Section 21.801. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the content clearly indicates otherwise:

Act—The Professional Nursing Law (63 P. S. § § 211—225.5), which provides for the certification of CNSs.

Approved—Approved by the Board.

Approved program—Those educational programs accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE for preparing a professional nurse to practice as a CNS.

Board—The State Board of Nursing of the Commonwealth.

Board-designated specialty—One of six patient populations, including neonatal, pediatrics, family/across the lifespan, adult/gerontology, women’s health/gender-related and psychiatric/mental health.

Board-recognized—The Board has determined that an entity meets the Board’s quality standards to conduct an activity and has named the entity on the Board’s web site.

Certification—Certification as a CNS issued by the Board.

CCNE—Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education—The organization recognized by the United States Secretary of Education as a National accreditation agency that provides a nongovernmental peer review process in accordance with Nationally recognized standards established for the practice of accreditation in the United States.

CNS—Clinical nurse specialist—An individual licensed in this Commonwealth to practice professional nursing who meets the educational and examination or equivalency requirements of the act and who is certified by the Board as a clinical nurse specialist.

NLNAC—National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission—The organization that is recognized as the accrediting body for all types of nursing education programs by the United States Department of Education and that is responsible for the specialized accreditation of nursing education programs, both postsecondary and higher degrees.

National certification—The credential awarded by a Board-recognized organization evidencing that an individual has passed a National certification examination and has maintained current National certification in a specialty as specified by the organization.

National certification organization—An organization recognized by the Board and maintained on the approved list on the Board’s website that has as one of its purposes the examination of individuals who will practice as CNSs.