PRINTER'S NO. 905
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
764
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY CUTLER, DeLISSIO, MILLARD, BENNINGHOFF, COHEN,
BAKER, BARRAR, SAYLOR, FREEMAN, CALTAGIRONE, TOPPER, STAATS,
GROVE, M. K. KELLER, GABLER, WATSON, MURT, ROZZI, ZIMMERMAN,
EVERETT, EVANKOVICH, MOUL AND MILNE, MARCH 10, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 10, 2015
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 titles and abbreviations; and
providing for certified registered nurse anesthetists.
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
registered nurse licensed in this Commonwealth who is certified
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by the State Board of Nursing as a certified registered nurse
anesthetist.
Section 2. Section 3 of the act, amended May 8, 2012
(P.L.247, No.35), is amended to read:
Section 3. Registered Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Use
of Title and Abbreviation "R.N." [or], "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 act.
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
as enumerated in subsection (a) of this section 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 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 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) 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
date of this section.
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Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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