38-2322 Nurse practitioner; commencement of practice; requirements; waiver. - Nebraska Statutes

38-2322. Nurse practitioner; commencement of practice; requirements; waiver.(1) Prior to commencing practice as a nurse practitioner, an individual (a) who has a master's degree or doctorate degree in nursing and has completed an approved nurse practitioner program, (b) who can demonstrate separate course work in pharmacotherapeutics, advanced health assessment, and pathophysiology or psychopathology, and (c) who has completed a minimum of two thousand hours of practice under the supervision of a physician, shall submit to the department an integrated practice agreement with a collaborating physician and shall furnish proof of professional liability insurance required under section 38-2320. (2) A nurse practitioner who needs to obtain the two thousand hours of supervised practice required under subdivision (1)(c) of this section shall (a) submit to the department one or more integrated practice agreements with a collaborating physician, (b) furnish proof of jointly approved protocols with a collaborating physician which shall guide the nurse practitioner's practice, and (c) furnish proof of professional liability insurance required under section 38-2320.(3) If, after a diligent effort to obtain an integrated practice agreement, a nurse practitioner is unable to obtain an integrated practice agreement with one physician, the board may waive the requirement of an integrated practice agreement upon a showing that the applicant (a) meets the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, (b) has made a diligent effort to obtain an integrated practice agreement, and (c) will practice in a geographic area where there is a shortage of health care services. SourceLaws 1996, LB 414, § 33; Laws 2000, LB 1115, § 49; Laws 2002, LB 1062, § 46; Laws 2005, LB 256, § 62; R.S.Supp.,2006, § 71-1723.02; Laws 2007, LB185, § 9; Laws 2007, LB463, § 814.