| (a) The advanced practice nurse shall know and conform to the
Texas Nursing Practice Act; current board rules, regulations, and standards
of professional nursing; and all federal, state, and local laws, rules, and
regulations affecting the advanced role and specialty area. When collaborating
with other health care providers, the advanced practice nurse shall be accountable
for knowledge of the statutes and rules relating to advanced practice nursing
and function within the boundaries of the appropriate advanced practice category.
(b) The advanced practice nurse shall practice within the advanced
specialty and role appropriate to his/her advanced educational preparation.
(c) The advanced practice nurse acts independently and/or in
collaboration with the health team in the observation, assessment, diagnosis,
intervention, evaluation, rehabilitation, care and counsel, and health teachings
of persons who are ill, injured or infirm or experiencing changes in normal
health processes; and in the promotion and maintenance of health or prevention
of illness.
(d) When providing medical aspects of care, advanced practice
nurses shall utilize mechanisms which provide authority for that care. These
mechanisms may include, but are not limited to, Protocols or other written
authorization. This shall not be construed as requiring authority for nursing
aspects of care.
(1) Protocols or other written authorization shall promote
the exercise of professional judgment by the advanced practice nurse commensurate
with his/her education and experience. The degree of detail within protocols/policies/practice
guidelines/clinical practice privileges may vary in relation to the complexity
of the situations covered by such Protocols, the advanced specialty area of
practice, the advanced educational preparation of the individual, and the
experience level of the individual advanced practice nurse.
(2) Protocols or other written authorization:
(A) should be jointly developed by the advanced practice nurse
and the appropriate physician(s),
(B) shall be signed by both the advanced practice nurse and
the physician(s),
(C) shall be reviewed and re-signed at least annually,
(D) shall be maintained in the practice setting of the advanced
practice nurse, and
(E) shall be made available as necessary to verify authority
to provide medical aspects of care.
(e) The advanced practice nurse shall retain professional accountability
for advanced practice nursing care.
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