Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024
5.1 Respiratory care practitioners may administer pharmacological agents, aerosols, or medical gases via the respiratory route. Administration of medication by routes other than the respiratory route require the direct supervision of a physician.
5.2 A respiratory care practitioner shall not deliver any medication unless the order, written or oral by a physician or other person authorized by the Board of Medical Practice, to prescribe that class of medication includes:
5.2.1 Patient identification
5.2.2 Date of the order
5.2.3 Time of the order
5.2.4 Name of medication
5.2.5 Dosage
5.2.6 Frequency of administration
5.2.7 Route of administration
5.2.8 Method of administration
No respiratory care practitioner holding a permit or a license in the state of Delaware may administer medications for the testing or treatment of cardiopulmonary impairment for which the respiratory care provider is untrained or incompetent.
5.3 Respiratory care practitioners must be able to document appropriate training and proficiency on the route of medication delivery, drug pharmacology, and dosage calculations for any cardiopulmonary medications for which they are responsible to administer. Appropriate training includes but is not limited to the following components:
5.3.1 Pharmacology. Subject matter shall include terminology, drug standards, applicable laws and legal aspects, identification of drugs by name and classification, and the principles of pharmacodynamics of medications used in the treatment and testing of cardiopulmonary impairment.
5.3.2 Techniques of drug administration. Subject matter shall include principles of asepsis, safety and accuracy in drug administration, applicable anatomy and physiology, and techniques of administration and any route of administration for cardiopulmonary medications that fall within the legal scope of practice of a respiratory care practitioner.
5.3.3 Dosage calculations. Subject matter shall include a review of arithmetic and methods of calculation required in the administration of drug dosages.
5.3.4 Clinical experience. Subject matter shall include clinical experience in administration of the cardiopulmonary medication(s), planned under the direction of a qualified respiratory care practitioner or other qualified health care provider responsible for teaching cardiopulmonary medication administration.
5.3.5 Role of the respiratory care practitioner in administration of cardio-pulmonary medications. Subject matter shall include constraints of medication administration under the legal scope of practice for respiratory care practitioners, the rationale for specific respiratory care in relation to drug administration; observations and actions associated with desired drug effects, side effects and toxic effects; communication between respiratory care practitioners and other health care teams; respiratory care practitioner - client interactions; and the documentation of cardiopulmonary medication administration.
5.4 Each respiratory care practitioner shall maintain a record that documents training and proficiency and medications that each practitioner is authorized to administer. At the request of the Council such records may be audited, reviewed, or copied.
5.5 Documentation of medication administration by the respiratory care practitioner shall include at a minimum:
5.5.1 Patient identification
5.5.2 Date of the order
5.5.3 Time of the order
5.5.4 Name of medication
5.5.5 Dosage
5.5.6 Frequency of administration
5.5.7 Route of administration
5.5.8 Method of administration
5.5.9 Respiratory care practitioner's name
5.5.10 Date and time of administration
5.5.11 Documentation of effectiveness
5.5.12 Documentation of adverse reactions and notifications if any
