North Carolina S537: APRN Definitions.

What the bill says

An act to define the practice of nursing for advanced practice registered nurses: nurse practitioners (np), certified nurse midwives (cnm), certified registered nurse anesthetists (crna), and clinical nurse specialists (cns).

From the introduced text:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO DEFINE THE PRACTICE OF NURSING FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES: NURSE PRACTITIONERS (NP), CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIVES (CNM), CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS (CRNA), AND CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALISTS (CNS). Whereas, North Carolina is expected to be the seventh largest state in the nation by 2035 and demand for health care will continue to increase; and Whereas, North Carolina has provided over 628,000 North Carolinians access to insurance through Medicaid expansion but lacks the health care providers to ensure their access to care; and Whereas, APRNs are registered nurses with master's or doctorate degrees and advanced education and training; and Whereas, North Carolina has over 20,000 advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have been educated and licensed to practice to their full scope; and Whereas, more than three decades of research demonstrates that APRNs improve access to safe, high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered health care; and Whereas, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has called for states to allow APRNs to practice to the full extent of their licensure and education since the 2010 release of the IOM Report on the Future of Nursing; and Whereas, health care costs in North Carolina are among the highest in the nation; and Whereas, a recent report by a Ph.D. health care economist at Duke University estimates savings of at least …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Hise, Ralph (R, 47) · primary sponsor
• Adcock, Gale (D, 16) · primary sponsor
• Corbin, Kevin (R, 50) · primary sponsor
• Applewhite, Val (D, 19)
• Barnes, Lisa S. (R, 11)
• Blue, Dan (D, 14)
• Bradley, Woodson (D, 42)
• Burgin, Jim (R, 12)
• Chitlik, Sophia (D, 22)
• Daniel, Warren (R, 46)
• Everitt, Terence (D, 18)
• Ford, Carl (R, 33)

Latest actions

1. March 26, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
2. March 26, 2025: Passed 1st Reading
3. March 25, 2025: Filed

Common questions

What is S537?

S537 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): APRN Definitions.

What does S537 do?

In its own words: An act to define the practice of nursing for advanced practice registered nurses: nurse practitioners (np), certified nurse midwives (cnm), certified registered nurse anesthetists (crna), and clinical nurse specialists (cns).

What is the status of S537?

In committee as of March 26, 2025. Latest action: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (March 26, 2025).

Who sponsored S537?

Hise, Ralph (R, 47), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for S537?

On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S537