Recently, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (“LSBN”) posted an update on regulatory guidance as it relates to IV hydration therapies.

Recently, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (“LSBN”) posted an update on regulatory guidance as it relates to IV hydration therapies. LSBN stated that it considers “mixing or otherwise preparing IV solutions in non-emergency circumstances as a prohibited act for all its licensees due to the current state and federal laws and rules relative to compounding.” They further state “Compounding IV therapies or adding a medication, vitamin, or other substance or additives to IV solutions is allowed…when performed by registered practitioners of pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine. RNs and APRNs in Louisiana, are prohibited from compounding…in non-emergent circumstances…[even if delegated by an authorized practitioner…].”

This is a huge blow to the IV hydration community in Louisiana as it restricts the scope of practice for RNs and APRNs in Louisiana. As the LSBN states themselves, this is in response to an increased number of inquiries regarding the APRNs authority to compound.

What does this mean for an industry as a whole? It mean the industry is getting regulated, rather than creating the regulation themselves. Nurses in Louisiana just got slapped down by their authority and other states could follow suit. While every state operates independently, many states will follow trends so as not to be the first. With the increase in demand for compounded IV solutions across the Country, more and more state boards will be pressed on this issue, which in many cases is not addressed. That means, the state boards could very well take a conservative approach here and limit scope of practice.