The Registered Nurse's Role in The Care of Patients Receiving Intravenous Moderate Sedation for Medical and/or Surgical Procedures
(7-20-2007)

• The scope of practice for Registered Nurses (RNs) may include administration and monitoring of sedating medications for purposes of providing procedural moderate sedation provided that specified knowledge, training, and supervision guidelines are met.
• The registered nurse, who has acquired the necessary knowledge and competency, may administer an anesthetic agent for the purpose of moderate sedation in the presence of an authorized provider.
• The registered nurse may administer other sedating medications, those that are not classified as anesthetic agents, taking into consideration the patient's safety, the effects of the medication, and other clinical support factors.
• A registered nurse who is not a CRNA should not:
  • Administer medications to induce deep sedation and/or anesthesia;
  • Independently select the medication or dosage to be administered during a procedure.

Read the State of Ohio Board of Nursing Guideline  

Ohio Revised Code Title 37, Chapter 37:  Ambulatory surgical facilities.
(10-2009)

• Anesthesia is administered in the facility by an anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist, and the facility functions separately from a hospital's inpatient surgical service and from the offices of private physicians, podiatrists, and dentists.
• Anesthesia in this context is defined as total or partial loss of sensation, tactile sensibility, or protective reflexes, with or without the loss of consciousness.

Read ORC 3702.30 

Chapter 4731-25 Office Based Surgery: Standards for surgery using moderate sedation/analgesia. (10-2009)

Moderate sedation/analgesia may be administered in the office setting by only the following:

• A physician who holds privileges to provide moderate sedation/analgesia from a local hospital with appropriate accreditation/licensing;
• A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) who is acting under the supervision of and in the immediate presence of a physician or podiatric physician;
• A registered nurse who is acting under the supervision and in the immediate presence of a physician or podiatric physician, provided that such registered nurse shall only administer specifically prescribed doses of drugs selected by the physician or podiatric physician who shall be continuously present in the anesthetizing location during the administration of those drugs.

Read OAC 4731-25-03