Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
APRNs are licensed, independent practitioners. Nurse Practitioners (NP) practice autonomously and in coordination with healthcare professionals and other individuals. APRN scope of practice (SOP) is not setting-specific. An APRN may work in almost any setting provided that the needs of the patients for whom they are providing care fall within their professional scope of practice; consistent with the APRN Consensus Model, which describes the four (4) roles and the recognized population foci.
The (4) four roles consist of:
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
The Population Foci are:
- Family and individual across the lifespan
- Adult gerontology
- Neonatal Pediatrics
- Women's health and gender-related health
- Psychiatric mental health
To practice as an APRN in Kentucky, you must maintain:
- A current Kentucky RN license or a current RN multistate (compact license); and
- A current Kentucky APRN license, including a current national certification in a KBN-approved population foci that is on file with the Board.
Practicing without a current RN license, APRN license, and national certification is a violation of Kentucky law and subjects an individual to disciplinary action.
Prescriptive Authority
To review information related to prescriptive authority, click
here.
A Nurse's Responsibility and Accountability
Each nurse is individually responsible and accountable for their individual's acts based upon the nurse's education and experience. Each nurse must exercise professional and prudent judgment in determining whether the performance of a given act is within the scope of practice for which the nurse is both licensed and clinically competent to perform. See,
KRS 314.021
Additional Helpful Resources:
KRS 314.109 – Reporting a Criminal Conviction
Any person under the jurisdiction of the board shall, within ninety (90) days of entry of an order or judgment, notify the board in writing of any misdemeanor or felony criminal conviction, except traffic-related misdemeanors other than operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, in this or any other jurisdiction. The person shall submit a certified or attested copy of the order and a letter of explanation.
201 KAR 20:370 Applications for Licensure
Section 1(3) requires submission of a certified or attested copy of the court record of each misdemeanor or felony conviction in this or any jurisdiction.
KRS 314.108 – Reporting the Discipline, Termination, or Suspension of a Professional or Business License
(1) Any person licensed by the board shall, within thirty (30) days of the entry of a final order, notify the board in writing if any professional or business license that is issued to the person by any agency of the Commonwealth or any other jurisdiction is subject to disciplinary action. The person shall submit a certified copy of the order and a letter of explanation.
(2) An applicant for licensure shall notify the board in writing if any professional or business license that was issued to the person by any agency of the Commonwealth or any other jurisdiction is surrendered or terminated under threat of disciplinary action, or is refused, suspended, or revoked, or if renewal of continuance is denied. The person shall submit a certified copy of the order and a letter of explanation with his or her application.