§ 21-22D-3. Definitions

As used in the Health Professional Loan Repayment Act: A. “ department ” means the higher education department; B. “ health professional ” means a physician, optometrist, podiatrist, physician's assistant, dentist, nurse, member of an allied health profession as defined in the Allied Health Student Loan for Service Act 1 or a licensed or certified health professional as determined by the department; C. “ loan ” means a grant of money to defray the costs incidental to a health education, under a contract between the federal government or a commercial lender and a health professional, requiring either repayment of principal and interest or repayment in services; D. “ nurse in advanced practice ” means a registered nurse, including a: (1) certified nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist or clinical nurse specialist, authorized pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act to function beyond the scope of practice of professional registered nursing; or (2) certified nurse-midwife licensed by the department of health; and E. “ osteopathic primary care physician ” means an osteopathic physician licensed pursuant to the Medical Practice Act with specialty training in family medicine, general internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology or general pediatrics.