(a) The board shall
(1) adopt regulations necessary to implement this chapter, including regulations
- (A) pertaining to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse, including requirements for an advanced practice registered nurse to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife; regulations for an advanced practice registered nurse who holds a valid federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration number must address training in pain management and opioid use and addiction;
- (B) necessary to implement AS 08.68.331 — 08.68.336 relating to certified nurse aides in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of clients served by nurse aides;
- (C) pertaining to retired nurse status;
- (D) establishing criteria for approval of practical nurse education programs that are not accredited by a national nursing accrediting body; and
- (E) establishing guidelines for rendering a diagnosis, providing treatment, or prescribing, dispensing, or administering a prescription drug to a person without conducting a physical examination under AS 08.68.710; the guidelines must include a nationally recognized model policy for standards of care of a patient who is at a different location than the advanced practice registered nurse;
- (2) approve curricula and adopt standards for basic education programs that prepare persons for licensing under AS 08.68.190;
- (3) provide for surveys of the basic nursing education programs in the state at the times it considers necessary;
- (4) approve education programs that meet the requirements of this chapter and of the board, and deny, revoke, or suspend approval of education programs for failure to meet the requirements;
- (5) examine, license, and renew the licenses of qualified applicants;
- (6) prescribe requirements for competence before a former registered, advanced practice registered, or licensed practical nurse may resume the practice of nursing under this chapter;
- (7) define by regulation the qualifications and duties of the executive administrator and delegate authority to the executive administrator that is necessary to conduct board business;
- (8) develop reasonable and uniform standards for nursing practice;
- (9) publish advisory opinions regarding whether nursing practice procedures or policies comply with acceptable standards of nursing practice as defined under this chapter;
- (10) require applicants under this chapter to submit fingerprints and the fees required by the Department of Public Safety under AS 12.62.160 for criminal justice information and a national criminal history record check; the department shall submit the fingerprints and fees to the Department of Public Safety for a report of criminal justice information under AS 12.62 and a national criminal history record check under AS 12.62.400;
- (11) require that a licensed advanced practice registered nurse who has a federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration number register with the controlled substance prescription database under AS 17.30.200(n).
(b) The board may
- (1) conduct hearings upon charges of alleged violations of this chapter or regulations adopted under it;
- (2) invoke, or request the department to invoke, disciplinary action against a licensee;
- (3) prescribe requirements for competence to continue practice.