Can a licensed practical nurse perform therapeutic phlebotomy?

The nursing laws and rules allow the competent and appropriately trained licensed practical nurse to perform therapeutic phlebotomy for conditions, such as polycythemia vera, under the direction of an authorized health care practitioner or under the direction and supervision of a RN. These procedures require 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.