Section 3. Registered Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Use of Title and Abbreviation "R.N.," "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.
(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 a certified registered nurse anesthetist shall have the right to use the title "certified registered nurse anesthetist" and use the abbreviation "C.R.N.A." 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.
(3 amended June 30, 2021, P.L.326, No.60)
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 amended section 3, provided that the State Board of Nursing shall promulgate regulations to implement the amendment of section (3) within 18 months of the effective date of Act 49.