Section 61-3-23.2 - Certified nurse practitioner; qualifications; practice; examination; endorsement.
61-3-23.2. Certified nurse practitioner; qualifications; practice; examination; endorsement.
A. The board may license for advanced practice as a certified nurse practitioner an applicant who furnishes evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
(1) is a registered nurse;
(2) has successfully completed a program for the education and preparation of nurse practitioners; provided that if the applicant is initially licensed by the board or a board in another jurisdiction after January 1, 2001, the program shall be at the master's level or higher;
(3) has successfully completed the national certifying examination in the applicant's specialty area; and
(4) is certified by a national nursing organization.
B. Certified nurse practitioners may:
(1) perform an advanced practice that is beyond the scope of practice of professional registered nursing;
(2) practice independently and make decisions regarding health care needs of the individual, family or community and carry out health regimens, including the prescription and distribution of dangerous drugs and controlled substances included in Schedules II through V of the Controlled Substances Act [30-31-1 NMSA 1978]; and
(3) serve as a primary acute, chronic long-term and end of life health care provider and as necessary collaborate with licensed medical doctors, osteopathic physicians or podiatrists.
C. Certified nurse practitioners who have fulfilled requirements for prescriptive authority may prescribe in accordance with rules, regulations, guidelines and formularies for individual certified nurse practitioners promulgated by the board.
D. Certified nurse practitioners who have fulfilled requirements for prescriptive authority may distribute to their patients dangerous drugs and controlled substances included in Schedules II through V of the Controlled Substances Act [30-31-1 NMSA 1978], that have been prepared, packaged or fabricated by a registered pharmacist or doses of drugs that have been prepackaged by a pharmaceutical manufacturer in accordance with the Pharmacy Act [61-11-1 NMSA 1978] and the New Mexico Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act [26-1-1 NMSA 1978].
E. Certified nurse practitioners licensed by the board on and after December 2, 1985 shall successfully complete a national certifying examination and shall maintain national professional certification in their specialty area. Certified nurse practitioners licensed by a board prior to December 2, 1985 are not required to sit for a national certification examination or be certified by a national organization.