Relates to profession of nurse anesthetist; defines "certified registered nurse anesthetist"; requires the department of education to certify such nurses.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4500
SPONSOR: Gottfried TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the
practice of registered professional nursing by a certified registered
nurse anesthetist
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To grant limited prescriptive authority to certified registered nurse
anesthetists
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The bill amends section 6902 of the education law to provide that the
practice of registered professional nursing by a certified registered
nurse anesthetist may include the ability to prescribe during the
perianesthetic period. The certified registered nurse anesthetist must
complete a program approved by the Department of Education and obtain a
certificate.
The term "certified registered nurse anesthetists" is defined as a
registered professional nurse licensed in this state who has satisfac-
torily completed educational preparation for the provision of anesthesia
services in a program accredited by a national accrediting body recog-
nized by the Department of Education or determined to be the equivalent
and who submits evidence of certification or recertification to the
Department.
JUSTIFICATION:
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are Registered Profes-
sional Nurses, experienced in critical care nursing, who have completed
a rigorous educational program at the graduate level that contains both
clinical and didactic education. Upon successful completion of their
educational program they must pass a national certification exam in
order to obtain certification. CRNAs are required by this national
certifying body to complete continuing educational requirements and
re-certify every two years in order to maintain this national certif-
ication.
CRNAs provide safe and cost-effective anesthesia services to all types
of patients, for all types of procedures in all settings. To effectively
deliver these services, the proper functions of a nurse anesthetist
often include ordering and administering anesthetic drugs, laboratory ,
tests, medical consultations, related supportive measures, or devices.
Although CRNAs do not issue written prescriptions to their patients,
some regulators have characterized the aforementioned functions as
"prescribing" under current law.
This bill recognizes the current and normal practice of CRNAs including
their necessary interaction with controlled substances such as anesthet-
ic drugs and supporting measures, devices and agents. In the instance of
anesthesia, it is the physician who prescribes by his or her determi-
nation to provide anesthesia and normally, the nurse anesthetist is then
allowed to determine the specifics without the need to obtain further
written prescription. Yet, in New York State, the CRNAs absence of pres-
criptive privileges can impede their ability to carry out a plan of
care. This bill seeks to address this by providing that a certified
registered nurse anesthetist may include the ability to prescribe during
the peri-anesthetic period.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011-2012:A.8225- referred to Higher Education committee
2013-2014:A.4383- referred to Higher Education committee
2015-2016:A.3972- referred to Higher Education committee
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
