- A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B. Terms Defined.
- (1) “Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)” has the meaning stated in Health Occupations Article, §8-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.
(2) “Assistant” means an individual:
- (a) To whom only routine nursing and technical tasks are delegated by an advanced practice registered nurse;
- (b) Who is trained as defined in §B(12) of this regulation; and
- (c) Who is not licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise authorized by law by the Board, or any other State health occupations board, to practice any health occupation in the State.
- (3) “Asynchronous telehealth interaction” has the meaning stated in Health Occupations Article, §1-1001, Annotated Code of Maryland.
- (4) “Board” means the Maryland Board of Nursing.
- (5) “Delegating APRN” means an advanced practice registered nurse who directs an assistant to perform nursing and technical tasks.
(6) “Direct supervision” means oversight exercised by a delegating APRN who is:
- (a) Personally treating the patient; and
- (b) In the physical presence of the patient and the assistant.
(7) Mechanical Act.
- (a) “Mechanical act” means an act which does not require professional judgment, medical or pharmaceutical training, or discretion.
(b) “Mechanical act” does not include:
- (i) Selecting a drug;
- (ii) Labeling;
- (iii) Measuring or calculating dosages;
- (iv) Substituting one drug for another, including substituting a generic or brand drug for the prescribed drug;
- (v) Substituting one dosage form of a drug for another;
- (vi) Altering the route of administration; or
- (vii) Counseling patients.
(8) “On-site supervision” means oversight exercised by a delegating APRN who is present at the same site as the assistant and the patient and is:
- (a) Able to be immediately available in person during the assistant’s performance of a delegated act;
- (b) In the context of a synchronous telehealth interaction, able to be immediately available via secure telecommunications technology to the telehealth visit during the assistant’s performance of a delegated act; or
- (c) In the context of an asynchronous telehealth interaction, able to review the assistant’s work and interact with the assistant before communication with the patient.
- (9) “Site” means any facility or location, including those defined in Health-General Article, §§19-114 and 19-3B-01(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, used for the delivery of health care services.
- (10) “Synchronous telehealth interaction” has meaning stated in Health Occupations Article, §1-1001, Annotated Code of Maryland.
- (11) “Technical task” means a routine clinical act or task that does not require clinical or nursing judgment and is performed with supervision as specified within this chapter.
- (12) “Trained” means possessing the knowledge, skills, and abilities, as determined by the delegating APRN, to perform delegated nursing and technical tasks.
Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§8-205 and 8-6A-02, Annotated Code of Maryland
Effective date:
Regulations .01 — .06 adopted as an emergency provision effective August 26, 2025 (52:20 Md. R. 999); adopted permanently effective October 27, 2025 (52:21 Md. R. 1024)