NAC638.053. Licensed veterinary technician: Prohibited tasks; tasks requiring immediate, direct or indirect supervision.

     1. A licensed veterinary technician may not perform the following tasks of animal health care:

     (a) Surgery.

     (b) Diagnosis and prognosis of animal diseases.

     (c) Except as authorized by a veterinarian, administer, prepare to dispense or dispense drugs, medicines or appliances.

     (d) Any other activity which represents the practice of veterinary medicine or which requires the knowledge, skill and training of a licensed veterinarian.

     2. A licensed veterinary technician may perform the following tasks under the immediate supervision of a supervising veterinarian:

     (a) Application of casts or splints for the immobilization of fractures.

     (b) Removal of:

          (1) Teeth that have extreme mobility and stage 4 periodontal disease; and

          (2) Retained deciduous teeth other than retained deciduous canine teeth.

     (c) Assisting a licensed veterinarian in surgery.

     (d) Euthanasia.

     (e) Fluid aspiration from a body cavity.

     (f) Suturing an existing surgical skin incision or gingival incision.

     3. A licensed veterinary technician may perform the following tasks under the immediate or direct supervision of a supervising veterinarian:

     (a) Induction of anesthesia.

     (b) Endotracheal intubation.

     (c) Blood administration.

     (d) Internal anal gland expression.

     (e) Application of casts and splints.

     (f) Tasks listed in subsection 4, if the animal is anesthetized.

     (g) External noninvasive ultrasonography and ultrasonography for the purpose described in paragraph (h).

     (h) Cystocentesis to obtain a urine specimen, performed with or without the aid of ultrasonography.

     (i) Dental prophylaxis.

     (j) Physical therapy.

     4. A licensed veterinary technician may perform the following tasks under the immediate, direct or indirect supervision of a supervising veterinarian:

     (a) Administration of enemas.

     (b) Administration of an electrocardiogram.

     (c) Application of bandages.

     (d) Catheterization of an unobstructed bladder.

     (e) Introduction of a stomach tube.

     (f) Ear flushing with pressure or suction.

     (g) Positioning of animals for radiographs or other diagnostic images.

     (h) Operation of radiographic or other diagnostic imaging machines.

     (i) Administration of oral and rectal radio-opaque materials.

     (j) Administration of oral and topical medications, including controlled substances.

     (k) Starting and restarting of intravenous fluids.

     (l) Collection of a laboratory specimen for analysis, including, but not limited to, blood, urine, skin, parasites and microorganisms.

     (m) Collection of tissue during or after a postmortem examination by a licensed veterinarian.

     (n) Administration of intramuscular, subcutaneous or intravenous injections.

     (o) Placement of an intravenous catheter.

     (p) Implantation of a subcutaneous identification microchip into the animal.

     (q) Monitoring of vital signs.

     (r) External anal gland expression.

     (s) Collection of skin scrapings.

Ê No examination within the previous 12 hours is required for the collection of laboratory specimens.

     5. As used in this section, “other diagnostic image” has the meaning ascribed to it in NAC 638.0475.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Veterinary Med. Exam’rs, eff. 3-19-86; A 7-7-94; 11-26-96; R069-01, 10-12-2001; R041-02, 8-7-2003; R130-04, 1-26-2005; R074-06, 6-28-2006; R075-06, 11-13-2006; R088-07, 4-17-2008; R072-09, 4-20-2010; R116-10, 12-30-2011, eff. 1-1-2012)