SECTION 485:10-15-6. Practice as a Certified Nurse Practitioner

(a)   Educational preparation. Successful completion of an education program shall establish eligibility to take the recognized nurse practitioner certification examination in a specialty area. The education program shall:

(1)   Prepare nurse practitioners in a graduate-level nursing program accredited by or holding preliminary approval or candidacy status with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or the Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation; or

(2)   Meet the following requirements:

(A)   be based on measurable objectives that relate directly to the scope of practice for the specialty area;

(B)   include theoretical and clinical content directed to the objectives;

(C)   be equivalent to at least one academic year. A preceptorship which is part of the formal program shall be included as part of the academic year;

(D)   be university-based or university-affiliated with oversight by a nursing program accredited by an approved national nursing accrediting agency.

(3)   Effective January 1, 2016, all applicants for initial licensure or licensure by endorsement as a Certified Nurse Practitioner must hold a graduate level degree from an advanced practice education program accredited by or holding preliminary approval or candidacy status with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or the Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation.

(b)   Scope of practice for CNP. The Certified Nurse Practitioner's scope of practice includes the full scope of nursing practice and practice in an expanded role as follows:

(1)   The Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) provides comprehensive health care to clients across the life span.

(2)   The CNP is responsible and accountable for the continuous and comprehensive management of a broad range of health services, which include, but are not limited to:

(A)   promotion and maintenance of health;

(B)   prevention of illness and disability;

(C)   diagnosis and prescription of medications, treatments, and devices for acute and chronic conditions and diseases;

(D)   management of health care during acute and chronic phases of illness;

(E)   guidance and counseling services;

(F)   consultation and/or collaboration with other health care providers and community resources;

(G)   referral to other health care providers and community resources.

(3)   The CNP will provide services based upon education, experience, and national certification. It is the responsibility of the licensee to document competency of any act, based upon education, experience and certification.

(4)   The scope of practice as previously defined is incorporated into the following specialty categories and further delineates the population served:

(A)   Adult CNP (acute and/or primary) provides acute and/or primary health care to adolescents and adults.

(B)   Family CNP provides health care to persons across the lifespan.

(C)   Geriatric CNP provides health care to older adults.

(D)   Neonatal CNP provides health care to neonates and infants.

(E)   Pediatric CNP (acute and/or primary) provides acute and/or primary health care to persons from newborn to young adulthood.

(F)   Women's Health Care CNP provides health care to adolescent and adult females. Care may also be provided to males with reproductive health needs or problems.

(G)   Acute Care CNP provides health care to adults who are acutely or critically ill.

(H)   The Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health CNP provides acute and chronic psychiatric and mental health care to persons age 13 or older.

(I)   The Family Psychiatric and Mental Health CNP provides acute and chronic psychiatric and mental health care to persons across the lifespan.

(J)   The Acute Care Pediatric CNP provides health care to persons from newborn to young adulthood with complex acute, critical and chronic health conditions.

(5)   Effective January 1, 2016, the applicant for initial APRN licensure or APRN licensure by endorsement as a CNP shall hold certification in at least one of the following population foci: family/individual across the lifespan, adult-gerontology (acute and/or primary), neonatal, pediatrics (acute and/or primary), women's health/gender related, or psychiatric/mental health.

[Source: Added at 8 Ok Reg 3579, eff 9-20-91 (emergency); Added at 9 Ok Reg 2103, eff 6-11-92; Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1463, eff 5-25-95; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 1980, eff 5-27-97; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 1011, eff 7-1-03; Amended at 23 Ok Reg 1453, eff 7-1-06; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1439, eff 7-1-07; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1415, eff 7-1-08; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1615, eff 7-12-12; Amended at 31 Ok Reg 2113, eff 9-12-14; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 1199, eff 8-27-15]