Chapter 12. Nurse Psychotherapists in Independent Practice — Clinical Nurse Specialists

The following terms have the meanings indicated.

Terms Defined.

Hold a current Maryland license in good standing to practice registered nursing or a multistate licensure privilege to practice registered nursing;

Have graduated from a Board-approved graduate level education program for clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric mental health nursing at the Masters’ level or higher that is accredited by a national accrediting body recognized by the Board;

Hold current national certification as a clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric or mental health nursing issued by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or any other national certifying body recognized by the Board;

Submit to the Board a completed application for certification as a clinical nurse specialist, PMH/APRN;

Comply with all the requirements set forth in COMAR 10.27.01.04;

Demonstrate written and oral competency in the English language; and

Pay all fees.

A registered nurse who meets the qualifications to sit for a national certifying examination acceptable to the Board or who has taken that examination and is waiting for the results, may practice in this State as a PMH/APRN graduate if the:

A PMH/APRN graduate who has entered into a supervision agreement shall immediately notify the Board and the supervising PMH/APRN of the results of the national certifying examination.

A PMH/APRN graduate may not continue to practice under supervision for more than 24 months from the filing of all documents required under §A of this regulation or after the denial of certification, whichever occurs first.

Establish a mental health diagnosis;

Evaluate and manage psychobiological intervention;

Provide individual therapy;

Provide group therapy;

Provide family therapy;

Provide any therapy which purpose is to:

Provide consultation to health care providers and others to:

Provide behavioral rehabilitation care; and

Utilize advanced practice skills to independently provide:

Advanced practice skills shall be utilized in the collection of relevant data to comprehensively assess the client's mental health.

Assessment data shall be analyzed in determining diagnosis.

A plan of care shall be developed and implemented that outlines treatment to attain expected outcomes.

Individual, group, and family psychotherapy, child psychotherapy, behavioral care, case management, and other therapeutic treatments shall be utilized to assist clients in fostering mental health, preventing mental illness and disability, and improving or regaining previous health status and functional abilities.

Advanced knowledge of psychobiological interventions shall be utilized and clinical skills applied to maximize the client's health and prevent further disability.

The use of psycholobiological interventions in this chapter does not authorize the prescription of medications.

The client's progress in attaining the expected outcome shall be evaluated.

Strategies and interventions shall be utilized to promote and maintain health and prevent mental illness.

Decisions and actions on behalf of clients shall be determined in an ethical manner.

Certification as a PMH/APRN expires at the same time as the license to practice registered nursing.

Before a PMH/APRN’s certification expires, the PMH/APRN may renew the certification biennially if the PMH/APRN:

PMH/APRN renewal applicants who are authorized to practice registered nursing in this State under a multistate licensure privilege shall be periodically required to submit to a criminal history check in accordance with the schedule and requirements set forth in COMAR 10.27.01.13J.—N.

The PMH/APRN shall ensure that the Board has a record of the renewed national certification if the national certification expires before the registered nurse license renewal date.

Certification as a PMH/APRN shall be deemed to have lapsed if the Board does not have a record of a current active national certification.

Practicing on an expired national certification is prohibited and subject to discipline under Health Occupations Article, §8-316(a), Annotated Code of Maryland.

The Board shall maintain an up-to-date list of all PMH/APRNs certified in this State and include on the license an indication that the licensee is a PMH/APRN.

Unless authorized to practice under this chapter, an individual may not use the words “advanced practice registered nurse/psychiatric mental health”, “nurse psychotherapist”, “psychiatric mental health/advanced practice registered nurse”, or any other words, letters, or symbols with the intent to represent that the individual is a psychiatric-mental health/advanced practice registered nurse.

An individual certified under this chapter is subject to the disciplinary sanctions set forth in Health Occupations Article, Title 8, Annotated Code of Maryland.

An individual may not practice as a PMH/APRN or nurse psychotherapist in this State unless the individual is certified under this chapter.