NAC449.543. Pharmaceutical services.

     1. Each facility shall provide pharmaceutical services in accordance with accepted professional principles and any applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.

     2. Medication may be administered to a patient of a facility only if the medication is ordered by:

     (a) The patient’s physician;

     (b) A physician assistant; or

     (c) An advanced practice registered nurse.

     3. Any verbal or telephone order for medication must be received by a licensed nurse and countersigned by the physician of the patient for which the order was received.

     4. Any medication that is maintained by a facility at the site of the facility must be:

     (a) Placed in a container that is of sufficient size to store the medication; and

     (b) Stored in a manner which ensures that the medication is not accessible to a person who is not authorized by the facility to obtain the medication. Any refrigerator that is used to store the medication must be maintained at a temperature that is appropriate for that medication.

     5. Each facility shall maintain a supply of medications that, as determined by the medical director of the facility, is sufficient to satisfy the requirements of each patient of the facility during an emergency at the facility.

     6. Any medication that is prepared for administration to a patient of a facility must be prepared in an area of the facility that includes a work counter and a sink. The area must be located in a portion of the facility that prohibits any contamination of the medication.

     7. If any medication is prepared for a patient of a facility and the medication is not administered to the patient immediately after it is prepared, the medication must be labeled with the:

     (a) Name of the patient;

     (b) Name of the medication;

     (c) Dosage prepared;

     (d) Initials of the person who prepared the medication; and

     (e) Date on which the medication was prepared.

     8. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, any medication that is prepared for a patient of a facility must be administered by the person who prepared the medication. A dialysis technician who is qualified in accordance with the provisions of NAC 449.5705 to 449.5775, inclusive, may administer intravenous normal saline, intravenous heparin and subcutaneous lidocaine as part of a routine treatment of hemodialysis.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R130-99, eff. 8-1-2001)