N.M. Admin. Code § 16.12.2.13 - ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE (APRN) CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST (CRNA)
A. Requirements for licensure as a CRNA:
(1) Hold a current, unencumbered RN license from New Mexico or hold a compact multi-state RN license.
(2) Successfully complete a formal program designed for the education and preparation of certified registered nurse anesthetist. The COA council on accreditation of nurse anesthesia educational programs must accredit the program.
(3) If the applicant is initially licensed by any board of nursing including the New Mexico board of nursing after January 1, 2001, the program must be at the master's level or higher. Applicants who do not hold a master's or higher degree from a nurse anesthetist program and were initially licensed by any board before January 2, 2001, must provide verification of CRNA licensure.
(4) Provide evidence of successful completion of a national certification examination as described by the NBCRNA.
(5) It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide documented evidence of their qualification for licensure.
(6) Applicants who will be requesting prescriptive authority must also comply with the requirements for prescriptive authority as outlined in these rules.
B. Procedure for licensure as a graduate. The applicant seeking licensure as a certified registered nurse anesthetist shall be responsible for providing proof of meeting the requirements for licensure.
(1) The applicant shall complete the New Mexico certified registered nurse anesthetist licensure application and submit it along with all required documents, and fee in accordance with the instructions.
(2) Upon acceptance of the completed application and receipt of all required supporting documents, the file is reviewed for qualifications and compliance with the requirements.
(3) Applicants who do not meet the requirements for licensure may request or be requested to meet with the board or its designee.
(4) Certified registered nurse anesthetists are not eligible to practice in New Mexico as certified registered nurse anesthetist until so licensed in accordance with the licensure procedures.
(5) The board may appoint certified registered nurse anesthetists to the advanced practice committee. These nurse anesthetists will provide advice regarding licensure and practice of certified registered nurse anesthetists.
C. Graduate registered nurse anesthetist permit-to-practice may be issued, upon written request, provided all requirements have been met except NBCRNA certification.
(1) A permit may be issued following graduation from an approved school of nurse anesthesia to afford the applicant the opportunity for employment pending dissemination of the national qualifying examination results by NBCRNA.
(2) GRNAs must function in an interdependent role as a member of a health care team and practice at the direction of and in collaboration with a physician, CRNA, osteopathic physician, dentist or podiatrist.
(3) GRNAs may prescribe and administer medications only in collaboration with a CRNA, physician, osteopathic physician, dentist or podiatrist in compliance with these rules.
(4) GRNAs permits will be issued to the employer(s).
(5) A letter of verification of intent to employ, on official letterhead including the name of the practice supervisor(s) and name of prescription supervisor(s), is required from each employer. Upon change in employment, the new employer must send the board a letter of intent to employ. The board will then issue a permit to practice for the new place of employment. The permit will be issued directly to the new employing agency.
(6) The name of the employment institution and the name(s) of the supervisor(s) shall be indicated on the GRNA permit.
(7) GRNA permits cannot be transferred or renewed.
(8) GRNA permits expire on the date specified on the permit.
(a) Permits shall be valid for approximately 12 months subsequent to the date of graduation from the nurse anesthesia program.
(b) Written proof of application to write the national qualifying exam must be received in the board office within 12 weeks of graduation from the nurse anesthesia program.
(c) Verification that applicant wrote the national qualifying examination, must be received in the board office within three weeks subsequent to the date of the examination.
(d) Failure of applicant to write the scheduled qualifying examination or if the exam is failed, will render the applicant ineligible to practice anesthesia in New Mexico and the employer must immediately return the permit-to-permit to the board office. It is the responsibility of the GRNA to request that the national certifying organization notify the board of the results of the examination.
D. A license to practice as a CRNA shall be issued only after receipt by the board of proof of NBCRNA certification. Such proof must be submitted to the board by the certifying agency.
E. Expedited licensure for CRNA's:
(1) The board will issue an expedited license to a qualified applicant based on prior licensure in an eligible jurisdiction other than New Mexico upon an applicant's submission of a complete application containing all of the following:
(a) a completed and signed application form;
(b) proof of current licensure in an eligible jurisdiction;
(c) proof of good standing for the license held by the applicant in an eligible jurisdiction;
(d) submission of fingerprints and other information necessary for a state and national background check; and
(e) payment of the required application fee.
