3 CCR 716-1.9 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE IN RELATION TO IV THERAPY

A. BASIS: The Rules contained in this Rule 1.9 are adopted pursuant to authority granted the Board by sections 12-255-101 to 134, C.R.S., as amended, and specifically pursuant to authority granted in section 12-255-107(1)(e), C.R.S., as amended.
B. PURPOSE: These Rules are adopted to set forth the guidelines for the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) related to the individual's role in intravenous therapy and venous blood sampling. The patient care responsibilities of LPNs should be within the parameters of their educational preparation and their demonstrated abilities. Therefore, LPNs and their supervisors have a joint responsibility to assure that LPNs practice within the scope of their educational basis and demonstrated abilities.
C. DEFINITIONS:

For the purposes of Rule 1.9, the following terms have the indicated meaning:

1. "Adult Client" is an individual whose chronological age is thirteen years or older.
2. "Board" is the State Board of Nursing.
3. "Direct Injection" is the administration of a drug directly into the Venous Access Device or through the proximal port on a continuous infusion set.
4. "Intravenous Fluids" means fluids containing one or more of the following elements: dextrose 5%; normal saline; lactated ringers; sodium chloride 0.45%; or sodium chloride 0.2%.
5. "Peripheral Veins" are the veins not in the chest, neck or abdomen.
6. "Pre-mixed" means IV solution prepared and labeled by an authorized licensed professional or manufacturer. Manufacturer prepared solutions include those closed systems requiring activation to administer.
7. "Supervision" means a professional nurse, physician, dentist, or podiatrist is physically present or accessible by some form of telecommunication.
8. Types of "Venous Access Devices":
a. Peripheral catheters
(1) "Peripheral short catheter" is a Venous Access Device less than 3 inches (7.5 cm) in length.
(2) "Peripheral midline catheter" means a peripherally inserted catheter whose tip terminates no further than the axilla and is between 3 inches and 8 inches (7.5 cm and 20 cm) in length.
b. Central catheters
(1) "PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter)" means an IV catheter whose tip terminates in the superior vena cava and is confirmed by chest x-ray.
(2) "Central catheter" means an IV catheter whose tip terminates in the superior vena cava and may be either tunneled, implanted, or percutaneously inserted, and is confirmed by chest x-ray.
D. SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF THE LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE IN RELATION TO IV THERAPY
1. The patient care responsibilities of the LPN should be within the parameters of their educational preparation and their demonstrated abilities.
2. An LPN may perform the following procedures under the Supervision of a professional nurse, physician, dentist, or podiatrist:
a. Calculate and observe flow rate of intravenous infusions;
b. Stop the flow of Intravenous Fluids, as defined in Sections (C)(5) and (C)(10) of Rule 1.9;
c. Remove peripheral short catheter for Adult Clients;
d. Report and document observations and procedures relating to intravenous infusion and insertion sites;
e. Utilize Peripheral Veins for intravenous access with a peripheral short catheter;
f. Perform blood sampling from a peripheral vein or through a central Venous Access Device using a syringe or vacutainer device.
g. Reconstitute IV antibiotics following pharmacy instructions and/or organizational policies.
h. Administer the following:
(1) Intravenous Fluids through Venous Access Devices;
(2) Pre-mixed Intravenous Fluids containing electrolytes and vitamins;
(3) Pre-mixed antibiotic solutions via Venous Access Devices delivered per labeled instructions by gravity flow, pump or Direct Injection for a period of time consisting of greater than five minutes in duration; and/or
(4) The first dose of IV antibiotic therapy under the observation of a professional nurse, physician, podiatrist, or dentist who is present in the same patient care area.
i. Regulate the prescribed flow rate of the Intravenous Fluids;
j. Monitor the systemic effects of intravenous therapy;
k. Flush Venous Access Devices designed to maintain venous patency with normal saline or a sub-therapeutic dosage of heparin;
l. Change dressings and/or caps to Venous Access Devices; and/or
m. Switch from continuous infusion of Intravenous Fluid to heparin/saline lock
E. OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES IN RELATION TO IV THERAPY
1. A licensed practical nurse may not perform any of the following procedures as they are outside the LPN's scope of practice:
a. Administration of IV medications, except as allowed in Section (D)(2)(g) of Rule 1.9;
b. Access or de-access implanted central venous access ports;
c. Insertion of a PICC line or a peripheral midline catheter;
d. Repair of Venous Access Devices;
e. Remove a central venous access catheter;
f. Administration of parenteral nutrition solutions;
g. Administration of blood and blood products;
h. Administration of chemotherapy intravenous medications/solutions;
i. Administration of thrombolytic agent to declot a catheter; and/or
j. Direct Injection of any IV medication for a period of time consisting of five minutes or less in duration.

Adopted April 22, 2009

Revised April 26, 2012

Effective July 1, 2012

Notes

3 CCR 716-1.9
38 CR 16, August 25, 2015, effective 9/14/2015 38 CR 20, October 25, 2015, effective 11/14/2015 38 CR 22, November 25, 2015, effective 12/30/2015 40 CR 10, May 25, 2017, effective 6/14/2017 40 CR 16, August 25, 2017, effective 9/14/2017 40 CR 16, August 25, 2017, effective 9/14/2017 42 CR 04, February 25, 2019, effective 3/17/2019 42 CR 04, February 25, 2019, effective 3/17/2019 44 CR 10, May 25, 2021, effective 6/14/2021 44 CR 22, November 25, 2021, effective 12/15/2021 45 CR 20, October 25, 2022, effective 9/22/2022 45 CR 23, December 10, 2022, effective 11/11/2022 46 CR 01, January 10, 2023, effective 12/10/2022 45 CR 22, November 25, 2022, effective 12/15/2022 46 CR 02, January 25, 2022, effective 1/9/2023 47 CR 22, November 25, 2024, effective 12/15/2024 48 CR 10, May 25, 2025, effective 6/14/2025

State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.