36-9A-12.   Nurse practitioner functions. A nurse practitioner may perform the following overlapping scope of advanced practice nursing and medical functions pursuant to § 36-9A-15, including:

             (1)      The initial medical diagnosis and the institution of a plan of therapy or referral;

             (2)      The prescription of medications and provision of drug samples or a limited supply of labeled medications, including controlled drugs or substances listed on Schedule II in chapter 34-20B for one period of not more than thirty days, for treatment of causative factors and symptoms. Medications or sample drugs provided to patients shall be accompanied with written administration instructions and appropriate documentation shall be entered in the patient's medical record;

             (3)      The writing of a chemical or physical restraint order when the patient may do personal harm or harm others;

             (4)      The completion and signing of official documents such as death certificates, birth certificates, and similar documents required by law; and

             (5)      The performance of a physical examination for participation in athletics and the certification that the patient is healthy and able to participate in athletics.

Source: SL 1979, ch 256, § 6; SL 1985, ch 219, § 3; SL 1990, ch 305; SL 1991, ch 198, § 5; SL 1994, ch 293, § 2; SL 1995, ch 213, § 2; SL 1999, ch 192, § 14; SL 2000, ch 188, § 2; SL 2006, ch 195, § 2.

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