Report Title:

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses; Authority to Sign

 

Description:

Allows an advanced practice registered nurse who provides care to a patient requesting medical certification forms, the authority to sign certifications applicable to the care provided within the advanced practice registered nurse's scope of practice.

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1217

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to health care professionals.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that advanced practice registered nurses are often asked by their patients to complete and sign medical certifications for various purposes including physical examinations, handicapped parking permits, physical and speech therapy forms, and financial assistance certifications.  Current Hawaii law allows only physicians or psychologists to sign documents attesting to their patients' health, capabilities, or medical needs.  Often, a physician who did not provide care to the patient must sign these documents.  At times, there is not a physician available to sign medical certifications at the point of care.

     The legislature further finds that advanced practice registered nurses provide a wide variety of health care to the people in this State.  Allowing these advanced practice registered nurses to sign medical certification documents will enable them to expedite the processing of paperwork and provide optimal care at the first point of access for their patients, especially in rural and underserved areas.

     The purpose of this Act is to permit advanced practice registered nurses who provide the actual care, to sign medical certification forms for their patients applicable to the care provided within the advanced practice registered nurse's scope of practice.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 457, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§457-    Advanced practice registered nurse; power to sign certain documents.  Each advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this chapter is authorized to sign certification forms relating to patients to whom the advanced practice registered nurse provides actual care within the advanced practice registered nurse's scope of practice."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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