{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-health-occupations-8-513","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Health Occupations § 8–513","heading":"","body":"(a) In this section, “perioperative assessment and management” means the assessment and management of a patient preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively.\n(b) (1) A nurse anesthetist may perform the following functions:\n(i) Perioperative assessment and management of patients requiring anesthesia services;\n(ii) Administration of anesthetic agents;\n(iii) Management of fluids in intravenous therapy;\n(iv) Respiratory care; and\n(v) Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, prescription, ordering, and administration of drugs, including a drug that is classified as a controlled dangerous substance under Title 5, Subtitle 4 of the Criminal Law Article.\n(2) A nurse anesthetist has the right and obligation to refuse to perform a delegated act if in the nurse anesthetist’s judgment, the act is:\n(i) Unsafe;\n(ii) An invalidly prescribed medical act; or\n(iii) Beyond the clinical skills of the nurse anesthetist.\n(3) Paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be construed to authorize a nurse anesthetist to:\n(i) Diagnose a medical condition;\n(ii) Provide care that is not consistent with the scope of practice of nurse anesthetists; or\n(iii) Provide care for which the nurse anesthetist does not have proper education and experience.\n(4) A nurse anesthetist may prescribe drugs under paragraph (1) of this subsection:\n(i) Only in an amount that does not exceed a 10–day supply;\n(ii) Only for an individual with whom the nurse anesthetist has, at the time of prescription, established a client or patient record; and\n(iii) Only in connection with the delivery of anesthesia services.\n(c) A nurse anesthetist shall collaborate with an anesthesiologist, a licensed physician, or a dentist in the following manner:\n(1) An anesthesiologist, a licensed physician, or a dentist shall be physically available to the nurse anesthetist for consultation at all times during the administration of, and recovery from, anesthesia;\n(2) An anesthesiologist shall be available for consultation to the nurse anesthetist for other aspects of the practice of nurse anesthesia; and\n(3) If an anesthesiologist is not available, a licensed physician or dentist shall be available to provide this type of consultation.\n(d) The nurse anesthetist shall ensure that a qualified anesthesia provider:\n(1) Performs a thorough and complete preanesthetic assessment;\n(2) Obtains informed consent for the planned anesthetic intervention from the patient or an individual responsible for the patient; and\n(3) Formulates a patient–specific plan for anesthesia care.\n(e) The nurse anesthetist as part of the standards of practice shall:\n(1) Implement and adjust an anesthesia care plan as needed to adapt to the patient’s response to the anesthesia;\n(2) Monitor a patient’s physiologic condition for untoward identifiable reactions and initiate appropriate corrective actions as required;\n(3) Enter prompt, complete, and accurate documentation of pertinent information on a patient’s record;\n(4) Transfer responsibility for care of a patient to other qualified providers in a manner that ensures continuity of care and patient safety;\n(5) Ensure that appropriate safety precautions are taken to minimize the risks of fire, explosion, electrical shock, and equipment malfunction;\n(6) Maintain appropriate infection control standards;\n(7) Evaluate anesthesia care to ensure its quality;\n(8) Maintain continual competence in anesthesia practice; and\n(9) Respect and maintain the basic rights of patients.\n(f) This section may not be construed to require a written collaboration agreement between a nurse anesthetist and an anesthesiologist, a physician, or a dentist.","path":["Article - Health Occupations"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gho\u0026section=8-513","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:58Z","sha256":"d83f5a4976b9aa85c88e31d08c28c3dacb65c0a74c0c5cfa111723d4f482fcf2","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-health-occupations-8-512","next":"us-md/md.-code-health-occupations-8-514"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}