NAC638.06025. Tasks requiring supervision.

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

     (a) Assisting a licensed veterinarian in surgery or in monitoring anesthesia.

     (b) Application of bandages.

     (c) Collection of a laboratory specimen for analysis of blood.

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

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

     (a) Blood administration with a preplaced catheter.

     (b) Monitoring of vital signs.

     (c) Administration of an electrocardiogram.

     (d) Introduction of food into the stomach through a preplaced tube.

     (e) Ear cleaning.

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

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

     (h) Starting and restarting of intravenous fluids through a preplaced intravenous catheter.

     (i) Taking readings of the temperature, pulse, respiration or weight of an animal.

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

     (a) Administration of oral and topical medications, including controlled substances dispensed by prescription, if the client has authorized, in a written agreement, the veterinary assistant to administer such medications as the client’s agent while the animal is retained at the veterinary facility for hospitalization or otherwise housed at the veterinary facility.

     (b) Collection of free catch urine or feces.

     (c) External anal gland expression.

     4. A veterinary assistant may perform the following tasks at the direction of a supervising veterinarian:

     (a) Administration of intramuscular, subcutaneous or intravenous injections through a preplaced catheter, except anesthetics, controlled substances or vaccinations for zoonotic diseases.

     (b) Preparation of a prescription drug, other than a controlled substance, for dispensing.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Veterinary Med. Exam’rs by R041-02, eff. 8-7-2003; A by R074-06, 6-28-2006; R075-06, 11-13-2006; R116-10, 12-30-2011, eff. 1-1-2012)