Rauner expands registered nursing
practice authority
Legislation will increase access to
healthcare for Illinoisans and empower nurses
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[September 23, 2017]
Governor Bruce Rauner
today signed HB 313, which will grant greater authority to
registered and licensed nurses in administering health services and
lift burdensome licensing regulations.
“This will empower nurses to administer the services that they are
fully equipped and educated to perform,” said Gov. Rauner. “I’m
happy that Illinoisans across the state will be able to rely more on
highly qualified and skilled nurses to deliver care when access to a
physician may be inhibited due to costs or geographic barriers.”
After the successful completion and notarized attestation of 250
hours of continuing education or training, and at least 4000 hours
of clinical experience working with a physician or in a hospital,
advance practice registered nurses would qualify for full practice
authority. For example, APRNs will now have ability to prescribe
certain controlled medications. The expansion of nursing practice
authority aligns Illinois with the policies of 25 other states.
Furthermore, the overall modernization of this law will increase
regulatory efficiency and decrease licensing processing times.
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“These men and women have completed extensive training and are
already performing lifesaving services for Illinoisans,” Sen. Iris Martinez
(D-Chicago) said. “It is only fair that they should be granted full authority
over their practice.”
"Extending full practice authority to advanced practice nurses is
a commonsense approach to address the growing shortage of doctors, especially in
rural areas," Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) said. "This legislation includes
safeguards to protect patients and ensures that advanced practice nurses have
extensive clinical experience before they are given full practice authority.
With this new law, Illinois joins over 20 states that have already granted full
practice authority to advanced practice nurses."
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Illinois has many outstanding nursing education programs, and HB 313 will allow
nurses to more fully utilize their educations to the benefit of all Illinois
residents.
HB 313 received wide support from the healthcare community, nursing
associations, and legislators.
[Office of the Governor Bruce Rauner] |