Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1601 (2026)
Definitions
32-1601. Definitions
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Absolute discharge from the sentence" means completion of any sentence, including imprisonment, probation, parole, community supervision or any form of court supervision.
2. "Appropriate health care professional" means a licensed health care professional whose scope of practice, education, experience, training and accreditation are appropriate for the situation or condition of the patient who is the subject of a consultation or referral.
3. "Approval" means that a regulated training or educational program to prepare persons for licensure, certification or registration has met standards established by the board.
4. "Board" means the Arizona state board of nursing.
5. "Certified nurse midwife" means a registered nurse who:
(a) Is certified by the board.
(b) Has completed a nurse midwife education program that is approved or recognized by the board and educational requirements that are prescribed by the board by rule.
(c) Holds a national certification as a certified nurse midwife from a national certifying body that is recognized by the board.
(d) Has an expanded scope of practice in providing health care services for women from adolescence to beyond menopause, including antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, reproductive, gynecologic and primary care, for normal newborns during the first twenty-eight days of life and for men for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The expanded scope of practice under this subdivision includes:
(i) Assessing patients, synthesizing and analyzing data and understanding and applying principles of health care at an advanced level.
(ii) Managing the physical and psychosocial health care of patients.
(iii) Analyzing multiple sources of data, identifying alternative possibilities as to the nature of a health care problem and selecting, implementing and evaluating appropriate treatment.
(iv) Making independent decisions in solving complex patient care problems.
(v) Diagnosing, performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and prescribing, administering and dispensing therapeutic measures, including legend drugs, medical devices and controlled substances, within the scope of the certified nurse midwife practice after meeting requirements established by the board.
(vi) Recognizing the limits of the certified nurse midwife's knowledge and experience by consulting with or referring patients to other appropriate health care professionals if a situation or condition occurs that is beyond the knowledge and experience of the certified nurse midwife or if the referral will protect the health and welfare of the patient.
(vii) Delegating to a medical assistant pursuant to section 32-1456.
(viii) Performing additional acts that require education and training as prescribed by the board and that are recognized by the nursing profession as proper to be performed by a certified nurse midwife.
6. "Certified nursing assistant" means a person who is registered on the registry of nursing assistants pursuant to this chapter to provide or assist in delivering nursing or nursing-related services under the supervision and direction of a licensed nursing staff member. Certified nursing assistant does not include a person who:
(a) Is a licensed health care professional.
(b) Volunteers to provide nursing assistant services without monetary compensation.
(c) Is a licensed nursing assistant.
7. "Certified registered nurse" means a registered nurse who has been certified by a national nursing credentialing agency that is recognized by the board.
8. "Certified registered nurse anesthetist" means a registered nurse who meets the requirements of section 32-1634.03 and who practices pursuant to the requirements of section 32-1634.04.
9. "Clinical nurse specialist" means a registered nurse who:
(a) Is certified by the board as a clinical nurse specialist.
(b) Holds a graduate degree with a major in nursing and completes educational requirements as prescribed by the board by rule.
(c) Is nationally certified as a clinical nurse specialist or, if certification is not available, provides proof of competence to the board.
(d) Has an expanded scope of practice based on advanced education in a clinical nursing specialty that includes:
(i) Assessing clients, synthesizing and analyzing data and understanding and applying nursing principles at an advanced level.
(ii) Managing directly and indirectly a client's physical and psychosocial health status.
(iii) Analyzing multiple sources of data, identifying alternative possibilities as to the nature of a health care problem and selecting appropriate nursing interventions.
(iv) Developing, planning and guiding programs of care for populations of patients.
(v) Making independent nursing decisions to solve complex client care problems.
(vi) Using research skills and acquiring and applying critical new knowledge and technologies to nursing practice.
(vii) Prescribing and dispensing durable medical equipment.
(viii) Consulting with or referring a client to other health care providers based on assessment of the client's health status and needs.
(ix) Facilitating collaboration with other disciplines to attain the desired client outcome across the continuum of care.
(x) Performing additional acts that require education and training as prescribed by the board and that are recognized by the nursing profession as proper to be performed by a clinical nurse specialist.
(xi) Prescribing, ordering and dispensing pharmacological agents that are subject to the requirements and limits specified in section 32-1651.
10. "Conditional license" or "conditional approval" means a license or approval that specifies the conditions under which the regulated party is allowed to practice or to operate and that is prescribed by the board pursuant to section 32-1644 or 32-1663.
