Nursing: nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives: abortion and practice standards.

Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of registered nurses, including nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives, by the Board of Registered Nursing. Existing law makes a violation of this act a crime. In order to perform an abortion by aspiration techniques under the act, a person with a license or certificate to practice as a nurse practitioner or a certified nurse-midwife is required to complete board-recognized training and adhere to standardized procedures that specify, among other conditions, the extent of supervision by a physician and surgeon with relevant training and expertise. This bill would revise those provisions by requiring, in order to perform abortion by aspiration techniques, a person with a license or certificate to practice as a nurse practitioner practicing pursuant to a standardized procedure, to practice as a certified nurse-midwife, or to practice as a qualified nurse practitioner functioning pursuant to certain advanced practice provisions to achieve clinical competency by successfully completing requisite training, as specified, in performing these procedures, as provided by certain board-approved programs, courses, and trainings. This bill would authorize a nurse practitioner who has completed training required by these provisions and who is functioning pursuant to certain advanced practice provisions to perform an abortion by aspiration techniques without supervision by a physician and surgeon. The bill would require a nurse practitioner to practice abortion by aspiration techniques consistent with applicable standards of care and within the scope of their clinical and professional education and training. By expanding the application of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law provides that it is unprofessional conduct for a nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife to perform an abortion by aspiration techniques without prior completion of training and validation of clinical competency. This bill would instead make a violation of the above-described provisions by a nurse practitioner or certified midwife unprofessional conduct. This bill would also prohibit certain persons authorized to perform abortion by aspiration techniques from being punished, held liable for damages in a civil action, or denied any right or privilege for any action relating to the evaluation of clinical competency of a nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife, as specified. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.