PRINTER'S NO. 926
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
931
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY TOOHIL, SAYLOR, STEPHENS, FRITZ, LEWIS DELROSSO,
T. DAVIS, HILL-EVANS, NEILSON, CIRESI, WHEELAND, R. BROWN,
SANKEY, SIMS, HARKINS, JONES, FLYNN, BERNSTINE, ZABEL AND
LONGIETTI, MARCH 16, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 16, 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," further providing for
definitions and for registered nurse, clinical nurse
specialist, use of title and abbreviation and providing for
advanced practice registered nurse-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) "Advanced practice registered nurse-certified
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registered nurse anesthetist" means a registered nurse licensed
in this Commonwealth who is certified by the State Board of
Nursing as a n advanced practice registered nurse - certified
registered nurse.
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 "C.N.S."] "R.N.,"
"C.N.S.," "C.R.N.A." or "A.P.R.N."; 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
professional nursing in this Commonwealth who meets the
requirements under section 8.8 of this act to be an advanced
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practice registered nurse-certified registered nurse anesthetist
shall have the right to use the title "advanced practice
registered nurse-certified registered nurse anesthetist,"
"certified registered nurse anesthetist" and the abbreviations
"C.R.N.A." or "A.P.R.N.". 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.
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 a dvanced practice
registered nurse- certified registered nurse anesthetist if the
nurse satisfies the requirements established by this section.
Certification of an a dvanced 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 B oard 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 B oard and that prepares graduates to practice as
an a dvanced practice registered nurse- certified registered nurse
anesthetist and:
(1) holds current national certification as a certified
registered nurse anesthetist from a Board-recognized national
certification organization that requires passing a national
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certifying examination in nurse anesthesia ; and
(2) meets all other Board requirements to practice as an
a dvanced practice registered nurse .
(b) A registered nurse who does not have a graduate degree
required under subsection (a) shall be qualified for
certification as an a dvanced practice registered nurse- 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 from a Board-recognized national certification
organization that requires passing a national certifying
examination in nurse anesthesia .
(c) As a condition of biennial certificate renewal by the
Board, an a dvanced practice registered nurse- certified
registered nurse anesthetist must:
(1) Verify that the nurse holds current national
recertification from a Board-recognized national certification
organization that requires passing 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 the certification renewal,
complete at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education
approved by the Board, as required under section 12.1 of this
act.
(d) For certification under this section, a licensed
registered nurse shall file a Board-prepared application with
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the Board and pay a fee as established by the Board by
regulation.
(e) The Board may issue a certification as an advanced
practice registered nurse-certified registered nurse anesthetist
to a licensed nurse who has completed a course of study
considered by the Board to be equivalent to a course of study
required in this Commonwealth under section 6.2 of this act and
this section at the time the 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.
(f) An a dvanced 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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