(a) Any registered nurse licensed under the provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 2700) of Division 2 may perform arterial puncture, venipuncture, or skin puncture for the purposes of withdrawing blood or for test purposes upon authorization from any licensed physician and surgeon or any licensed dentist.
(b) Any licensed vocational nurse licensed under the provisions of Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 2840) of Division 2 may perform arterial puncture, venipuncture, or skin puncture for the purposes of withdrawing blood or for test purposes upon authorization from any licensed physician and surgeon, or any licensed dentist if prior thereto the licensed vocational nurse has been instructed by a physician and surgeon and has demonstrated competence to the physician and surgeon in the proper procedure to be employed when withdrawing blood, or has satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of instruction approved by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians or has demonstrated competence to the satisfaction of that board.
(c) Any respiratory care practitioner certified under the provisions of Chapter 8.3 (commencing with Section 3700) of Division 2 may perform arterial puncture, venipuncture, or skin puncture for the purposes of withdrawing blood or for test purposes upon authorization from any licensed physician and surgeon.
(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 759, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 1998.)