In addition to the Standards of Conduct set forth in
244 CMR 9.03(1)
through (47), the standards set forth in 244
CMR 9.04(1) through (6) shall govern all nurses granted APRN authorization by
the Board.
An APRN's failure to comply with the Standards of Conduct for
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses may serve as the basis for disciplinary
action against the APRN's authorization in accordance with M.G.L. c. 112,
§§ 61 and 74. Such failure may also serve as the basis for
disciplinary action against the APRN's Registered Nurse license.
(1)
Preparation and
Competency. An APRN shall practice only in the category of
advanced practice registered nursing for which the Board has authorized him or
her. The APRN's clinical practice shall include only those areas of practice
for which the APRN has formal, advanced nursing education and documented
competency. Such formal, advanced nursing education shall meet the criteria for
education in nursing as specified in
244 CMR
4.00:
Advanced
Practice Registered Nursing.
(2)
Practice following Loss of
Authorization. An APRN shall not engage in advanced practice
registered nursing, or in any way represent that he or she is authorized to
engage in such practice, after the effective date of the surrender, suspension,
or revocation of such authorization by the Board, or after the voluntary
relinquishment of such authorization to the Board.
(3)
Controlled Substance
Registrations. An APRN who is an authorized prescriber shall:
(a) comply with
244 CMR
4.00:
Advanced
Practice Registered Nursing governing prescriptive practice by an APRN
and with all federal and state laws and regulations governing prescriptive
practice and the handling of controlled substances; and
(b) notify the Board in writing of any
surrender, suspension, revocation, or other action affecting the APRN's federal
or state controlled substances registrations, or both, within 30 days of such
action. In the case of the surrender, suspension, or revocation of either
registration, or both, the APRN shall immediately cease all prescriptive
practice.
(4)
Advanced Practice Certification. In order to maintain
APRN authorization and to engage in advanced practice registered nursing, an
APRN shall hold current professional advanced practice certification shall
comply with
244 CMR
4.00:
Advanced
Practice Registered Nursing governing initial and continued
certification requirements of the Board approved certifying organization, and
shall submit documentation satisfactory to the Board of current certification
with each application for Registered Nurse license renewal.
(5)
Full Disclosure.
When proposing any diagnostic or therapeutic intervention which is beyond the
scope of generic nursing practice, an APRN shall fully disclose to the patient
or to the patient's representative the risks and benefits of, and alternatives
to, such intervention and shall document such disclosure in the patient's
record.
(6)
Notice of
Charges for Services. An APRN engaged in independent billing for
his or her services shall provide access to information regarding charges and
methods of payment for services when requested by a patient or the patient's
representative.
