Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 4723 | Nurses
Section 4723.18 | Administration of Adult Intravenous Therapy.

Effective: April 6, 2017
Latest Legislation: House Bill 216 - 131st General Assembly
(A) The board of nursing shall authorize a licensed practical nurse to administer to an adult intravenous therapy if the nurse supplies evidence satisfactory to the board that the conditions of divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section have been met:
(1) The nurse holds a current, valid license issued under this chapter to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse.
(2) The nurse has been authorized under section 4723.17 of the Revised Code to administer medications.
(3) The nurse successfully completed either of the following:
(a) A course of study in the safe performance of intravenous therapy approved by the board pursuant to section 4723.19 of the Revised Code or by an agency in another jurisdiction that regulates the practice of nursing and has requirements for intravenous therapy course approval that are substantially similar to the requirements in division (B) of section 4723.19 of the Revised Code, as determined by the board;
(b) A continuing education course or program approved by the board pursuant to section 4723.06 of the Revised Code that includes all of the following:
(i) The curriculum established by rules adopted by the board;
(ii) Training in the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, signs and symptoms of local and systemic complications in the administration of fluids and antibiotic additives, and guidelines for management of these complications;
(iii) Any other training or instruction the board considers appropriate;
(iv) A testing component that requires the nurse to perform a successful demonstration of the intravenous procedures, including all skills needed to perform them safely.
(B) Except as provided in section 4723.181 of the Revised Code and subject to the restrictions in division (D) of this section, a licensed practical nurse may perform intravenous therapy on an adult patient only if authorized by the board pursuant to division (A) of this section and only at the direction of one of the following:
(1) A physician, physician assistant, dentist, optometrist, or podiatrist who is authorized to practice in this state and, except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, is present and readily available at the facility where the intravenous therapy procedure is performed;
(2) A registered nurse in accordance with division (C) of this section.
(C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section and section 4723.181 of the Revised Code, when a licensed practical nurse authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy performs an intravenous therapy procedure at the direction of a registered nurse, the registered nurse or another registered nurse shall be readily available at the site where the intravenous therapy is performed, and before the licensed practical nurse initiates the intravenous therapy, the registered nurse shall personally perform an on-site assessment of the adult patient who is to receive the intravenous therapy.
(2) When a licensed practical nurse authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy performs an intravenous therapy procedure in a home as defined in section 3721.10 of the Revised Code, or in an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities as defined in section 5124.01 of the Revised Code, at the direction of a registered nurse or licensed a physician, physician assistant, dentist, optometrist, or podiatrist who is authorized to practice in this state, a registered nurse shall be on the premises of the home or facility or accessible by some form of telecommunication.
(D) No licensed practical nurse shall perform any of the following intravenous therapy procedures:
(1) Initiating or maintaining any of the following:
(a) Blood or blood components;
(b) Solutions for total parenteral nutrition;
(c) Any cancer therapeutic medication including, but not limited to, cancer chemotherapy or an anti-neoplastic agent;
(d) Solutions administered through any central venous line or arterial line or any other line that does not terminate in a peripheral vein, except that a licensed practical nurse authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy may maintain the solutions specified in division (D)(6)(a) of this section that are being administered through a central venous line or peripherally inserted central catheter;
(e) Any investigational or experimental medication.
(2) Initiating intravenous therapy in any vein, except that a licensed practical nurse authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy may initiate intravenous therapy in accordance with this section in a vein of the hand, forearm, or antecubital fossa;
(3) Discontinuing a central venous, arterial, or any other line that does not terminate in a peripheral vein;
(4) Initiating or discontinuing a peripherally inserted central catheter;
(5) Mixing, preparing, or reconstituting any medication for intravenous therapy, except that a licensed practical nurse authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy may prepare or reconstitute an antibiotic additive;
(6) Administering medication via the intravenous route, including all of the following activities:
(a) Adding medication to an intravenous solution or to an existing infusion, except that a licensed practical nurse authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy may do any of the following:
(i) Initiate an intravenous infusion containing one or more of the following elements: dextrose 5%, normal saline, lactated ringers, sodium chloride .45%, sodium chloride 0.2%, sterile water;
(ii) Hang subsequent containers of the intravenous solutions specified in division (D)(6)(a)(i) of this section that contain vitamins or electrolytes, if a registered nurse initiated the infusion of that same intravenous solution;
(iii) Initiate or maintain an intravenous infusion containing an antibiotic additive.
(b) Injecting medication via a direct intravenous route, except that a licensed practical nurse authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy may inject heparin or normal saline to flush an intermittent infusion device or heparin lock including, but not limited to, bolus or push.
(7) Changing tubing on any line including, but not limited to, an arterial line or a central venous line, except that a licensed practical nurse authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy may change tubing on an intravenous line that terminates in a peripheral vein;
(8) Programming or setting any function of a patient controlled infusion pump.
(E) Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (D) of this section, at the direction of a physician or a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy may perform the following activities for the purpose of performing dialysis:
(1) The routine administration and regulation of saline solution for the purpose of maintaining an established fluid plan;
(2) The administration of a heparin dose intravenously;
(3) The administration of a heparin dose peripherally via a fistula needle;
(4) The loading and activation of a constant infusion pump;
(5) The intermittent injection of a dose of medication that is administered via the hemodialysis blood circuit and through the patient's venous access.
(F) No person shall employ or direct a licensed practical nurse to perform an intravenous therapy procedure without first verifying that the licensed practical nurse is authorized by the board to perform intravenous therapy.

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