NRS454.213. Authority to possess and administer dangerous drug. [Effective through December 31, 2013.]

  A drug or medicine referred to in NRS 454.181 to 454.371, inclusive, may be possessed and administered by:

      1.  A practitioner.

      2.  A physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 630 or 633 of NRS, at the direction of his or her supervising physician or a licensed dental hygienist acting in the office of and under the supervision of a dentist.

      3.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, a registered nurse licensed to practice professional nursing or licensed practical nurse, at the direction of a prescribing physician, physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 630 or 633 of NRS, dentist, podiatric physician or advanced practice registered nurse, or pursuant to a chart order, for administration to a patient at another location.

      4.  In accordance with applicable regulations of the Board, a registered nurse licensed to practice professional nursing or licensed practical nurse who is:

      (a) Employed by a health care agency or health care facility that is authorized to provide emergency care, or to respond to the immediate needs of a patient, in the residence of the patient; and

      (b) Acting under the direction of the medical director of that agency or facility who works in this State.

      5.  A medication aide - certified at a designated facility under the supervision of an advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse and in accordance with standard protocols developed by the State Board of Nursing. As used in this subsection, “designated facility” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 632.0145.

      6.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, an intermediate emergency medical technician or an advanced emergency medical technician, as authorized by regulation of the State Board of Pharmacy and in accordance with any applicable regulations of:

      (a) The State Board of Health in a county whose population is less than 100,000;

      (b) A county board of health in a county whose population is 100,000 or more; or

      (c) A district board of health created pursuant to NRS 439.362 or 439.370 in any county.

      7.  An intermediate emergency medical technician or an advanced emergency medical technician who holds an endorsement issued pursuant to NRS 450B.1975, under the direct supervision of a local health officer or a designee of the local health officer pursuant to that section.

      8.  A respiratory therapist employed in a health care facility. The therapist may possess and administer respiratory products only at the direction of a physician.

      9.  A dialysis technician, under the direction or supervision of a physician or registered nurse only if the drug or medicine is used for the process of renal dialysis.

      10.  A medical student or student nurse in the course of his or her studies at an approved college of medicine or school of professional or practical nursing, at the direction of a physician and:

      (a) In the presence of a physician or a registered nurse; or

      (b) Under the supervision of a physician or a registered nurse if the student is authorized by the college or school to administer the drug or medicine outside the presence of a physician or nurse.

Ê A medical student or student nurse may administer a dangerous drug in the presence or under the supervision of a registered nurse alone only if the circumstances are such that the registered nurse would be authorized to administer it personally.

      11.  Any person designated by the head of a correctional institution.

      12.  An ultimate user or any person designated by the ultimate user pursuant to a written agreement.

      13.  A nuclear medicine technologist, at the direction of a physician and in accordance with any conditions established by regulation of the Board.

      14.  A radiologic technologist, at the direction of a physician and in accordance with any conditions established by regulation of the Board.

      15.  A chiropractic physician, but only if the drug or medicine is a topical drug used for cooling and stretching external tissue during therapeutic treatments.

      16.  A physical therapist, but only if the drug or medicine is a topical drug which is:

      (a) Used for cooling and stretching external tissue during therapeutic treatments; and

      (b) Prescribed by a licensed physician for:

             (1) Iontophoresis; or

             (2) The transmission of drugs through the skin using ultrasound.

      17.  In accordance with applicable regulations of the State Board of Health, an employee of a residential facility for groups, as defined in NRS 449.017, pursuant to a written agreement entered into by the ultimate user.

      18.  A veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant at the direction of his or her supervising veterinarian.

      19.  In accordance with applicable regulations of the Board, a registered pharmacist who:

      (a) Is trained in and certified to carry out standards and practices for immunization programs;

      (b) Is authorized to administer immunizations pursuant to written protocols from a physician; and

      (c) Administers immunizations in compliance with the “Standards for Immunization Practices” recommended and approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

      20.  A registered pharmacist pursuant to written guidelines and protocols developed and approved pursuant to NRS 639.2809.

      21.  A person who is enrolled in a training program to become a physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 630 or 633 of NRS, dental hygienist, intermediate emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, respiratory therapist, dialysis technician, nuclear medicine technologist, radiologic technologist, physical therapist or veterinary technician if the person possesses and administers the drug or medicine in the same manner and under the same conditions that apply, respectively, to a physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 630 or 633 of NRS, dental hygienist, intermediate emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, respiratory therapist, dialysis technician, nuclear medicine technologist, radiologic technologist, physical therapist or veterinary technician who may possess and administer the drug or medicine, and under the direct supervision of a person licensed or registered to perform the respective medical art or a supervisor of such a person.

      22.  A medical assistant, in accordance with applicable regulations of the:

      (a) Board of Medical Examiners, at the direction of the prescribing physician and under the supervision of a physician or physician assistant.

      (b) State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, at the direction of the prescribing physician and under the supervision of a physician or physician assistant.

      (Added to NRS by 1979, 1682; A 1981, 60, 746; 1983, 1221, 1515, 1937; 1987, 952, 1657, 2215; 1989, 749; 1991, 1956; 1993, 1216, 2839; 1995, 725, 1691; 1999, 2720; 2001, 2, 789, 792; 2003, 2296; 2005, 2476; 2007, 1866; 2009, 1534; 2011, 1341, 2609, 3080; 2013, 2088)