This bill expands the scope of practice for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and patient care technicians (PCTs) in dialysis facilities in New Jersey. Specifically, it allows LPNs to perform pre- and post-dialysis focal assessments, provided these assessments do not require the judgment, intervention, modification of care, or referral from a registered professional nurse. Any abnormalities identified during these assessments must be reported immediately to a registered professional nurse.

Additionally, the bill permits PCTs, who are certified and trained to provide direct patient care under the supervision of a registered professional nurse, to administer saline and heparin to dialysis patients. This change modifies the current regulation that prohibits PCTs from administering medications. The bill also mandates that the Commissioner of Health adopt rules and regulations to align with these new provisions, and it will take effect 180 days after its enactment.