Rhode Island General Laws Title 5. Businesses and Professions § 5-34.2-2. Definitions

(a) “ Board” means the board of nurse registration and nurse education established in § 5-34-4.

(b) “ Certified registered nurse anesthetist” (CRNA) means a registered nurse who has successfully met the requirements stated in this chapter.

(c) “ Practice of certified registered nurse anesthesia” means providing certain healthcare services in collaboration with anesthesiologists, licensed physicians, or licensed dentists in accordance with § 5-31.1-1(17) which requires substantial specialized knowledge, judgment, and skill related to the administration of anesthesia, including preoperative and postoperative assessment of patients; administering anesthetics; monitoring patients during anesthesia; management of fluid in intravenous therapy; and management of respiratory care. It also includes, in connection with the immediate perioperative care of a patient, the ability to issue a medication order for drugs or medications to be administered by a licensed, certified, or registered healthcare provider; to order and evaluate laboratory and diagnostic test results and perform point-of-care testing that the CRNA is qualified to perform; and order and evaluate radiographic imaging studies that the CRNA is qualified to order and interpret. For the purposes of this section, the immediate perioperative care of a patient shall be defined as the period commencing on the day prior to surgery and ending upon discharge of the patient from post-anesthesia care. CRNAs shall comply with the requirements set forth in this chapter, including subsection 5-34.2-5(b) regarding scope of practice, and the requirements set forth in chapter 34 of this title, as applicable. In the case of any conflict between this chapter and chapter 34 of this title with regard to the licensure and practice of CRNAs, this chapter shall control.