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. ((1) amended Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1567, No.206)
(2) "Board" means the State Board of Nursing.
(3) "Approved" means approved by the State Board of Nursing.
(4) "Diagnosing" means that identification of and discrimination between physical and psychosocial signs and symptoms essential to effective execution and management of the nursing regimen.
(5) "Treating" means selection and performance of those therapeutic measures essential to the effective execution and management of the nursing regimen, and execution of the prescribed medical regimen.
(6) "Human responses" means those signs, symptoms and processes which denote the individual's interaction with an actual or potential health problem.
(7) The "Practice of dietetics-nutrition" means the integration and application of principles derived from the sciences of food nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, management and behavior to provide for all aspects of nutrition therapy for individuals and groups, including nutrition therapy services and medical nutrition therapy, compatible with dietitian-nutritionist education and professional competence. ((7) added June 29, 2002, P.L.651, No.99)
(8) "Department" means the Department of State of the Commonwealth. ((8) added June 29, 2002, P.L.651, No.99)
(9) "Licensed dietitian-nutritionist" means a dietitian-nutritionist who holds a current license under this act. ((9) added June 29, 2002, P.L.651, No.99)
(10) "Medical nutrition therapy" means the component of nutrition therapy that concerns determining and recommending nutrient needs based on nutritional assessment and medical problems relative to diets prescribed by a licensed physician, including:
(i) tube feedings;
(ii) specialized intravenous solutions;
(iii) specialized oral solutions; and
(iv) interactions of prescription drugs with food or nutrients.
((10) added June 29, 2002, P.L.651, No.99)
(11) "Nutrition therapy services" means assessing the nutritional needs of individuals and groups, considering the resources and constraints in the practice setting, providing nutrition counseling in health and disease, developing, implementing and managing:
(i) nutrition therapy of; and
(ii) food service systems for
individuals and groups and maintaining appropriate standards of quality in food and nutrition therapy services for individuals and groups.
((11) added June 29, 2002, P.L.651, No.99)
(12) "Certified registered nurse practitioner" means a registered nurse licensed in this Commonwealth who is certified by the board in a particular clinical specialty area. ((12) added Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1567, No.206)
(13) "Collaboration" means a process in which a certified registered nurse practitioner works with one or more physicians to deliver health care services within the scope of the certified registered nurse practitioner's expertise. The process includes all of the following:
(i) Immediate availability of a licensed physician to a certified registered nurse practitioner through direct communications or by radio, telephone or telecommunications.
(ii) A predetermined plan for emergency services.
(iii) A physician available to a certified registered nurse practitioner on a regularly scheduled basis for referrals, review of the standards of medical practice incorporating consultation and chart review, drug and other medical protocols within the practice setting, periodic updating in medical diagnosis and therapeutics and cosigning records when necessary to document accountability by both parties.
((13) added Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1567, No.206)
(14) "Drug Review Committee" means the committee established in section 8.4 whose function is to approve or disapprove, by addition or deletion, the categories of drugs that may be prescribed by certified registered nurse practitioners. ((14) added Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1567, No.206)
(15) "Clinical nurse specialist" means a registered nurse licensed in this Commonwealth who is certified by the State Board of Nursing as a clinical nurse specialist. ((15) added July 20, 2007, P.L.320, No.49)
(16) "Certified registered nurse anesthetist" means a registered nurse licensed in this Commonwealth who is certified by the State Board of Nursing as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. ((16) added June 30, 2021, P.L.326, No.60)
(17) "Overall direction" means oversight of anesthesia services and medical management of patient care by a qualified individual who is present and available onsite, but not necessarily present in the same procedure room as a certified registered nurse anesthetist performing anesthesia services for the duration of the services provided. ((17) added June 30, 2021, P.L.326, No.60)
(2 amended Dec. 20, 1985, P.L.409, No.109)
Compiler's Note: Section 4 of Act 60 of 2021 provided that the State Board of Nursing shall promulgate final regulations to implement the amendment or addition of sections 2(16), 3 and 8.8 within 18 months of the effective date of section 4.
Compiler's Note: Section 5 of Act 49 of 2007, which added paragraphs (15) and (16), provided that the State Board of Nursing shall promulgate regulations to implement paragraphs (15) and (16) within 18 months of the effective date of Act 49.