§457-8.5 Advanced practice registered nurse; qualifications; licensure; endorsement; fees; eligibility. (a) The board shall grant an advanced practice registered nurse license to a nurse who has:
(b) Any person licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse prior to October 1, 2009, whose license was granted based on a master's degree in nursing or a current certification for specialized and advanced nursing practice from a national certifying body recognized by the board shall be eligible to renew that license; provided that all nurse licenses and prescriptive authorities or similar designations held by the person in any jurisdiction are unencumbered.
(c) Any person applying for advanced practice registered nurse licensure by endorsement shall be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse; provided that:
An advanced practice registered nurse shall be eligible to renew the license granted under this subsection; provided that all nurse licenses and prescriptive authorities or similar designations held by the person in this State, another state, or a United States territory are unencumbered.
(d) Only a person who has a current, unencumbered license from the board to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse shall use the title "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse" and the abbreviation "A.P.R.N.". No other person shall assume the title "nurse" or in any manner imply that the person is a nurse except as defined in section 457-2 or as provided in sections 457-7 and 457-8 or use the abbreviation "A.P.R.N." or any other words, letter, sign, or device to indicate that the person using the same is an advanced practice registered nurse. Nothing in this section shall preclude a registered nurse who is not licensed by the board as an advanced practice registered nurse and who is currently certified by a national certifying body recognized by the board from using another title designated by certification. [L 1994, c 277, §1; am L 1995, c 88, §4; am L 1996, c 150, §4; am L 1998, c 279, §2; am L 2000, c 8, §1; am L 2004, c 88, §4; am L 2009, c 169, §9; am L 2013, c 19, §2; am L 2014, c 46, §7; am L 2016, c 97, §5]