1. A nurse licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, while working at an institution of the Department of Corrections, may treat patients, including the administration of a dangerous drug, poison or related device, pursuant to orders given by a physician assistant if those orders are given pursuant to a protocol approved by the Board of Medical Examiners and the supervising physician. The orders must be cosigned by the supervising physician or another physician within 72 hours after treatment.

2. A copy of the protocol under which orders are given by a physician assistant must be available at the institution for review by the nurse.

3. This section does not authorize a physician assistant to give orders for the administration of any controlled substance.

4. For the purposes of this section:

(a) “Physician assistant” means a physician assistant licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners pursuant to chapter 630 of NRS who:

(1) Is employed at an institution of the Department of Corrections;

(2) Has been awarded a bachelor’s degree from a college or university recognized by the Board of Medical Examiners; and

(3) Has received at least 40 hours of instruction regarding the prescription of medication as a part of either his or her basic educational qualifications or a program of continuing education approved by the Board of Medical Examiners.

(b) “Protocol” means the written directions for the assessment and management of specified medical conditions, including the drugs and devices the physician assistant is authorized to order, which the physician assistant and the supervising physician have agreed upon as a basis for their practice.

(c) “Supervising physician” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 630.025.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 1584; A 1989, 915; 1997, 686; 2001, 774; 2001 Special Session, 247)