Rules of the Tennessee
Board of Nursing
Chapter 1000-4
Nurse Practitioners
1000-4.01 Purpose and Scope
1000-4.02 Processing of Applications
1000-4.03 Qualifications for Recommendations
1000-4.04 Temporary Certificate of Fitness
1000-4-.01 PURPOSE AND SCOPE.
(1)The Nurse Practice Act, T.C.A. õõ63-7-101 et seq., requires a certification process for a nurse practitioner to prescribe and/or issue legend drugs. These rules implement this certification process only and set forth the requirements a nurse must meet for certification as a nurse practitioner who prescribes and/or issues legend drugs.
(2)Certification by the Tennessee Board of Nursing to prescribe and/or issue legend drugs shall authorize a nurse practitioner to prescribe and/or issue such drugs. Any nurse who prescribes and/or issues drugs without proper certification by the Tennessee Board of Nursing shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Nursing in accordance with the provisions of T.C.A. õ63-7-115.
(3)A nurse who has been issued a certificate of fitness as a nurse practitioner shall file a notice with the Board of Nursing containing:
(a)name of nurse practitioner;
(b)a copy of the formulary describing the categories of legend drugs to be prescribed and/or issued; and
(c)name of the licensed physician having the supervision, control and responsibility for prescriptive
services rendered.
(4)Such nurse practitioner shall also file the same information as required in subsection (3) with the director of the Division of Health Related Boards in accordance with T.C.A. õ63-1-132(c).
(5)Such nurse practitioner shall be responsible for updating the information submitted pursuant to subsections (3) and (4) within thirty (30) days of the change.
Authority: T.C.A.: õõ4-5-202; 4-5-203; 4-5-204; 63-7-101; 63-7-123 and 63-7-207. Administrative History: Original rule filed April 5, 1982; effective May 20, 1982. Amendment filed November 4, 1985; effective December 4, 1985. Amendment filed December 30, 1994; effective March 18, 1995. Amendment filed June 26, 1997; effective September 8, 1997. Amendment filed March 25, 1999; effective June 8, 1999. Amendment filed October 26, 1999; effective January 9, 2000.
1000-4-.02 PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS.
(1)A nurse seeking certification under these rules shall apply to the Tennessee Board of Nursing, Nashville, TN. The Board shall thereupon supply the applicant with all necessary forms and information. After review, the applicant will be notified, in writing, at the address shown upon the application, as to the following:
(a)that the application is incomplete or more information is required.
(b)that the application is denied (including the reasons for denial).
(c)that the application is approved and a certificate of fitness with an identifying number has been forwarded
to the Director of the Division of Health Related Boards to be filed and recorded.
(2)The qualifications in effect at the time of the approval of the application shall be used as a basis for certification. Once an application is approved, the applicant will not be required to submit a new application
Authority: T.C.A. õõ4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-7-207 and 63-7-123. Administrative History: Original rule filed April 5, 1982; effective May 20, 1982. Amendment filed November 4, 1985; effective December 4, 1985. Amendment filed December 30, 1994; effective March 18, 1995.
1000-4-.03 QUALIFICATIONS.
(1)In order to be issued a certificate of fitness as a nurse practitioner with privileges to write and sign prescriptions and/or issue legend drugs, a nurse must meet all of the following requirements:
(a)current licensure as a registered nurse under T.C.A. Title 63. Chapter 7;
(b)graduation from a program conferring a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing;
(c)preparation in specialized practitioner skills at the master’s, post-master’s, doctoral, or post-doctoral
level. Said specialized practitioner skills education shall include, but not be limited to, at least
three (3) quarter hours of pharmacology instruction or its equivalent; and
(d)current national certification in the appropriate nursing specialty area.
(2)Those applicants intending to prescribe, issue, dispense and/or administer controlled substances pursuant to T.C.A.
õ63-7-123(b)(2) shall maintain their Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate to Prescribe Controlled Substances at their practice location to be inspected by the Board or its authorized representative.
Authority: T.C.A. õõ4-5-202; 4-5-203; 4-5-204; 63-7-101; 63-7-123 and 63-7-207. Administrative History: Original rule filed April 5, 1982; effective May 20, 1982. Amendment filed February 14, 1984; effective March 15, 1984. Amendment filed November 4, 1985; effective December 4, 1985. Amendment filed August 7, 1992; effective September 21, 1992. Amendment filed February 21, 1996; effective May 6, 1996. Amendment filed March 25, 1999; effective June 8, 1999.
1004-4-.04 TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS.
(1)A temporary permit may be issued to graduates of nurse practitioner programs to prescribe and/or issue drugs until the results of the national certification examination are received.
(2)A nurse who has applied to take a national certification examination following graduation from a nurse practitioner program may be eligible for a temporary permit to prescribe and/or issue drugs upon submission of evidence of all
of the following:
(a)current Tennessee R.N. licensure.;
(b)a transcript documenting graduation from a program conferring a master’s degree in specialized practitioner
skills which includes three (3) quarter hours of pharmacology or its equivalent;
(c)evidence from the national certifying agency of acceptance to write the next scheduled national certification
examination for which he/she is qualified as a first-time examinee and/or is awaiting results as a first-time
examinee in the appropriate nursing specialty area through a national certifying body.
(3)An applicant who does not write or fails to pass the national certifying examination at the next scheduled examination date for which he/she qualifies shall return the permit to the Board. The permit will no longer be valid in this instance.
(4)The temporary certificate of fitness may be issued one (1) time only and is valid until the results of the certification examination are received.
(5)The holder of a temporary certificate of fitness to prescribe and/or issue drugs who has not received the results of the national certification examination shall work only under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse who holds a certificate of fitness to prescribe or a physician.
Authority: T.C.A. õõ4-5-2-2; 4-5-2-4; 63-7-123 and 63-7-207. Administrative History: Original rule filed March 11, 1993; effective April 25, 1993. Amendment filed February 21, 1996; effective May 6, 1996.