As used in this article:
(a) “Nurse anesthetist” means a person who is a registered nurse, licensed by the board and who has met standards for certification from the board. In the certification and recertification process the board shall consider the standards of the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists and the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists and may develop new standards if there is a public safety need for standards more stringent than the councils’ standards. In determining the adequacy for public safety of the councils’ standards or in developing board standards, the board shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b) “Accredited Program” means a program for the education of nurse anesthetists which has received approval from the board. In the approval process the board shall consider the standards of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs and Schools and may develop new standards if the councils’ standards are determined to be inadequate for public safety. In determining the adequacy for public safety of the councils’ standards or in developing board standards, the board shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(c) “Appropriate committee” means the committee responsible for anesthesia practice which is responsible to the executive committee of the medical staff.
(d) “Trainee” means a registered nurse enrolled in an accredited program of nurse anesthesia.
(e) “Graduate” means a nurse anesthetist who is a graduate of an accredited program of nurse anesthesia awaiting initial certification results for not more than one year from the date of graduation.
(Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 696, Sec. 7.)