11. "Delegation" means transferring to a competent individual the authority to perform a selected nursing task in a designated situation in which the nurse making the delegation retains accountability for the delegation.
12. "Disciplinary action" means a regulatory sanction of a license, certificate or approval pursuant to this chapter in any combination of the following:
(a) A civil penalty for each violation of this chapter, not to exceed $1,000 for each violation.
(b) Restitution made to an aggrieved party.
(c) A decree of censure.
(d) A conditional license or a conditional approval that fixes a period and terms of probation.
(e) Limited licensure.
(f) Suspension of a license, a certificate or an approval.
(g) Voluntary surrender of a license, a certificate or an approval.
(h) Revocation of a license, a certificate or an approval.
13. "Health care institution" has the same meaning prescribed in section 36-401.
14. "Licensed health aide" means a person who:
(a) Is licensed pursuant to this chapter to provide or to assist in providing nursing-related services authorized pursuant to section 36-2939.
(b) Is the parent, guardian or family member by affinity or consanguinity of the Arizona long-term care system member receiving services who may provide licensed health aide services only to that member and only consistent with that member's plan of care.
(c) Has a scope of practice that is the same as a licensed nursing assistant and may also provide medication administration, tracheostomy care, enteral care and routine ventilator care and therapy and any other tasks approved by the board in rule.
(d) Has supervision requirements that are the same as a certified nursing assistant.
15. "Licensed nursing assistant" means a person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter to provide or assist in delivering nursing or nursing-related services under the supervision and direction of a licensed nursing staff member. Licensed nursing assistant does not include a person who:
(a) Is a licensed health care professional.
(b) Volunteers to provide nursing assistant services without monetary compensation.
(c) Is a certified nursing assistant.
16. "Licensee" means a person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter or in a party state as defined in section 32-1668.
17. "Limited license" means a license that restricts the scope or setting of a licensee's practice.
18. "Medication order" means a written or verbal communication given by a certified registered nurse anesthetist to a health care professional to administer a drug or medication, including controlled substances.
19. "Practical nurse" means a person who holds a practical nurse license issued pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to a multistate compact privilege and who practices practical nursing.
20. "Practical nursing" includes the following activities that are performed under the supervision of a physician or a registered nurse:
(a) Contributing to the assessment of the health status of individuals and groups.
(b) Participating in the development and modification of the strategy of care.
(c) Implementing aspects of the strategy of care within the nurse's scope of practice.
(d) Maintaining safe and effective nursing care that is rendered directly or indirectly.
(e) Participating in the evaluation of responses to interventions.
(f) Delegating nursing activities within the scope of practice of a practical nurse.
(g) Performing additional acts that require education and training as prescribed by the board and that are recognized by the nursing profession as proper to be performed by a practical nurse.
21. "Presence" means within the same health care institution or office as specified in section 32-1634.04, subsection A and available as necessary.
22. "Registered nurse" or "professional nurse" means a person who practices registered nursing and who holds a registered nurse license issued pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to a multistate compact privilege.
23. "Registered nurse practitioner" means a registered nurse who:
(a) Is certified by the board.
(b) Has completed a nurse practitioner education program that is approved or recognized by the board and educational requirements that are prescribed by the board by rule.
(c) If applying for certification after July 1, 2004, holds national certification as a nurse practitioner from a national certifying body that is recognized by the board.
(d) Has an expanded scope of practice within a specialty area that includes:
(i) Assessing clients, synthesizing and analyzing data and understanding and applying principles of health care at an advanced level.
(ii) Managing the physical and psychosocial health status of patients.
(iii) Analyzing multiple sources of data, identifying alternative possibilities as to the nature of a health care problem and selecting, implementing and evaluating appropriate treatment.
(iv) Making independent decisions in solving complex patient care problems.
(v) Diagnosing, performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and prescribing, administering and dispensing therapeutic measures, including legend drugs, medical devices and controlled substances within the scope of registered nurse practitioner practice on meeting the requirements established by the board.
(vi) Recognizing the limits of the registered nurse practitioner's knowledge and experience by consulting with or referring patients to other appropriate health care professionals if a situation or condition occurs that is beyond the knowledge and experience of the registered nurse practitioner or if the referral will protect the health and welfare of the patient.
