Bill Name: Senate Bill 1983 (S 1983)

Primary Sponsor: Senator Joseph Vitale, Senator Troy Singleton

Status: 01/09/2024 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

AmSpa’s Take: Independent practice for nurse practitioners is already the rule in the majority of states. The early-adopting states have already shown the benefits of independent practice, so it is just a matter of time before this trend reaches the last few states.

Analysis: Advanced practice nurses (APN) in New Jersey currently practice in collaboration with a physician. Their ability to prescribe medications is controlled by the written protocol with the physician. S 1983 would remove this requirement once the APN had completed a period of collaboration.

Under S 1983, APNs would have the option to continue with the collaborative relationships under which they currently practice. In order to practice without a protocol or collaborating provider, the APN would need to complete an additional 6 hours of continuing education on pharmacology and practice with a collaborating provider under a joint protocol for 24 months or 2,400 hours. Once they have completed these requirements, they must inform the board and would need to complete at least 10 continuing education hours for each license renewal period. A collaborating provider can be a physician or another APN who has already completed these steps. S 1983 would also add provisions for APN-anesthesia nurses to practice without a joint protocol as well.

The majority of states now allow APNs such as nurse practitioners (NPs) the ability to practice independently. If S 1983 passes, New Jersey would become part of this strong trend. While not specifically mentioned in the law, independent practice generally means that an NP can open and own their clinic and provide services within their scope of practice, possibly to include many aesthetic medical spa treatments. If you would like additional information, to read the language of the bill or to contact the sponsors or committee, you can find the information you need through this link.