Senate Bill 1133 would prohibit certified registered nurse anesthetists from performing these kinds of injections, but CRNAs would still be allowed administer injections into the lumbar region of the back, according to the report.
Supporters of the bill, who reside in mostly urban areas, say physicians are the only providers certified to handle injections in areas that could potentially cause paralysis and the bill stops nurses from encroaching into physicians’ territory, according to the report. Opponents say the bill prevents patients in rural areas from receiving the same level of care as their urban counterparts and note that no complaints against CRNAs administering these injections have been made.
The bill will now go to the state’s Senate.
West Virginia is currently debating a similar scope-of-practice legislation, which would potentially allow optometrists to perform certain laser surgeries and injections.
Read the Oklahoman’s report on the pain management bill.