(vii) Delegating to a medical assistant pursuant to section 32-1456.
(viii) Performing additional acts that require education and training as prescribed by the board and that are recognized by the nursing profession as proper to be performed by a registered nurse practitioner.
24. "Registered nursing" includes the following:
(a) Diagnosing and treating human responses to actual or potential health problems.
(b) Assisting individuals and groups to maintain or attain optimal health by implementing a strategy of care to accomplish defined goals and evaluating responses to care and treatment.
(c) Assessing the health status of individuals and groups.
(d) Establishing a nursing diagnosis.
(e) Establishing goals to meet identified health care needs.
(f) Prescribing nursing interventions to implement a strategy of care.
(g) Delegating nursing interventions to others who are qualified to do so.
(h) Providing for the maintenance of safe and effective nursing care that is rendered directly or indirectly.
(i) Evaluating responses to interventions.
(j) Teaching nursing knowledge and skills.
(k) Managing and supervising the practice of nursing.
(l) Consulting and coordinating with other health care professionals in the management of health care.
(m) Performing additional acts that require education and training as prescribed by the board and that are recognized by the nursing profession as proper to be performed by a registered nurse.
25. "Registry of nursing assistants" means the nursing assistants registry maintained by the board pursuant to the omnibus budget reconciliation act of 1987 (P.L. 100-203; 101 Stat. 1330), as amended by the medicare catastrophic coverage act of 1988 (P.L. 100-360; 102 Stat. 683).
26. "Regulated party" means any person or entity that is licensed, certified, registered, recognized or approved pursuant to this chapter.
27. "Unprofessional conduct" includes the following, whether occurring in this state or elsewhere:
(a) Committing fraud or deceit in obtaining, attempting to obtain or renewing a license or a certificate issued pursuant to this chapter.
(b) Committing a felony, whether or not involving moral turpitude, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. In either case, conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction or a plea of no contest is conclusive evidence of the commission.
(c) Aiding or abetting in a criminal abortion or attempting, agreeing or offering to procure or assist in a criminal abortion.
(d) Engaging in any conduct or practice that is or might be harmful or dangerous to the health of a patient or the public.
(e) Being mentally incompetent or physically unsafe to a degree that is or might be harmful or dangerous to the health of a patient or the public.
(f) Having a license, certificate, permit or registration to practice a health care profession denied, suspended, conditioned, limited or revoked in another jurisdiction and not reinstated by that jurisdiction.
(g) Wilfully or repeatedly violating a provision of this chapter or a rule adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(h) Committing an act that deceives, defrauds or harms the public.
(i) Failing to comply with a stipulated agreement, consent agreement or board order.
(j) Violating this chapter or a rule that is adopted by the board pursuant to this chapter.
(k) Failing to report to the board any evidence that a registered nurse, practical nurse or nursing assistant is or may be:
(i) Incompetent to practice.
(ii) Guilty of unprofessional conduct.
(iii) Mentally or physically unable to safely practice nursing or to perform nursing-related duties. A nurse who is providing therapeutic counseling for a nurse who is in a drug rehabilitation program is required to report that nurse only if the nurse providing therapeutic counseling has personal knowledge that patient safety is being jeopardized.
(l) Failing to self-report a conviction for a felony or undesignated offense within ten days after the conviction.
(m) Cheating or assisting another to cheat on a licensure or certification examination.
(n) Engaging in sexual conduct with a current patient or with a former patient within six months after the last treatment unless the patient was the licensee's spouse at the time of the contact or, immediately preceding the nurse-patient relationship, was in a dating or engagement relationship with the licensee. For the purposes of this subdivision, "sexual conduct" includes:
(i) Engaging in or soliciting a sexual relationship, whether consensual or nonconsensual.
(ii) Making sexual advances, requesting sexual favors or engaging in any other verbal conduct or physical contact of a sexual nature.
(iii) Intentionally viewing a completely or partially disrobed patient in the course of treatment if the viewing is not related to patient diagnosis or treatment under current practice standards.
(o) Advising a patient, whether directly or indirectly through staff, to enroll in or disenroll from a specific health insurance policy or plan issued by a specific insurance company unless the licensee or staff member is a licensed insurance producer in this state. This subdivision does not prohibit or prevent a licensee from discussing with patients whether the licensee is in network or out of network with any specific insurance company or under any specific insurance policy or plan.