PRINTER'S NO. 413
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
416
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY GORDNER, J. WARD, ARGALL, STEFANO, TARTAGLIONE,
YAW, COLLETT, BAKER, HUTCHINSON, SCHWANK, SABATINA, YUDICHAK,
MENSCH AND REGAN, MARCH 12, 2021
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
MARCH 12, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), entitled "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," providing for the
definition of "advanced practice registered nurse-certified
registered nurse anesthetist"; further providing for
registered nurse, clinical nurse specialist, use of title and
abbreviation "R.N." or "C.N.S." and credentials and fraud;
and providing for advanced practice registered nurse-
certified registered nurse anesthetist and qualifications.
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:
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(16) "Advanced practice registered nurse-certified
registered nurse anesthetist" means a registered nurse licensed
in this Commonwealth who is certified by the State Board of
Nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse-certified
registered nurse anesthetist.
Section 2. Section 3 of the act is amended to read:
Section 3. Registered Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist,
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Use of Title and
Abbreviation ["R.N." or] "R.N.," "C.N.S.", "A.P.R.N." o r
"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.
(b.1) An individual who holds a license to practice
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professional nursing in this Commonwealth who meets the
requirements under section 8.8 of this act to be an advanced
practice registered nurse-certified registered nurse anesthetist
shall have the right to use the title "advanced practice
registered nurse-certified registered nurse anesthetist" or
"certified registered nurse anesthetist" and use the
abbreviation "A.P.R.N.-C.R.N.A." or "C.R.N.A." 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
providing health care services under the supervision of a
professional or practical nurse.
(d) The Board may issue a certification to an advanced
practice registered nurse-certified registered nurse anesthetist
who has completed a course of study considered by the Board to
be equivalent to that required in this Commonwealth under
sections 6.2 and 8.8 of this act at the time such course was
completed, or who is licensed or certified by another state,
territory or possession of the United States or a foreign
country as deemed equivalent to Pennsylvania's certification
requirements, and who has met all the requirements, including
character, under this act.
Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 8.8. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetist; Qualifications.--(a) The Board
may certify a licensed registered nurse as an advanced practice
registered nurse-certified registered nurse anesthetist if the
nurse satisfies the requirements established by this act.
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Certification of an advanced practice registered nurse-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 accredited 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 from a Board-recognized national
certification organization which required passing of a national
certifying examination in nurse anesthesia; and
(2) meets all other Board requirements to practice as an
advanced practice registered nurse-certified registered nurse
anesthetist .
(b) A registered nurse who does not have a graduate degree
as required under subsection (a) shall be qualified for
certification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist if
that nurse:
(1) meets the educational requirements for certified
registered nurse anesthetists that were in effect in this
Commonwealth at the time the nurse completed a nurse anesthesia
educational program; and
(2) submits evidence of recertification as a certified
registered nurse anesthetist from a Board-recognized national
certification organization which required passing of a national
certifying examination in nurse anesthesia.
(c) As a condition of biennial certificate renewal by the
Board, an advanced practice registered nurse-certified
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registered nurse anesthetist must:
(1) Verify that the nurse holds current recertification from
a Board-recognized national certification organization which
required passing of a national certifying examination in nurse
anesthesia .
(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 certification renewal,
complete at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education
approved by the Board, as required by section 12.1 of this act.
(d) For certification under this act, 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) An advanced practice registered nurse-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
date of this section.
Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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