73-25-35. Registered nurses who are licensed and certified by the Mississippi Board of Nursing as nurse practitioners are not prohibited from such nursing practice, but are entitled to engage therein without a physician's license. Provided, however, that licensed and certified nurse practitioners may perform acts of medical diagnosis and treatment, prescription and operation in an area of the state which is a critical need area for primary medical care, as determined and designated by the Medical Care Critical Needs Committee established under Section 37-143-6 (4), Mississippi Code of 1972, without the direct supervision of a licensed physician. Such acts shall be performed under the general supervision of a licensed physician within the framework of standing protocols which identify the medical acts to be performed and the conditions for their performance.