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2003 SESSION

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HB 2477 Registered nurses; authority to conduct physical exams of children.

Introduced by: Flora Davis Crittenden | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Registered nurses; delegation to conduct physical examinations of children. Provides an exemption to the medical practice act authorizing physicians of medicine and osteopathy or nurse practitioners to delegate to registered nurses under their supervision the authority to screen and test children for elevated blood-lead levels when such tests are conducted in accordance with a written protocol between the physician or nurse practitioner and the registered nurse and in compliance with the Board of Health's regulations promulgated pursuant to §§ 32.1-46.1 and 32.1-46.2. Any follow-up testing must be done at the direction of a physician or a nurse practitioner. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee Studying Lead Poisoning Prevention. In other states where this delegation is authorized, the elevated blood-lead screening is more effectively implemented. In addition, the screening may cost less than when conducted by a physician.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Registered nurses; delegation to conduct physical examinations of children. Provides an exemption to the medical practice act authorizing physicians of medicine and osteopathy or nurse practitioners to delegate to registered nurses under their supervision the authority to screen and test children for elevated blood-lead levels when such tests are conducted in accordance with a written protocol between the physician or nurse practitioner and the registered nurse and in compliance with the Board of Health's regulations promulgated pursuant to §§ 32.1-46.1 and 32.1-46.2. Any follow-up testing must be done at the direction of a physician or a nurse practitioner. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee Studying Lead Poisoning Prevention. In other states where this delegation is authorized, the elevated blood-lead screening is more effectively implemented. In addition, the screening may cost less than when conducted by a physician.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Registered nurses; delegation to conduct physical examinations of children. Provides an exemption to the medical practice act to authorize physicians of medicine and osteopathy to delegate to registered nurses the authority to conduct physical examinations of children, when these children's health services are provided in accordance with a written protocol between the physician and the registered nurse, and the registered nurse has successfully completed training in a program complying with the Board of Nursing's guidelines. The Board of Nursing, in coordination with the Board of Medicine, is also authorized to develop and revise guidelines for training registered nurses to conduct children's physical examinations under the supervision of a physician of medicine or osteopathy. This provision is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee Studying Lead Poisoning Prevention as a means to increase opportunities for identification of children with elevated blood-lead levels, to reduce the administrative burden on physicians, and to provide authority for reimbursement for nurses to perform this service through Medicaid under appropriate circumstances, and, where applicable, insurance programs.