ALL-in-One IV Therapy & Blood Draw Kit

1. Medical Assistants

Link: https://mbc.ca.gov/Licensing/Physicians-and-Surgeons/Practice-Information/Medical-Assistants.aspx

Summary: Medical assistants are unlicensed, and may only perform basic administrative, clerical and technical supportive services as permitted by law. An unlicensed person may not diagnose or treat or perform any task that is invasive or requires assessment. The responsibility for the appropriate use of unlicensed persons in health care delivery rests with the physician.. Medical assistants who have completed the minimum training prescribed by regulation may draw blood.

In summary, medical assistants are not licensed, and it is not legal to use them to replace highly trained, licensed professionals. The medical assistant is present to assist and perform basic supportive services in the physician’s office.

Those duties must be appropriate with the medical assistant’s required training.

2. Phlebotomists

Link: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OSPHLD/LFS/Pages/Phlebotomist.aspx

Summary: There are three levels of phlebotomy certification, each with a different scope of practice. For information about each level please click on the certificate type in the list below:

• Limited Phlebotomy Technician (LPT) – Authorized to do skin puncture blood collection only.
• Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I) – Authorized to do skin puncture and venipuncture blood collection. There are different requirements for applicants with no phlebotomy experience, applicants with less than 1040 hours of on-the-job phlebotomy experience, and applicants with 1040 or more hours of on-the-job phlebotomy experience in the last 5 years.
• Certified Phlebotomy Technician II (CPT II) – Authorized to do skin puncture, venipuncture, and arterial puncture blood collection.

3. Surgical Assistant

Link: http://www.nbcopa.org/uploads/3/4/9/4/34943214/sa_-practice_by_state.pdf

**California law, both statutory and decisional, provides no definition of our scope of practice for a surgical first assistant.

4. Physician Assistant

Link:  https://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/pac_brochure.shtml

Summary: A PA performs many of the same diagnostic, preventative, and health maintenance services as a physician. These services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Taking health histories.
• Performing physical examinations.
• Ordering X-rays and laboratory tests.
• Ordering respiratory, occupational, or physical therapy treatments.
• Performing routine diagnostic tests.
• Making diagnoses.
• Treating and managing patient health problems.
• Administering immunizations and injections.
• Instructing and counseling patients.
• Providing continuing care to patients in the home, hospital, or in an extended care facility.
• Providing referrals within the health care system.
• Performing minor surgery.
• Providing preventative health care services.
• Acting as first or second assistants during surgery.
• Responding to life-threatening emergencies.
• Ordering medications that are authorized by a physician.

5. Naturopathic Practitioner

Link: https://naturopathic.ca.gov/applicants/admin_iv_licensees.shtml

Summary: Per Business and Professions Code section 3640.8, expressly permits the administration of intravenous (IV) Therapies by licensed naturopathic doctors practicing in California. A licensed psychiatric technician can only be certified in blood withdrawal (not intravenous therapy). A PT must be certified by the Board to perform blood withdrawal.

6. LVN

Link:https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=2860.5.

Summary: An LVN may administer medications by hypodermic injection. May withdraw blood from a patient showing competency under the physician or surgeon’s instruction. An LVN is allowed to start and superimpose intravenous fluid when is certified, completing a prescribed course of instruction and performed in an organized healthcare system.

7. RN

Link: https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-b-03.pdf

Summary: The practice of nursing within the meaning of this chapter means those functions, including basic health care, that help people cope with difficulties in daily living that are associated with their actual or potential health or illness problems or the treatment thereof, and that require a substantial amount of scientific knowledge or technical skill. In this article, it was also stated that practicing nurses includes performance of skin tests, immunization techniques, and the withdrawal of human blood from veins and arteries.