Find Legal Information

32-1601. Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Absolute discharge from the sentence" means completion of any sentence, including imprisonment, probation, parole, community supervision or any form of court supervision.

2. "Approval" means that a regulated training or educational program to prepare persons for licensure or certification has met standards established by the board.

3. "Board" means the Arizona state board of nursing.

4. "Certified registered nurse" means a registered nurse who has been certified by a national nursing credentialing agency recognized by the board.

5. "Clinical nurse specialist" means a registered nurse who:

(a) Is certified by the board as a clinical nurse specialist.

(b) Holds a graduate degree with a major in nursing and completes educational requirements as prescribed by the board by rule.

(c) Is nationally certified as a clinical nurse specialist or, if certification is not available, provides proof of competence to the board.

(d) Has an expanded scope of practice based on advanced education in a clinical nursing specialty that includes:

(i) Assessing clients, synthesizing and analyzing data and understanding and applying nursing principles at an advanced level.

(ii) Managing directly and indirectly a client's physical and psychosocial health status.

(iii) Analyzing multiple sources of data, identifying alternative possibilities as to the nature of a health care problem and selecting appropriate nursing interventions.

(iv) Developing, planning and guiding programs of care for populations of patients.

(v) Making independent nursing decisions to solve complex client care problems.

(vi) Using research skills and acquiring and applying critical new knowledge and technologies to nursing practice.

(vii) Prescribing and dispensing durable medical equipment.

(viii) Consulting with or referring a client to other health care providers based on assessment of the client's health status and needs.

(ix) Facilitating collaboration with other disciplines to attain the desired client outcome across the continuum of care.

(x) Performing additional acts that require education and training as prescribed by the board and that are recognized by the nursing profession as proper to be performed by a clinical nurse specialist.

6. "Conditional license" or "conditional approval" means a license or approval that specifies the conditions under which the regulated party is allowed to practice or to operate and that is prescribed by the board pursuant to section 32-1644 or 32-1663.

7. "Delegation" means transferring to a competent individual the authority to perform a selected nursing task in a designated situation in which the nurse making the delegation retains accountability for the delegation.

8. "Disciplinary action" means a regulatory sanction of a license, certificate or approval pursuant to this chapter in any combination of the following:

(a) A civil penalty for each violation of this chapter, not to exceed one thousand dollars for each violation.

(b) Restitution made to an aggrieved party.

(c) A decree of censure.

(d) A conditional license or a conditional approval that fixed a period and terms of probation.

(e) Limited licensure.

(f) Suspension of a license, a certificate or an approval.

(g) Voluntary surrender of a license, a certificate or an approval.

(h) Revocation of a license, a certificate or an approval.

9. "Licensee" means a person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter or in a party state as defined in section 32-1668.

10. "Limited license" means a license that restricts the scope or setting of a licensee's practice.

11. "Nursing assistant" means a person who is certified pursuant to this chapter to provide or assist in the delivery of nursing or nursing-related services under the supervision and direction of a licensed nursing staff member. Nursing assistant does not include a person who:

(a) Is a licensed health care professional.

(b) Volunteers to provide nursing assistant services without monetary compensation.

12. "Practical nurse" means a person who holds a practical nurse license issued pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to a multistate compact privilege and who practices practical nursing as defined in this section.

13. "Practical nursing" includes the following activities that are performed under the supervision of a physician or a registered nurse:

(a) Contributing to the assessment of the health status of individuals and groups.

(b) Participating in the development and modification of the strategy of care.

(c) Implementing aspects of the strategy of care within the nurse's scope of practice.

(d) Maintaining safe and effective nursing care that is rendered directly or indirectly.

(e) Participating in the evaluation of responses to interventions.

(f) Delegating nursing activities within the scope of practice of a practical nurse.

(g) Performing additional acts that require education and training as prescribed by the board and that are recognized by the nursing profession as proper to be performed by a practical nurse.

14. "Registered nurse" or "professional nurse" means a person who practices registered nursing and who holds a registered nurse license issued pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to a multistate compact privilege.

15. "Registered nurse practitioner" means a registered nurse who:

(a) Is certified by the board.

