A 4679

ASSEMBLY, No. 4679
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
���� Increases scope of practice for licensed practical
nurses and patient care technicians under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act expanding the scope of practice for certain staff
employed at dialysis centers and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised
Statutes.
���� Be It
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a. A dialysis facility
operating within the State may assign a licensed practical nurse to perform, in
addition to functions within the licensed practical nurse's scope of practice
as defined in section 1 of P.L.1947, c.262 (C.45:11-23), pre- and post-dialysis
focal assessments that do not require the judgement of, intervention from,
modification of care by, or referral from, a registered professional nurse. �Any
abnormality in the assessment shall be immediately reported to the registered
professional nurse.
���� b.��� (1) Notwithstanding any
law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a patient care technician may
administer saline and heparin.
���� (2)�� For the purposes of this
section, a �patient care technician� means a staff member of a dialysis center
who has obtained a national certification as a patient care technician, and has
been specifically trained and demonstrates competency to provide direct patient
care, under the direct supervision of a registered professional nurse, to
individuals receiving dialysis services.
���� 2.��� The Commissioner of
Health, pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations consistent with the
provisions of section 1 of this act.
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect 180 days from the effective date of this act.
STATEMENT
���� This bill increases the scope
of practice for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in certain circumstances.�
Under this bill, LPNs working at a dialysis center providing direct patient
care to those receiving dialysis would be allowed to conduct pre- and post-dialysis
focal assessments if the assessment does not require the judgement of,
intervention from, modification of care by, or referral from, a registered
professional nurse.� An abnormality must be immediately reported to the
registered professional nurse.
���� Additionally, under this bill,
patient care technicians (PCTs) would be allowed to administer saline and
heparin to dialysis patients.� Currently, N.J.A.C.8:43A-24.6(f)4 prohibits PCTs
from administering medications.� This bill allows PCTs to administer saline and
heparin and directs the Commissioner of Health to promulgate rules and
regulations consistent with the provisions of this bill.