(2) An expedited license application shall not be deemed complete until the applicant has submitted, and the board's staff is in receipt of, all of the materials required by Paragraph (1) of Subsection E of 16.12.2.13 NMAC, including documentation from third parties.
(3) Upon submission of a complete application, the board's staff shall process the application and issue the expedited license to the applicant within 30 days unless the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-3-28 NMSA 1978.
(4) If the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-3-28 NMSA 1978:
(a) The license may not be issued within 30 days of submission of the complete application;
(b) The matter of the applicant's application shall be submitted to the board for consideration and action at its next available regular meeting; and
(c) The board may vote to grant the application or refer the matter to its administrative prosecutor contemplating the ultimate denial of the application as provided by the board's rules.
(5) Renewal of expedited licenses:
(a) A licensee holding an expedited license may apply for license renewal beginning 60 days prior to expiration of the expedited license, as provided by the board's rules.
(b) Upon renewal, an expedited license shall become a regular single-state license.
(c) If the licensee holding an expedited license was not required by the licensee's original jurisdiction outside of New Mexico to pass the NCLEX for original licensure, the licensee shall be required to take and pass the NCLEX as a prerequisite to the renewal of the license. In such a case, the expedited license shall not be renewed unless the licensee passes the NCLEX.
(6) Eligible and Ineligible Jurisdictions
(a) The board will accept expedited license applications on the basis of prior licensure in any jurisdiction within the United States except the following:
(i) Michigan, on the grounds that this jurisdiction does not participate in the coordinated licensure system for the purposes of discipline; and
(ii) Puerto Rico, on the grounds that this jurisdiction does not participate in the coordinated licensure system.
(b) The board will accept expedited license applications on the basis of prior licensure in the following jurisdictions outside the United States: Canada.
F. Qualifications for licensure as CRNA are pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act.
(1) Refer to Subsection A of 16.12.2.13 NMAC for licensure requirements.
(2) Disciplinary action taken or pending against a nursing license in another jurisdiction, or a conviction of a felony, may result in denial of a license.
G. An initial certified registered nurse anesthetist license shall be valid until the last day of the applicant's birth month after the first anniversary of the initial license. For nurses from compact states, a New Mexico advanced practice license will be issued with the same expiration date as the compact RN license. A letter of authorization will be issued to CRNAs who have RN multi-state licensure privileges from another nurse licensure compact states. Official verification of authorization to practice is available through the board website.
H. If the licensure process is not completed, the application becomes null and void six months after the date received at the board of nursing.
I. Maintaining licensure as a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
(1) National certification: CRNAs must maintain NBCRNA. A copy of the recertification card must be presented at the time of each subsequent renewal.
(2) Continuing education: recertification by NBCRNA is accepted for meeting mandatory CE requirement. CRNAs with DEA registration at any time during their most recent renewal period shall obtain five contact hours in the management of non-cancer pain.
J. Reactivation: to reactivate or reinstate licensure as a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
(1) The nurse must provide evidence of current recertification by the NBCRNA.
(2) CRNAs who are reactivating an advanced practice license which has been lapsed for four or more years must also complete a refresher course or certification reactivation that is reflective of their knowledge, skills and expertise. A temporary license will be issued not to exceed one year, unless board of nursing approves an extension.
K. Certified registered nurse anesthetist practice:
(1) The CRNA provides pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative anesthesia care and related services, including ordering of diagnostic tests, in accordance with the current American Association of nurse anesthesiology (AANA) guidelines for nurse anesthesia practice.
(2) The CRNA functions in an interdependent role as a member of a health care team in which the medical care of the patient is directed by a licensed physician, osteopathic physician, dentist, APRN or podiatrist licensed in New Mexico. This does not require that the physician "supervise" or be "present" during a procedure/anesthetic administered by the certified registered nurse anesthetist.
(3) The CRNA collaborates as necessary with the health care team members concerning the anesthesia care of the patient. Collaboration means the process in which each health care provider contributes their respective expertise. Collaboration includes systematic formal planning and evaluation between the health care professionals involved in the collaborative practice process.
