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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 13, 2015 09:55 AM
From:	Senator Patricia H. Vance
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Memo #3 - Recognition of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)

In the near future, I intend to reintroduce SB 959 which officially recognizes Nurse Anesthetists as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, CRNAs, in Pennsylvania law. Currently, Nurse Anesthetists are the only advanced practice nursing group out of four lacking this recognition within state law. Nurse practitioners are known as CRNPs, Nurse Midwives are known as CNMs, and Nurse Specialists are known as CNSs. The direct patient nature of anesthesia requires nurse anesthetists to have specialized knowledge and skills acquired at the graduate, master’s or doctorate levels. They are currently licensed as registered nurses in the Commonwealth and hold a national certification in their specialty. This legislation does not address scope of practice, but provides recognition to the skill and expertise of Pennsylvania’s Nurse Anesthetists. My language will mirror that currently in statute for CRNPs and gives CRNAs title protection for use of the designation.

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