W. Va. Code R. § 19-13-4 - Standards for Medication Administration by a Dialysis Technician

4.1. A dialysis technician may administer the following medications if included in the dialysis prescription and delegated by the licensed physician or registered professional nurse:

4.1.a. Intradermal lidocaine or another single therapeutically equivalent local anesthetic for the purpose of initiating dialysis treatment;

4.1.b. Heparin or other single therapeutically equivalent anticoagulant to prime the pump, initiate treatment, or for administration throughout the treatment which may be done intravenously, peripherally via a fistula needle or in another clinically acceptable manner;

4.1.c. Intravenous normal saline;

4.1.d. Patient specific dialysate to which the dialysis technician may add only electrolytes; and

4.1.e. Oxygen, when the administration of the oxygen has been delegated to the dialysis technician by a registered professional nurse.

4.2. Except as provided by this rule, a dialysis technician may not administer any blood products or intravenous medications.

4.3. When administering the medications set forth in subsection 4.1 of this rule, the dialysis technician shall:

4.3.a. Assure that the right dose of the right medication is given to the right individual, through the right route of administration, at the right time, for the right reason;

4.3.b. Accurately and timely document the administration of the medication and notify the physician or licensed professional nurse of the patient's response to the medication as appropriate;

4.3.c. Consult with an appropriate licensed practitioner when the dialysis technician believes or should have reason to believe that a prescribed medication is inaccurate, not properly authorized, harmful or potentially harmful to a patient, or contraindicated by other documented information; and

4.3.d. Take any other action needed to assure the safety of the patient.

4.4. A dialysis technician shall administer the medications authorized by this rule only if the task has been delegated to the dialysis technician by a registered professional nurse or by a licensed physician in accordance with this rule.

4.5. The dialysis technician shall be under the direct supervision of a registered professional nurse or licensed physician when administering medications.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 19-13-4