SECTION 221.2. APRN Titles and Abbreviations

(a) An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) must be licensed in one or more of the following roles and population focus areas:

(1) Roles:

(A) Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM);

(B) Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP);

(C) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA); and/or

(D) Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS);

(2) Population focus areas:

(A) Adult-gerontology:

(i) Acute care; and/or

(ii) Primary care;

(B) Family/individual across the lifespan;

(C) Neonatal;

(D) Pediatrics:

(i) Acute care; and/or

(ii) Primary care;

(E) Psychiatric/mental health; and/or

(F) Women's health/gender-related.

(b) A registered nurse who holds current licensure issued by the Board as an APRN shall, at a minimum, use the designation "APRN" and the APRN licensure title, which consists of the current role and population focus area, granted by the Board.

(c) When providing care to patients, the APRN shall wear and provide clear identification that includes the current APRN designation and licensure title being utilized by the APRN, as specified by this section. An APRN may also include additional certifications or educational credentials in his/her identification, so long as the certifications and/or credentials are current, accurate, and not misleading as to their meaning.

(d) Unless licensed as an APRN by the Board as provided in this chapter, an individual shall not:

(1) claim to be an APRN or hold himself/herself out to be an APRN in this state; and/or

(2) use a title or any other designation tending to imply that the person is an APRN.

(e) An individual who violates subsection (c) or (d) of this section may be subject to discipline under the Nursing Practice Act and Board rules.

Source Note: The provisions of this §221.2 adopted to be effective February 25, 2001, 26 TexReg 1509; amended to be effective May 15, 2005, 30 TexReg 2668; amended to be effective February 27, 2019, 44 TexReg 833