Senate Bill No. 83–Committee on Human
Resources and Facilities

 

(On Behalf of the Department of Human Resources,
Mental Health and Developmental Services Division)

 

February 11, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

SUMMARY—Expands circumstances under which registered nurses are authorized to dispense dangerous drugs. (BDR 40‑533)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to medical professionals; expanding the circumstances under which registered nurses are authorized to dispense dangerous drugs to include dispensing such drugs to patients at certain rural clinics if the nurses are providing mental health services at the rural clinics; authorizing the State Board of Pharmacy to adopt regulations to ensure that certain safeguards, including dispensing procedures, are followed to protect registered nurses who provide mental health services to patients at certain rural clinics; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1. NRS 454.215 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2  454.215  A dangerous drug may be dispensed by:

1-3  1.  A registered pharmacist upon the legal prescription from a

1-4  practitioner or to a pharmacy in a correctional institution upon the

1-5  written order of the prescribing practitioner in charge;

2-1  2.  A pharmacy in a correctional institution, in case of

2-2  emergency, upon a written order signed by the chief medical officer;

2-3  3.  A practitioner, or a physician assistant if authorized by the

2-4  Board;

2-5  4.  A registered nurse, when the nurse is engaged in the

2-6  performance of any public health program approved by the Board;

2-7  5.  A medical intern in the course of his internship;

2-8  6.  An advanced practitioner of nursing who holds a certificate

2-9  from the State Board of Nursing and a certificate from the State

2-10  Board of Pharmacy permitting him to dispense dangerous drugs;

2-11      7.  A registered nurse employed at an institution of the

2-12  Department of Corrections to an offender in that institution; [or]

2-13      8.  A registered pharmacist from an institutional pharmacy

2-14  pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board[,] ; or

2-15      9.  A registered nurse to a patient at a rural clinic that is

2-16  designated as such pursuant to NRS 433.233 and that is operated

2-17  by the Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services of

2-18  the Department of Human Resources if the nurse is providing

2-19  mental health services at the rural clinic,

2-20  except that no person may dispense a dangerous drug in violation of

2-21  a regulation adopted by the Board.

2-22      Sec. 2.  NRS 639.074 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-23      639.074  The Board may adopt such regulations as may be

2-24  necessary to [assure] ensure that proper and adequate safeguards,

2-25  including dispensing procedures, are followed to protect a registered

2-26  [nurses who participate] nurse who:

2-27      1.  Participates in a public health [programs] program

2-28  approved by the Board[.] ; or

2-29      2.  Provides mental health services to a patient at a rural

2-30  clinic that is designated as such pursuant to NRS 433.233 and that

2-31  is operated by the Division of Mental Health and Developmental

2-32  Services of the Department of Human Resources.

2-33      Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

 

2-34  H