Protocol · RN · Idaho

Practice Protocol for Registered Nurses in Idaho

Registered Nurses practice independently in Idaho. A practice protocol is voluntary; here is what one covers and what the state does require.

Practice authorityIndependent practice
Written agreementNo agreement required
What Idaho calls itNo instrument required
Licensing boardIdaho Board of Nursing
Research date2026-09-03 · clauses 2026-09-03

RNs (general licensure, not an APRN) are not subject to physician-supervision or collaborative-agreement requirements in Idaho.

What a voluntary Registered Nurse protocol covers in Idaho

Idaho requires no written protocol for registered nurses. These are the clauses a practice includes when it chooses to put one in writing. The Idaho Board of Nursing governs registered nurses here.

  1. The Registered Nurse ("RN") shall practice under the orders, standing orders, or delegation of the Physician, consistent with Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 14. Idaho law does not require a supervision or collaboration agreement for this Registered Nurse's general scope of practice; the Physician shall instead be available to the Registered Nurse for consultation regarding clinical and patient care issues arising under any order or delegation.

  2. A voluntary protocol also carries 2 scope, 2 education and 2 registration clauses, authored in the document itself.

What Idaho does require

The supervision and prescribing rules that apply to registered nurses regardless of any protocol.

Proximity

Not codified

Supervision ratio

Not codified — no cap on file

Chart review

Not codified

Meeting cadence

Not codified

Prescriptive authority

No agreement needed to prescribe · no controlled-substance authority

RNs do not have independent prescriptive authority in Idaho.

Written agreement

Not required

Unconditional — general RN licensure is never subject to physician supervision or a collaborative agreement in Idaho.

Practice ownership (corporate practice of medicine)

Non-licensee ownership permitted — Following the 2016 CPOM disavowal, an RN may generally hold equity in a standard LLC/corporation delivering nursing or wellness services, though licensed professionals must actually deliver the care.

Sources for the supervision rules (1)

About Idaho's rules

Idaho APRNs (NP, CRNA, CNM, CNS) have full independent practice authority. The Idaho Board of Medicine formally disavowed corporate-practice-of-medicine enforcement in March 2016, so physicians, NPs, PAs and non-licensees may generally co-own a standard business entity as long as licensed professionals deliver the care.

Other clinicians in Idaho: see the state overview.