N.H. Admin. Code § Vet 802.01 - Veterinary Nurse or Veterinary Technician

(a) Under the immediate supervision of the licensed veterinarian, the veterinary nurse and veterinary technician shall be authorized to assist during surgical procedures.

(b) Under direct supervision the following tasks may be delegated to a veterinary nurse or veterinary technician:

(1) Induction and maintenance of anesthesia, by inhalant gas or intravenous method, including placing of endotracheal tube;

(2) Euthanasia;

(3) Administration of parenteral sedatives, including those intended as a premedication for anesthesia;

(4) Blood or blood component collection, preparation, or administration for the purpose of blood banking or transfusion;

(5) Application of bandages and splints;

(6) Dental procedures limited to the removal of calculus and plaque, polishing, and application of barrier sealants; and

(7) Central intravenous or arterial catheterization.

(c) Under indirect supervision, the following tasks may be delegated:

(1) Administration and application of treatments, drugs, medications, and immunological agents by oral and parenteral routes with the exception of:

a. Intra-cardiac or epidural routes; and

b. Medications intended to induce sedation as a premedication to anesthesia;

(2) Intravenous catheterizations except central venous or arterial catheters;

(3) Initiation of parenteral fluid administration;

(4) Radiography including settings, positioning, processing, and safety procedures;

(5) Collection of blood;

(6) Collection of urine by expression, catheterization, or cystocentesis;

(7) Collection and preparation of tissue, cellular or microbiological samples by skin scrapings, impressions, or other non-surgical methods;

(8) Tonometry;

(9) Routine laboratory test procedures;

(10) Handling of biohazardous waste material; and

(11) Measurement of blood pressure.

(d) Other services shall only be delegated by the supervising to a veterinary nurse or veterinary technician if they are competent to perform them based on the veterinary technician's or veterinary nurses' skill level and shall include, at a minimum, indirect supervision unless those services are prohibited by this chapter or RSA 332-B.

(e) Under conditions of emergency, a veterinary nurse or veterinary technician may render the following aid and treatment:

(1) Without a direct order from a licensed veterinarian:

a. Application of a tourniquet or pressure bandage to control hemorrhage;

b. Resuscitative procedures not to include administration of drugs or defibrillation;

c. Application of splints, wound dressings or bandages to prevent further damage of or to bones or soft tissue;

d. Peripheral intravenous catheterization; and

e. Oxygen therapy.

(2) After a direct order from a licensed veterinarian, a veterinary nurse or technician may perform the administration of pharmacological agents or parenteral fluids.

(f) No veterinary nurse or veterinary technician shall:

(1) Make any diagnosis or prognosis;

(2) Prescribe any treatments, drugs, medications, or appliances; or

(3) Perform surgery.

(g) Any veterinary nurse or veterinary technician, working for an animal shelter as defined in RSA 437:1, I, shall be exempt from the requirement to have direct supervision by a licensed veterinarian while performing euthanasia during their work at that animal shelter.

Notes

N.H. Admin. Code § Vet 802.01

Derived from Number 15, Filed April 13, 2023, Proposed by #13577, Effective 5/15/2023, Expires 5/15/2033. Amended by Number 2, Filed January 11, 2024, Proposed by #13826, Effective 2/18/2024, Expires 2/18/2034.