# Title 105 — Respiratory Care, North Dakota State Board of

## Article 105-05 — Practice of Polysomnography

## Chapter 105-05-01 — Polysomnography Practice

### § 105-05-01-01. Display of license.

Every person licensed under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-42 to practice as a registered
polysomnographic technologist shall maintain such license or certificate in the office, department,
business, or place in which the person practices, where, upon request, it is available to the public.
History: Effective January 1, 2006.
General Authority: NDCC 43-42-03
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-42-03(4), 43-42-04.1
### § 105-05-01-02. Scope of practice.

1. Polysomnographic technologists may only perform sleep diagnostics and analysis of data
working in conjunction with physicians to provide comprehensive clinical evaluations that are
required for the diagnosis of sleep disorders. By applying monitoring equipment, the
technologist simultaneously monitors EEG (electroencephalography), EOG
(electrooculography), EMG (electromyography), ECG (electrocardiography), multiple breathing
variables, and blood oxygen levels during sleep. Interpretive knowledge is required to provide
sufficient monitoring diligence to recording parameters and the clinical events observed during
sleep. Technologists provide supportive services related to the ongoing treatment of
sleep-related problems. The professional realm of this support includes guidance on the use
of devices for the treatment of breathing problems during sleeping and helping individuals
develop sleeping habits that promote good sleep hygiene.
2. Polysomnographic technologists shall:
a. Follow procedural protocols such as multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), maintenance of
wakefulness test (MWT), parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration, etc. to ensure
collection of appropriate data.
b. Follow lights-out procedures, including physiological and instrument calibrations and
instructing the patient on completing questionnaires, to establish and document baseline
values such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.
c. Perform polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to
ensure signals are artifact free and make adjustments, if necessary.
d. Document routine observations, including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in
procedure and significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of
polysomnographic results.

e. Implement appropriate interventions, including actions necessary for patient safety and
therapeutic intervention such as continuous and bilevel positive airway pressure, oxygen
administration, etc.
f. Follow lights-on procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data
collection process (repeats the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the
patient on completing questionnaires, etc.).
g. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide age-specific
care in the treatment, assessment, and education of neonatal, pediatric, adolescent,
adult, and geriatric patients.
h. Oversee and perform difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions as
related to sleep medicine.
3. A licensed and qualified member of another health care profession is not prohibited from
performing any of the duties of a registered polysomnographic technologist that are consistent
with accepted standards of that person's profession, providing the person is not represented
as a registered polysomnographic technologist.
History: Effective January 1, 2006.
General Authority: NDCC 43-42-03
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-42-03(4), 43-42-04.1
### § 105-05-01-03. Clinical work experience.

1. A person enrolled in a bona fide polysomnographic training program is not prohibited from
performing those duties essential for completion of a student's clinical service; provided, that
the duties are performed under the direct supervision or direction of a licensed health care
professional trained in sleep medicine or the procedure. The supervisor or director is
responsible to the board for the actions of the trainee.
2. A trainee is an individual who has completed a minimum of one year of postsecondary
education in a health-related field, or its equivalent as approved by the board, and works
under the direct supervision of a licensed health care professional trained in sleep medicine. A
student or trainee must be identified as such.
3. Individuals on the credentialing track are exempt from the requirement to have the RPSGT
credential for a period not to exceed thirty-six months starting from the first day of training,
provided they are practicing with appropriate levels of supervision, in accordance with the
published job descriptions sanctioned by the AAST, BRPT, AASM, and ASET, or substantially
similar written standards developed by the training program.
History: Effective January 1, 2006; amended effective July 1, 2018.
General Authority: NDCC 43-42-03
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-42-03(4), 43-42-04.1