(4) The CRNA may assume specific functions or perform specific procedures which are beyond the advanced educational preparation and certification for the CRNA provided the knowledge and skills required to perform the function or procedure emanates from a recognized body of knowledge or advanced practice of nursing and the function or procedure is not prohibited by any law or statute. When assuming specific functions or performing specific procedures, which are beyond the CRNA's advanced educational preparation and certification, the CRNA is responsible for obtaining the appropriate knowledge, skills, and supervision to ensure he/she can perform the function/procedure safely and competently and recognize and respond to any complications that may arise.
(5) CRNAs who have fulfilled requirements for prescriptive authority may prescribe and administer therapeutic measures, including dangerous drugs and controlled substances included in Schedules II through V of the Controlled Substances Act within the specialty of anesthesia and practice setting.
(a) Requirements for prescriptive authority: in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, the CRNA who fulfills the following requirements may prescribe and administer dangerous drugs including controlled substances included in Schedules II through V of the Controlled Substance Act.
(i) Verifies 400 hours of work experience in which prescribing and administering dangerous drugs has occurred within the two years immediately preceding the date of the application. Individuals who have not fulfilled this requirement must provide documentation of successful completion of 400 hours of prescribing dangerous drugs in a preceptorship with a CRNA or physician. The preceptorship must be completed within six months and a letter of authorization will be issued for the duration of the preceptorship.
(ii) In order to prescribe controlled substances, the CRNA must provide the board of nursing with verification of current state-controlled substances registration and current drug enforcement administration (DEA) number, unless the CRNA has met registration waiver criteria from the New Mexico board of pharmacy (Subsection I of 16.19.20.8 NMAC). CRNAs may not possess or prescribe controlled substances until they have both a current state-controlled substances registration and a current DEA registration.
(iii) Once prescriptive authority requirements are met, the board will notify the board of pharmacy of completion of prescriptive authority requirements.
(b) Formulary: the formulary will include agents related to the administration of anesthesia and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocol agents.
(i) All CRNAs must adhere to the current formulary approved by the board of nursing.
(ii) The initial formulary or a formulary with changes will be submitted to the board of medical examiners for a review.
(c) Prescription records: written, verbal or electronic prescriptions and order will comply with state board of pharmacy and federal requirements. All prescriptions will include the name, title, address and phone number of the prescribing advanced practice registered nurse.
(d) Prescribing and administering: CRNAs who have fulfilled requirements for prescriptive authority as stated in these rules as defined by the board of pharmacy may prescribe and administer to their patients dangerous drugs including controlled substances contained in Schedules II through V of the Controlled Substances Act, which have been prepared, packaged or fabricated by a registered pharmacist or doses or drugs that have been prepackaged by a pharmaceutical manufacturer in accordance with the Pharmacy Act Section 61-11-22 NMSA 1978 and the New Mexico Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act for the benefit of the public good.
(e) Distributing: CRNAs who have fulfilled requirements for prescriptive authority as stated in these rules may not distribute to their patients dangerous drugs including controlled substances contained in Schedules II through V of the Controlled Substances Act.
(f) CRNAs who do not plan to prescribe controlled substances but do plan to prescribe dangerous drugs must meet the requirements relative to prescriptive authority except those specifically required for controlled substances.
(6) Graduate registered nurse anesthetist practice.
(a) GRNAs may NOT distribute medications.
(b) GRNAs may practice or prescribe/administer medications only in collaboration with a physician, osteopathic physician, dentist or podiatrist.
(7) To insure competency and safe practice in specific regard to prescription writing practices in the state of NM.
(a) A list of current CRNAs and their status with regard to prescription writing shall be distributed upon request to the board of pharmacy.
(b) Violation of these rules or disciplinary action taken by the board of nursing with regard to controlled substances shall be reported to the board of pharmacy.
(c) The board of nursing shall appoint as requested, qualified CRNAs to serve on the board of pharmacy disciplinary panel as requested by the board of pharmacy.
L. A CRNA business entity formed pursuant to the laws of the state of New Mexico is authorized to provide health care services in the state of New Mexico if the health care services are provided by persons who are duly licensed to engage in the practice of nursing pursuant to the provisions of the Nursing Practice Act.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.