Delaware § 1935 - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) — Authority and duties.

§ 1935. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) — Authority and duties.

(a) (1) The board of nursing grants full-practice and prescriptive authority upon the issuance of an APRN license.

(2) The Board may, by endorsement, license as an advanced practice registered nurse an applicant who is duly licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse or is entitled to perform similar services under a different title under the laws of another state or a territory of the United States or a foreign country if, in the opinion of the Board, the applicant meets the qualifications specified by its regulations for advanced practice registered nurses in this State.

(b) An APRN licensed by the Board of Nursing has full-practice authority and is authorized within the APRN’s role and population foci to:

(1) Prescribe, procure, administer, store, dispense, and furnish over the counter, legend and controlled substances pursuant to applicable state and federal laws and within the APRN’s role and population foci.

(2) Plan and initiate a therapeutic regimen within the APRN’s role and population foci that includes ordering and prescribing nonpharmacological interventions, including:

a. Medical devices and durable medical equipment, nutrition, blood, and blood products.

b. Diagnostic and supportive services including home health care, hospice, and physical and occupational therapy.

(3) Diagnose, prescribe and institute therapy or referrals of patients within the APRN’s role and population foci to health-care agencies, health-care providers and community resources.

(4) Sign death certificates.

(5) Terminate a human pregnancy in accordance with § 1790 of this title.

(c) APRNs shall seek consultation regarding treatment and care of patients as appropriate to patient needs and the APRN’s level of expertise and scope of practice.

(d) An APRN may be designated as the primary care provider by an insurer or health-care services corporation.

(e) An APRN shall not be held to any lesser standard of care than that of a physician providing care to a specific patient condition or population.

(f) Any APRN rendering services in person or by electronic means in Delaware must hold an active Delaware RN and APRN license.

(g) [Repealed.]

80 Del. Laws, c. 172, §  3;  81 Del. Laws, c. 80, § 12;  83 Del. Laws, c. 111, § 2;  83 Del. Laws, c. 327, § 2;  84 Del. Laws, c. 233, § 51;