From the Executive Committee of NPAA:
As the State of Alabama is identified as in a State of Emergency the BON has reminded us that there are special circumstances for CRNP and CNM's to provide emergency treatment without immediate physician collaboration to patients in the affected areas of the state. Please read thoroughly and ask questions if you have any concerns.
610-X-4-.16 Special Circumstances.
(1) In the event the Governor proclaims a state of emergency impacting any part of Alabama, Code of Ala. 1975 Section 34-21-6 applies for the first thirty (30) days. An individual licensed to practice nursing in another state may provide emergency assistance in Alabama for up to thirty (30) days subject to verification of licensure in the state where licensed. Any organization or individual who provides employment or volunteer opportunities for the licensed nurse providing nursing services is responsible to ensure the validity of the nursing license.
(2) Should an emergency continue past thirty days, a temporary permit to practice nursing in Alabama for ninety (90) days is required. An application for an emergency temporary permit is required to be submitted to the Board electronically.
(3) In the event of a state or nationally declared emergency in a jurisdiction outside Alabama, any individual licensed in the jurisdiction where the emergency occurred may apply electronically for a Disaster Temporary Permit in the manner prescribed by the Board. The Disaster Temporary Permit shall be valid for not more than ninety (90) days.
(7) In the event of a national emergency duly declared by federal officials, or in the event of a natural disaster or state of emergency duly proclaimed by the Governor, a certified registered nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife may provide emergency treatment without immediate physician collaboration to patients within the affected areas of the state, provided that the treatment is within the individual's scope of education, training, and approved protocol. The certified registered nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife in such circumstance shall make reasonable efforts to inform the collaborating physician of the location and type of emergency services being provided and shall act in conformance with the direction of local physicians. The authority granted under this paragraph shall extend only for the duration of the declared national emergency or state emergency or natural disaster.
(8) In the event that a licensed healthcare facility activates its emergency operation plan in response to a public health emergency, a licensed nurse or advanced practice nurse may act within such alternative standards of care delivery as are authorized by the Governor’s Proclamation and alternative standards and scope of practice as are provided in the emergency operations plan, provided that any such practice is within the scope of practice, education, training, and national certification of the licensed nurse or advanced practice nurse and congruent with any limits imposed in the Code of Alabama and not addressed by the Governor’s Proclamation. A certified registered nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife may provide emergency treatment without immediate physician collaboration to patients within the affected areas of the public health emergency, provided that the treatment is within the individual's scope of education, training, and approved protocol. The certified registered nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife in such circumstance shall make reasonable efforts to inform the collaborating physician of the location and type of emergency services being provided and shall act in conformance with the direction of local physicians. The authorization provided in this section shall be effective only for the duration of time during which the Governor’s Proclamation and emergency operation plan are active.
(9) In the event that a licensed healthcare facility activates its emergency operation plan in response to a community disaster, a licensed nurse or advanced practice nurse may act within such alternative clinical models or clinical department utilization as are provided in the emergency operations plan, provided that any such practice is within the scope of practice, education, training, and national certification of the licensed nurse or advanced practice nurse and congruent with any limits imposed in the Code of Alabama.
A certified registered nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife may provide emergency treatment without immediate physician collaboration to patients within the affected areas of the community disaster, provided that the treatment is within the individual's scope of education, training, and approved protocol. The certified registered nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife in such circumstance shall make reasonable efforts to inform the collaborating physician of the location and type of emergency services being provided and shall act in conformance with the direction of local physicians. The authorization provided in this section shall be effective only for the duration of time during which the emergency operation plan is active.
