§ 1003.25b. Prehospital registered nurse.

 (a)  Roles and responsibilities.

   (1)  A prehospital registered nurse who has medical command authorization under §  1003.28 (relating to medical command authorization) may provide the ALS services in §  1003.24(d) (relating to EMT-paramedic) and those listed in subsection (c) in addition to the BLS services in §  1003.23(a) and (e) (relating to EMT) to respond to the perceived needs of an individual for immediate medical care in an emergency. This section does not prohibit a prehospital registered nurse from providing EMS as permitted under 42 Pa.C.S. §  8331 (relating to medical good Samaritan civil immunity).

   (2)  A prehospital registered nurse who does not have or chooses not to maintain medical command authorization may apply to the Department for recognition as an EMT. The rules applicable to certification of a prehospital registered nurse as an EMT are set forth in §  1003.23(b)(2). Following loss of medical command authorization, a prehospital registered nurse may function as an EMT for the ALS ambulance service under which the prehospital registered nurse has lost medical command authorization, for 30 days without securing EMT certification, if approval to do so is granted by the ALS service medical director for that ALS ambulance service.

 (b)  Recognition of a prehospital registered nurse.

   (1)  The Department will recognize as a prehospital registered nurse a registered nurse who meets the following qualifications:

     (i)   Completes an application on a form prescribed by the Department.

     (ii)   Is 18 years of age or older.

     (iii)   Has successfully completed the American Heart Association or American Red Cross basic cardiac life support training program and the ACLS course, or other programs determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards of the specified programs.

     (iv)   Has successfully completed one of the following:

       (A)   The Pennsylvania prehospital registered nurse curriculum adopted by the Department.

       (B)   A knowledge and skills assessment process adopted by the Department.

     (v)   Has successfully completed the written ALS examination for prehospital registered nurses approved by the Department.

     (vi)   Has successfully completed the EMT practical skills examination.

   (2)  A registered nurse who received recognition as a health professional registered nurse under the voluntary health professional registered nurse recognition program conducted by the Department prior to September 2, 1995, will be deemed to have Department recognition as a prehospital registered nurse.

   (3)  Department recognition of a prehospital registered nurse under this section is permanent subject to disciplinary action under section 11(j.1) of the act (35 P. S. §  6931(j.1)) and §  1003.27 (relating to disciplinary and corrective action).

   (4)  A prehospital registered nurse shall register biennially with the Department on forms supplied by the Department prior to the biennial anniversary date of the prehospital registered nurse’s recognition and shall supply information requested on the registration form.

 (c)  Scope of practice. A prehospital registered nurse with medical command authorization may perform, in addition to those services within an EMT-paramedic’s scope of practice, other services authorized by The Professional Nursing Law (63 P. S. § §  221—225.5), when authorized by a medical command physician through either on line medical command or standing medical treatment protocols.

 (d)  Recognition by endorsement. The Department will grant recognition as a prehospital registered nurse to an individual who has served in a similar capacity in another state and who meets the following qualifications:

   (1)  Completes an application on a form prescribed by the Department.

   (2)  Is 18 years of age or older.

   (3)  Has successfully completed the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross basic life support training program and the ACLS course, or other programs determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards of the specified programs.

   (4)  Is licensed as a registered nurse in both this Commonwealth and another state.

   (5)  Has successfully completed one of the following:

     (i)   The written ALS examination for prehospital registered nurses approved by the Department and the EMT practical skills examination.

     (ii)   Written and practical skills examinations determined by the Department to meet or exceed the examinations approved by the Department.

   (6)  Has successfully completed one of the following:

     (i)   The Pennsylvania prehospital registered nurse curriculum adopted by the Department.

     (ii)   A knowledge and skills assessment process adopted by the Department.

     (iii)   Curriculum or a knowledge and skills assessment process, which is determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards adopted by the Department.

   The provisions of this §  1003.25b adopted September 1, 1995, effective September 2, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 3685; amended October 13, 2000, effective October 14, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 5363. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (256625) to (256627).

   This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §  1001.2 (relating to definitions); 25 Pa. Code §  1003.23 (relating to EMT); and 28 Pa. Code §  1003.29 (relating to continuing education requirements).