CA Health & Safety Code Section 128425

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that more and better qualified medical care is needed for residents of health care facilities. The Legislature further finds that the shortage of physicians available to work in skilled nursing facilities and other facilities providing care primarily to geriatric patients is expected to continue. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to promote more and better-qualified medical care for geriatric patients by increasing training opportunities for geriatric nurse practitioners and geriatric clinical nurse specialists and by providing an incentive for nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists to practice in skilled nursing facilities or other facilities providing care primarily to geriatric patients. It is not the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to change the existing scope of practice of nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists.