Bill Text: NJ S3019 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Increases scope of practice for licensed practical nurses and patient care technicians under certain circumstances.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-01-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S3019 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S3019-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Increases scope of practice for licensed practical nurses and patient care technicians under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
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.