(b) Has completed a nurse practitioner education program approved or recognized by the board and educational requirements prescribed by the board by rule.

(c) If applying for certification after July 1, 2004, holds national certification as a nurse practitioner from a national certifying body recognized by the board.

(d) Has an expanded scope of practice within a specialty area that includes:

(i) Assessing clients, synthesizing and analyzing data and understanding and applying principles of health care at an advanced level.

(ii) Managing the physical and psychosocial health status of clients.

(iii) Analyzing multiple sources of data, identifying alternative possibilities as to the nature of a health care problem and selecting, implementing and evaluating appropriate treatment.

(iv) Making independent decisions in solving complex client care problems.

(v) Diagnosing, performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and prescribing, administering and dispensing therapeutic measures, including legend drugs, medical devices and controlled substances within the scope of registered nurse practitioner practice on meeting the requirements established by the board.

(vi) Recognizing the limits of the nurse's knowledge and experience and planning for situations beyond the nurse's knowledge, educational preparation and expertise by consulting with or referring clients to other health care providers when appropriate.

(vii) Delegating to a medical assistant pursuant to section 32-1456.

(viii) Performing additional acts that require education and training as prescribed by the board and that are recognized by the nursing profession as proper to be performed by a nurse practitioner.

16. "Registered nursing" includes the following:

(a) Diagnosing and treating human responses to actual or potential health problems.

(b) Assisting individuals and groups to maintain or attain optimal health by implementing a strategy of care to accomplish defined goals and evaluating responses to care and treatment.

(c) Assessing the health status of individuals and groups.

(d) Establishing a nursing diagnosis.

(e) Establishing goals to meet identified health care needs.

(f) Prescribing nursing interventions to implement a strategy of care.

(g) Delegating nursing interventions to others who are qualified to do so.

(h) Providing for the maintenance of safe and effective nursing care that is rendered directly or indirectly.

(i) Evaluating responses to interventions.

(j) Teaching nursing knowledge and skills.

(k) Managing and supervising the practice of nursing.

(l) Consulting and coordinating with other health care professionals in the management of health care.

(m) Performing additional acts that require education and training as prescribed by the board and that are recognized by the nursing profession as proper to be performed by a registered nurse.

17. "Regulated party" means any person or entity that is licensed, certified, recognized or approved pursuant to this chapter.

18. "Unprofessional conduct" includes the following whether occurring in this state or elsewhere:

(a) Committing fraud or deceit in obtaining, attempting to obtain or renewing a license or a certificate issued pursuant to this chapter.

(b) Committing a felony, whether or not involving moral turpitude, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. In either case, conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction or a plea of no contest is conclusive evidence of the commission.

(c) Aiding or abetting in a criminal abortion or attempting, agreeing or offering to procure or assist in a criminal abortion.

(d) Any conduct or practice that is or might be harmful or dangerous to the health of a patient or the public.

(e) Being mentally incompetent or physically unsafe to a degree that is or might be harmful or dangerous to the health of a patient or the public.

(f) Having a license, certificate, permit or registration to practice a health care profession denied, suspended, conditioned, limited or revoked in another jurisdiction and not reinstated by that jurisdiction.

(g) Wilfully or repeatedly violating a provision of this chapter or a rule adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(h) Committing an act that deceives, defrauds or harms the public.

(i) Failing to comply with a stipulated agreement, consent agreement or board order.

(j) Violating this chapter or a rule that is adopted by the board pursuant to this chapter.

(k) Failing to report to the board any evidence that a registered or practical nurse or a nursing assistant is or may be:

(i) Incompetent to practice.

(ii) Guilty of unprofessional conduct.

(iii) Mentally or physically unable to safely practice nursing or to perform nursing related duties. A nurse who is providing therapeutic counseling for a nurse who is in a drug rehabilitation program is required to report that nurse only if the nurse providing therapeutic counseling has personal knowledge that patient safety is being jeopardized.

(l) Failing to self-report a conviction for a felony or undesignated offense within ten days after the conviction.

(m) Cheating or assisting another to cheat on a licensure or certification examination.