As of today all APRNs with prescriptive authority (CTP and CTP-E) may delegate the administration of medications to unlicensed assistive personnel who have been formally trained to administer medications. The predominant group in this category is the medical assistant. According to ORC 4723.48 and 4723.489:
C) (1) The holder of a certificate issued under this section may delegate to a person not otherwise authorized to administer drugs the authority to administer to a specified patient a drug, other than a controlled substance, listed in the formulary established in rules adopted under section 50 of the Revised Code. The delegation shall be in accordance with division (C)(2) of this section and standards and procedures established in rules adopted under division (Q) of section 4723.07 of the Revised Code.
(2) Prior to delegating the authority, the certificate holder shall do both of the following:
(a) Assess the patient and determine that the drug is appropriate for the patient;
(b) Determine that the person to whom the authority will be delegated has met the conditions specified in division (D) of section 4723.489 of the Revised Code.
ORC 4723.489 A person not otherwise authorized to administer drugs may administer a drug to a specified patient if all of the following conditions are met:
(A) The authority to administer the drug is delegated to the person by an advanced practice registered nurse who is a clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, or certified nurse practitioner and holds a certificate to prescribe issued under section 4723.48 of the Revised Code.
(B) The drug is listed in the formulary established in rules adopted under section 4723.50 of the Revised Code but is not a controlled substance and is not to be administered intravenously.
(C) The drug is to be administered at a location other than a hospital inpatient care unit, as defined in section 3727.50 of the Revised Code; a hospital emergency department or a freestanding emergency department; or an ambulatory surgical facility, as defined in section 3702.30 of the Revised Code.
(D) The person has successfully completed education based on a recognized body of knowledge concerning drug administration and demonstrates to the person’s employer the knowledge, skills, and ability to administer the drug safely.
(E) The person’s employer has given the advanced practice registered nurse access to documentation, in written or electronic form, showing that the person has met the conditions specified in division (D) of this section.
(F) The advanced practice registered nurse is physically present at the location where the drug is administered.
Until rules are written by the Board of Nursing (expect rules sometime in late 2016) APRNs may delegate using the statute’s requirements (verified with Board of Nursing APRN Practice Coordinator Jenifer W.). Please check with your institution to ensure policies have been changed to allow delegation. Though the law is changed, institutions/practices may be more restrictive.
Another BARRIER is gone…more to follow…PLEASE support HB 216…Sustain your membership, get another APRN colleague to join and DONATE to the OAAPN PAC at oaapn.org.
Jean Austin
President, OAAPN