HB178 – Nursing Practice Changes

NMLawState

Date Passed

4/8/2025

Effective Date

7/7/2025

Summary

Amends the New Mexico Nursing Practice Act to clarify the scope of practice for licensed nurses regarding anesthetics and sedation, expand Board of Nursing powers, and add a statutory definition of “artificial intelligence,” including authority for the Board to promulgate rules for the use of AI in nursing.

Healthcare Implications

Establishes explicit statewide authority and standards for how AI tools may be used in nursing practice, shaping hospital and clinic adoption of AI-enabled decision support, influencing nursing education and licensing requirements, and requiring health systems and vendors to align AI deployment with Board of Nursing rules.

Impact Level

High

Keywords

Safety & Risk; Clinical Quality & Efficacy; Transparency & Governance

Stakeholders

Providers & Health Systems; Patients & Public; Regulators & Government; Developers & Vendors