Can a licensed practical nurse perform an arterial blood draw for an arterial blood gas (ABG)?

The nursing laws and rules allow the competent and appropriately trained licensed practical nurse to obtain an arterial blood gas directly from an artery or through an arterial line under the direction of an authorized health care practitioner or under the direction and supervision of a RN. This procedure requires a prescription from an authorized health care practitioner. The nurse should use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if these activities are within the nurse's legal and individual scope of practice.