§ 152.1 — Definitions

Iowa § 152.1

• Jurisdiction: Iowa
• Title IV: PUBLIC HEALTH
• Ch. 152: NURSING

Text

As used in this chapter:
1. “Advanced registered nurse practitioner” means a person who is currently licensed as a
registered nurse under this chapter or chapter 152E who is licensed by the board of nursing
as an advanced registered nurse practitioner.
2. “Board” means the board of nursing, created under chapter 147.
3. As used in this section, “nursing diagnosis” means to identify and use discriminatory
judgmentconcerningphysicalandpsychosocialsignsandsymptomsessentialtodetermining
effective nursing intervention.
4. “Physician” means a person licensed in this state to practice medicine and surgery,
osteopathic medicine and surgery, or a person licensed in this state to practice dentistry
or podiatry when acting within the scope of the license. A physician licensed to practice
medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in a state bordering this state
shall be considered a physician for purposes of this chapter unless previously determined to
be ineligible for such consideration by the board of medicine.
5. The “practice of a licensed practical nurse” means the practice of a natural person who
is licensed by the board to do all of the following:
a. Performservicesintheprovisionofsupportiveorrestorativecareunderthesupervision
of a registered nurse or a physician.
b. Perform additional acts under emergency or other conditions which require education
and training and which are recognized by the medical and nursing professions and are
approved by the board, as being proper to be performed by a licensed practical nurse.
c. Make the pronouncement of death for a patient whose death is anticipated if the death
occurs in a licensed hospital, a licensed health care facility, a Medicare-certified home health
agency, a Medicare-certified hospice program or facility, or an assisted living facility or
residential care facility, with notice of the death to a physician, advanced registered nurse
practitioner, or physician assistant.
6. The “practice of nursing” means the practice of a registered nurse, a licensed practical
nurse, or an advanced registered nurse practitioner. It does not mean any of the following:
a. The practice of medicine and surgery and the practice of osteopathic medicine and
surgery, as defined in chapter 148, or the practice of pharmacy as defined in chapter 155A,
except practices which are recognized by the medical and nursing professions and approved
by the board as proper to be performed by a registered nurse.
b. The performance of nursing services by an unlicensed student enrolled in a nursing
education program if performance is part of the course of study. Individuals who have been
licensed as registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, or advanced registered

nurse practitioners in any state or jurisdiction of the United States are not subject to this
exemption.
c. The performance of services by unlicensed workers employed in offices, hospitals, or
health care facilities, as defined in section 135C.1, under the supervision of a physician or
a nurse licensed under this chapter, or employed in the office of a psychologist, podiatric
physician, optometrist, chiropractor, speech pathologist, audiologist, or physical therapist
licensed to practice in this state, and when acting while within the scope of the employer’s
license.
d. The practice of a nurse licensed in another state and employed in this state by the
federal government if the practice is in discharge of official employment duties.
e. The care of the sick rendered in connection with the practice of the religious tenets of
any church or order by the adherents thereof which is not performed for hire, or if performed
for hire by those who depend upon prayer or spiritual means for healing in the practice of
the religion of their church or denomination, so long as they do not otherwise engage in the
practice of nursing as practical nurses.
7. The “practice of the profession of a registered nurse” means the practice of a natural
person who is licensed by the board to do all of the following:
a. Formulate nursing diagnosis and conduct nursing treatment of human responses to
actual or potential health problems through services, such as case finding, referral, health
teaching, health counseling, and care provision which is supportive to or restorative of life
and well-being.
b. Execute regimen prescribed by a physician, an advanced registered nurse practitioner,
or a physician assistant.
c. Supervise and teach other personnel in the performance of activities relating to nursing
care.
d. Perform additional acts or nursing specialties which require education and training
under emergency or other conditions which are recognized by the medical and nursing
professions and are approved by the board as being proper to be performed by a registered
nurse.
e. Make the pronouncement of death for a patient whose death is anticipated if the death
occurs in a licensed hospital, a licensed health care facility, a correctional institution listed
in section 904.102, a Medicare-certified home health agency, a Medicare-certified hospice
program or facility, an assisted living facility, or a residential care facility, with notice of the
death to a physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
f. Under a pharmacist’s order and consistent with this subsection, assist in the
administration of immunizations and vaccinations and the utilization of statewide protocols
pursuant to section 155A.33B.
g. Apply to the abilities enumerated in paragraphs “a” through “f” of this subsection
scientific principles, including the principles of nursing skills and of biological, physical,
and psychosocial sciences.

Legislative History

[S13, §2575-a28, -a31, -a32; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2561, 2562; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §152.1, 152.2; C77, 79, 81, §152.1]