Bill Text: PA SB786 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Further providing for definitions; and providing for certified registered nurse anesthetist qualifications.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 5-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-04-17 - Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE [SB786 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB786-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 878
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 786 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY M. WHITE, RAFFERTY, WAUGH, VANCE, BOSCOLA, EARLL AND FERLO, APRIL 17, 2009
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, APRIL 17, 2009
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 providing for certified
registered nurse anesthetist qualifications.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2(1) of the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317,
No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, amended December
9, 2002 (P.L.1567, No.206), is amended and the section 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:
(1) The "Practice of Professional Nursing" means diagnosing
and treating human responses to actual or potential health
problems through such services as casefinding, health teaching,
health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or
restorative of life and well-being, and executing medical
regimens as prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist. The
foregoing shall not be deemed to include acts of medical
diagnosis or prescription of medical therapeutic or corrective
measures, except as performed by a certified registered nurse
practitioner acting in accordance with rules and regulations
promulgated by the Board. Other than the administration of
conscious sedation, the foregoing shall be deemed to include the
administration of anesthesia only if performed by a certified
registered nurse anesthetist.
* * *
(16) "Certified registered nurse anesthetist" means a
registered nurse licensed in this Commonwealth and certified by
the Board, pursuant to section 3.2, to administer anesthesia.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding sections to read:
Section 3.2. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists;
Qualifications.--(a) The Board shall certify a licensed
registered nurse as a certified registered nurse anesthetist if
the nurse satisfies the requirements established by this act and
regulations promulgated by the Board.
(b) Certification of a nurse under this section shall expire
on the same date as the license of that nurse expires.
(c) A licensed registered nurse shall not qualify for
certification by the Board under this section unless the nurse:
(1) has successfully completed the educational program of a
school for nurse anesthetists accredited by an accrediting
agency recognized by the Board; and
(2) holds certification as a certified registered nurse
anesthetist by a Board-recognized national certification
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organization.
(d) A licensed registered nurse who is enrolled in an
educational program of a school for nurse anesthetists
accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board may,
during such enrollment, administer anesthesia under the
direction of the chief or director of anesthesia services, a
Board-certified anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse
anesthetist.
(e) (1) A licensed registered nurse who has obtained the
education required by subsection (c), but who has not yet
obtained certification as a registered nurse anesthetist, may
administer anesthesia under the direction of the chief or
director of anesthesia services, a Board-certified
anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse anesthetist
until the announcement of results of the first examination taken
for certification for which the registered nurse is eligible.
(2) If the registered nurse fails to take, or fails to pass,
that examination, the nurse shall immediately cease practicing
as a nurse anesthetist, Provided, however, That the registered
nurse may appeal to the Board for authority to continue
practicing as a nurse anesthetist if, due to extenuating
circumstances, the nurse is unable to take the examination in a
time period specified by the Board following attainment of the
required education.
Section 3.3. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists; Scope
of Practice.--(a) (1) A certified registered nurse anesthetist
shall administer anesthesia in cooperation with a physician,
dentist or podiatrist.
(2) For purposes of this section, "cooperation" shall mean a
process in which the certified registered nurse anesthetist and
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the physician, dentist or podiatrist work together with each
contributing an area of expertise at the individual and
respective level of education and training of the certified
registered nurse anesthetist and the physician, dentist or
podiatrist.
(b) A certified registered nurse anesthetist's performance
shall be under the overall direction of the chief or director of
anesthesia services: Provided, however, That in situations or
health care delivery facilities where anesthesia services are
not mandatory, the certified registered nurse anesthetist's
performance shall be under the overall direction of the
physician, dentist or podiatrist responsible for the patient's
care.
(c) When the operating/anesthesia team consists entirely of
nonphysicians, an anesthesiologist or consulting physician of
the certified registered nurse anesthetist's choice shall be
available to the certified registered nurse anesthetist by
physical presence or electronic communication.
Section 3. Nothing in this act shall be construed to
prohibit the continued practice of certified registered nurse
anesthetists who were authorized to practice in this
Commonwealth on the effective date of this section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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