5961734 Health, Department of - Notice of Final Rulemaking - Administration of hypnotics by licensed practical nurses

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

 NOTICE OF FINAL RULEMAKING

The Director of the Department of Health, pursuant to the authority set forth under § 302(14) of the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985 (“Act”), effective March 15, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3-1203.02(14) (2012 Repl.)), and Mayor’s Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998, hereby gives notice of adoption of the following amendment to Chapter 55 (Practical Nursing) of Title 17 (Business, Occupations, and Professionals) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).   

 

The purpose of the amendment is to eliminate the provision in 17 DCMR Subsection 5514.4(c)(4) that prohibits licensed practical nurses from administering hypnotics. The current prohibition hinders the expedient provision of nursing services in the workplace by requiring a registered nurse to administer hypnotics.  Depending on the setting, such a requirement is not always practical. The Board of Nursing finds that licensed practical nurses are competent to administer these drugs.

 

These regulations were published as Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the D.C. Register on January 15, 2016 at 63 DCR 000583.  No comments were received and no changes have been made.  This rulemaking was adopted as final on March 1, 2016 and will become effective upon publication in the D.C. Register.

 

Chapter 55, PRACTICAL NURSING, of Title 17 DCMR, BUSINESS, OCCUPATIONS, AND PROFESSIONALS, is amended as follows:

 

Section 5514, SCOPE OF PRACTICE, Subsection 5514.4(c), is amended to read as follows:

 

5514.4             A practical nurse shall not:

 

…

 

(c)        Administer the following medications:

 

(1)        Investigational or toxins;

 

(2)        Antineoplastic agents;

 

(3)        Anesthesia or conscious sedation;

 

(4)        Oxytocics; or

 

(5)        Medications by way of intrathecal or epidural route.