Pennsylvania Act 2010-32 — CIRCULATING NURSE ACT - ENACTMENT

Act text

CIRCULATING NURSE ACT - ENACTMENT
                  Act of Jun. 16, 2010, P.L. 211, No. 32              Cl. 35
                                  AN ACT

     Requiring a circulating nurse in certain operating rooms.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

     Section 1.  Short title.
        This act shall be known and may be cited as the Circulating
     Nurse Act.
     Section 2.  Purpose.
        The purpose of this legislation is to require a registered
     nurse to be the circulating nurse in an operating room for the
     safety of the patient.
     Section 3.  Definitions.
        The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
     have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     context clearly indicates otherwise:
        "Health care facility."  Any hospital or class C ambulatory
     surgical facility as defined by 28 Pa. Code Pt. IV (relating to
     health facilities).
        "Operating room of the facility."  The phrase shall only
     include the number of operating rooms covered by a health care
     facility's license issued by the Department of Health.
        "Registered nurse."  An individual licensed under the laws of
     this Commonwealth to practice professional nursing.
     Section 4.  Operating room staff.
        Only a registered nurse, licensed in this Commonwealth,
     qualified by training and experience in operating room nursing
     shall function as a circulating nurse during all surgical
     procedures performed in an operating room of a health care
     facility.
     Section 5.  Effective date.
        This act shall take effect in 60 days.