A. Unless required by federal law, a health facility shall establish the same criteria for granting patient admitting or discharge privileges or in authorizing continuing patient care for certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives and clinical nurse specialists as the health facility has established for physicians.

B. A health facility shall ensure that certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse- midwives and clinical nurse specialists acting in accordance with these professionals’ respective scopes of practice under New Mexico law are:

(1)     eligible to serve on the health facility’s medical staff;

(2)     credentialed under the same procedures as the health facility has established for physicians; and

(3)     authorized to conduct peer review of their professional colleagues.

C. As used in this section:

(1)     “certified nurse-midwife” means an individual licensed as a registered nurse pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act [N.M. Stat. Ann. Chapter 61, Article 3] and licensed by the department of health as a certified nurse-midwife;

(2)     “certified nurse practitioner” means a registered nurse who is licensed by the board of nursing for advanced practice as a certified nurse practitioner pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act;

(3)     “clinical nurse specialist” means a registered nurse who is licensed by the board of nursing for advanced practice as a clinical nurse specialist and whose name and pertinent information are entered on the list of clinical nurse specialists maintained by the board of nursing;

(4)     “health facility” means a health facility licensed by the department of health pursuant to the Public Health Act; and

(5)     “physician” means an individual licensed to practice as a medical doctor or an osteopathic physician.