in section 12-255-104 (10).

(5) An advanced practice registered nurse shall practice in accordance with the standards of the appropriate national professional nursing organization and have a safe mechanism for consultation or collaboration with a physician or, when appropriate, referral to a physician. Advanced practice registered nursing also includes, when appropriate, referral to other health-care providers.

(6) (a) In order to enhance the cost efficiency and continuity of care, an advanced practice registered nurse may, within the nurse's scope of practice and within the advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship, sign an affidavit, certification, or similar document that:

(I) Documents a patient's current health status;

(II) Authorizes continuing treatment, tests, services, or equipment; or

(III) Gives advance directives for end-of-life care.

(b) The affidavit, certification, or similar document may not:

(I) Be the prescription of medication unless the advanced practice registered nurse has been granted prescriptive authority pursuant to section 12-255-112; or

(II) Be in conflict with other requirements of law.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1328, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (3)(c) amended, (HB 20-1326), ch. 126, p. 541, § 31, effective June 25; (1) amended, (HB 20-1183), ch. 157, p. 679, § 9, effective July 1; (1), (2), (3)(b), (3)(c), (4), (5), IP(6)(a), and (6)(b)(I) amended, (HB 20-1216), ch. 190, p. 871, § 13, effective July 1.

Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 12-38-111.5 as it existed prior to 2019.

(2) (a) Amendments to subsection (1) of this section by HB 20-1183 and HB 20-1216 were harmonized.

(b) Amendments to subsection (3)(c) of this section by HB 20-1216 were harmonized in part with and superseded in part by HB 20-1326.

Cross references: (1) For the short title ("Red Tape Reduction Act") and the legislative declaration in HB 20-1326, see sections 1 and 2 of chapter 126, Session Laws of Colorado 2020.

(2) For the legislative declaration in HB 20-1216, see section 1 of chapter 190, Session Laws of Colorado 2020.