Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 368v - Health Care Institutions
Section 19a-522f. - Chronic and convalescent nursing homes and rest homes with nursing supervision. Administration of peripherally inserted central catheter by IV therapy nurse or physician assistant. Administration of IV therapy or medication by reg...

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Administer” means to initiate the venipuncture and deliver an IV fluid or IV admixture into the blood stream through a vein, and to monitor and care for the venipuncture site, terminate the procedure and record pertinent events and observations;
(2) “IV admixture” means an IV fluid to which one or more additional drug products have been added;
(3) “IV fluid” means sterile solutions of fifty milliliters or more, intended for intravenous infusion, but does not include blood and blood products;
(4) “IV therapy” means the introduction of an IV fluid or IV admixture into the blood stream through a vein for the purpose of correcting water deficit and electrolyte imbalances, providing nutrition, and delivering antibiotics and other therapeutic agents approved by a chronic and convalescent nursing home's or a rest home with nursing supervision's medical staff;
(5) “IV therapy program” means the overall plan by which a chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision implements, monitors and safeguards the administration of IV therapy to patients; and
(6) “IV therapy nurse” means a registered nurse who is qualified by education and training and has demonstrated proficiency in the theoretical and clinical aspects of IV therapy to administer an IV fluid or IV admixture.
(b) An IV therapy nurse or a physician assistant licensed pursuant to section 20-12b, who is employed by, or operating under a contract to provide services in, a chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision that operates an IV therapy program may administer a peripherally inserted central catheter as part of such facility's IV therapy program. The Department of Public Health shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of this section.
(c) A chronic and convalescent nursing home may allow a registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378 and employed by such chronic and convalescent nursing home who has been properly trained by the director of nursing or by an intravenous infusion company to (1) administer IV therapy or a dose of medication by intravenous injection, provided such medication is on a list of medications approved by the facility's governing body, pharmacist and medical director for intravenous injection by a registered nurse, or (2) draw blood from a central line for laboratory purposes, provided the facility has an agreement with a laboratory to process such specimens. Such chronic and convalescent nursing home shall notify the Commissioner of Public Health of any such services being provided under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection. The administrator of each chronic and convalescent nursing home shall ensure that each registered nurse who is permitted to perform the services described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection is appropriately trained and competent to perform such services. Each administrator shall provide documentation regarding the training and competency of such registered nurses to the department upon the department's request.
(P.A. 11-40, S. 1; P.A. 13-208, S. 8; P.A. 21-121, S. 55.)
History: P.A. 13-208 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision allowing licensed physician assistant to administer peripherally inserted central catheter; P.A. 21-121 added Subsec. (c) re administration of IV therapy or medication by intravenous injection by registered nurse, effective July 1, 2021.