WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 5021
By Delegate Drennan
[Introduced February 02, 2026; referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources]
A BILL to amend and reenact §30-7-15 of the Code of West Virginia, as amended, 1931, relating to the limited circumstances in which a registered nurse may administer anesthetics.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
(a) A certified registered nurse anesthetist may administer anesthesia in cooperation with a physician, dentist, or podiatrist when providing the anesthesia.
(1) As used in this section, "cooperation" means a process in which the certified registered nurse anesthetist and the physician, dentist, or podiatrist work together as a team with each contributing an area of expertise at their individual and respective levels of education and training. At all times during such cooperation, the medical or dental care of the patient is directed by the physician, dentist, or podiatrist.
(2) A dentist may cooperate with a certified registered nurse anesthetist under this section only if he or she holds an anesthesia permit pursuant to article §30-4A-1 et seq. of this code.
(3) The physician, dentist, or podiatrist is not liable for any act or omission of a certified registered nurse anesthetist who orders or administers anesthetics under this section.
(b) A certified registered nurse anesthetist lawfully may perform acts that determine, prepare, administer, and monitor anesthesia care and anesthesia care-related services if he or she:
(1) Has at any time held a registered professional nursing license under this article; and
(2) Holds a current advanced practice registered nurse license under this article; and
(3) Has completed successfully a nurse anesthetist educational program at a nationally accredited graduate or post-graduate advanced practice registered nurse educational institution; and
(4) Holds current certification by a national certifying body recognized by the Board of Nursing in the advanced practice registered nurse role and population foci appropriate for educational preparation.
(c) A certified registered nurse anesthetist does not have independent practice authority.
(d) A licensed advanced practice registered nurse practicing in the role of certified registered nurse anesthetist may only use the title "certified registered nurse anesthetist", "CRNA", "advanced practice registered nurse", or "APRN".
(e) A registered nurse may, in only the following circumstances, administer anesthetics under the order of a physician, dentist, or podiatrist.
(1) An appropriately trained registered nurse can administer anesthetic and neuromuscular blocking agents via continuous infusion for a patient who is intubated and ventilated in acute care setting.
(2) An appropriately trained registered nurse can administer anesthetic and neuromuscular blocking agents to assist a physician in emergency airway management.
(e) (f) On or before July 1, 2026 2027, and annually thereafter, the Board of Nursing shall report to the Legislature regarding the implementation and impact of this section. The report shall include:
(1) Any problems or issues that have been reported to the board by hospitals, dental offices, podiatrist offices, ambulatory surgical centers, and all other locations where nurse anesthetists are authorized to practice in the state; and
(2) Any treatment complications resulting from the administration of anesthesia by certified registered nurse anesthetists.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow for registered nurses to administer anesthetics in limited circumstances.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.