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PRINTER'S NO. 1225
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1064
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY TOOHIL, DeLISSIO, BERNSTINE, TOPPER, M. K. KELLER,
T. DAVIS, SANKEY, CIRESI, FREEMAN, MURT, MASSER, NEILSON,
WHEATLEY, BARRAR, SAYLOR, COX, MEHAFFIE, DIAMOND, FLYNN,
PUSKARIC, SCHWEYER, ROTHMAN, SIMS, STEPHENS, GABLER, BROWN,
HARKINS, NELSON AND REESE, APRIL 5, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, APRIL 5, 2019
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 definitions and for registered nurse, clinical
nurse specialist, use of title and abbreviation and providing
for certified registered nurse anesthetist.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2 of the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317,
No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, is amended by
adding a clause to read:
Section 2. Definitions.--When used in this act, the
following words and phrases shall have the following meanings
unless the context provides otherwise:
* * *
(16) "Certified registered nurse anesthetist" means a
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registered nurse licensed in this Commonwealth who is certified
by the State Board of Nursing as a certified registered nurse
anesthetist.
Section 2. Section 3 of the act is amended to read:
Section 3. Registered Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Use
of Title and Abbreviation ["R.N." or] "R.N.," "C.N.S." or
"C.R.N.A."; 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 titles
"nurse" and "registered nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." No
other person shall engage in the practice of professional
nursing or use the 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.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), this section shall not
prohibit the use by a person of a descriptive title for nurse
assistive personnel. For the purposes of this subsection, the
term "nurse assistive personnel" shall mean an individual
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providing health care services under the supervision of a
professional or practical nurse.
(d) An individual who holds a license to practice
professional nursing in this Commonwealth who meets the
requirements under section 8.8 of this act to be a certified
registered nurse anesthetist shall have the right to use the
title "certified registered nurse anesthetist" and the
abbreviation "C.R.N.A." No other person shall have that right.
Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 8.8. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist;
Qualifications.--(a) The board may certify a licensed
registered nurse as a certified registered nurse anesthetist if
the nurse satisfies the requirements established by this
section. Certification of a certified registered nurse
anesthetist by the board shall expire on the same date as the
license of that nurse expires. Beginning on the effective date
of this section, a nurse shall not qualify for initial
certification by the board unless the nurse holds a master's
degree, doctoral degree or post-master's certificate from an
educational program in nurse anesthesia that has been approved
by the board and that prepares graduates to practice as a
certified registered nurse anesthetist and:
(1) holds current national certification as a certified
registered nurse anesthetist; and
(2) meets all other board requirements to practice as a
certified registered nurse anesthetist.
(b) A registered nurse who does not have a graduate degree
required under subsection (a) shall be qualified for
certification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist if
that nurse:
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(1) meets the educational requirements for certified
registered nurse anesthetists that were in effect in the
Commonwealth at the time the nurse completed a nurse anesthesia
educational program; and
(2) submits evidence of recertification as a certified
registered nurse.
(c) As a condition of biennial certificate renewal by the
board, a certified registered nurse anesthetist must:
(1) Demonstrate that the nurse holds current national
recertification from the appropriate national recertifying body
as recognized by the board.
(2) Submit a renewal application to the board.
(3) Pay a renewal fee as set by the board.
(4) In the two years prior to the certification renewal,
complete at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education
approved by the board, as required under section 12.1.
(d) For certification under this section, a licensed
registered nurse shall file a board-prepared application with
the board and pay a fee as established by the board by
regulation.
(e) A certified registered nurse anesthetist practicing in
this Commonwealth shall maintain a level of professional
liability coverage as required for a nonparticipating health
care provider under the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13),
known as the "Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error
(Mcare) Act," and shall not be eligible to participate in the
Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Fund.
Section 4. The State Board of Nursing shall promulgate
regulations to implement the amendment or addition of sections
2(16), 3 and 8.8 of the act within 18 months of the effective
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date of this section.
Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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