THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, GREENLEAF, SOLOBAY, EICHELBERGER, WAUGH, FONTANA, HUGHES, BROWNE, YUDICHAK, FERLO AND FARNESE, MAY 2, 2011

REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MAY 2, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), entitled, as

amended, "An act relating to the practice of professional

nursing; providing for the licensing of nurses and for the

revocation and suspension of such licenses, subject to

appeal, and for their reinstatement; providing for the

renewal of such licenses; regulating nursing in general;

prescribing penalties and repealing certain laws," further

providing for use of title.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 3 of the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317,

No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, amended July 20,

2007 (P.L.320, No.49), is amended to read:

Section 3.  Registered Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Use

of Title and Abbreviation "R.N." or "C.N.S."; Credentials;

Fraud.--(a)  Any person who holds a license to practice

professional nursing in this Commonwealth, or who is maintained

on inactive status in accordance with section 11 of this act,

shall have the right to use the [title] titles "nurse" and 

"registered nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." No other person

shall engage in the practice of professional nursing or use the

[title] titles "nurse" or "registered nurse" or the abbreviation

"R.N." to indicate that the person using the same is a

registered nurse[.], except that the title "nurse" also may be

used by a person licensed under the provisions of the act of

March 2, 1956 (1955 P.L.1211, No.376), known as the "Practical

Nurse Law." No person shall sell or fraudulently obtain or

fraudulently furnish any nursing diploma, license, record, or

registration or aid or abet therein.

(b)  An individual who holds a license to practice

professional nursing in this Commonwealth who meets the

requirements under sections 6.2 and 8.5 of this act to be a

clinical nurse specialist shall have the right to use the title

"clinical nurse specialist" and the abbreviation "C.N.S." No

other person shall have that right.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.