FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1530

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 267 L 88

BYHouse Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Brooks, Braddock, Brough, Cantwell, Sprenkle, Spanel, Wineberry, Day and Miller)

Certifying and registering nursing assistants.

House Committe on Health Care

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Nursing assistants are health care workers employed in nursing homes who work under the direction and supervision of licensed nurses.  Within six months of employment, nursing assistants are required to complete a training program approved by the State Board of Nursing.  The minimum curriculum consists of 25 classroom hours and 50 hours of supervised on-the-job clinical practice.

Nursing assistants are not included under the Uniform Disciplinary Act for the health professions.

The turnover of nursing assistants in nursing homes statewide, as high as 300 percent, and the growing shortage of nurses generally, especially in long-term care, are critical policy concerns.

SUMMARY:

Noting the critical shortage and high turnover of nursing assistants in nursing homes, the Legislature declares that nursing assistants should have a formal system of educational and experiential qualifications leading to career mobility and advancement within the nursing profession.

Nursing assistants are required to register with the Department of Licensing in order to practice and use the title "nursing assistant-registered."  After January 1, 1990 nursing assistants meeting higher academic qualifications, as determined by the State Board of Nursing, in consultation with the State Board of Practical Nursing may become certified and may use the title "nursing assistant- certified."  The State Board of Nursing may define by rule the scope of practice of certified nursing assistants.

Exemptions from registration include other practitioners credentialed by the state, employees of the federal government and regularly enrolled students.

The director of licensing has authority to register and certify applicants, set fees, act as the disciplinary authority under the Uniform Disciplinary Act governing the discipline of those registered or certified, keep official records of all proceedings, and appoint an advisory committee to the department and the State Board of Nursing.

The State Board of Nursing has authority to determine minimum educational requirements and approve registration programs, administer certification examinations and determine applicants' eligibility for examinations for certification, issue certificates by endorsement for out-of- state applicants, and adopt rules for continuing competency.

The director must issue a registration to applicants who submit their identity, address and other background information.  After January 1, 1990 the director must issue a certificate to any person who has completed a board-approved educational program, an exam and any board-approved experience requirements.  The board must establish by rule the standards for approving and revoking approval of educational programs, which must apply equally to foreign jurisdictions.  The board is required to examine each applicant for minimum skills to practice competently.  Applicants may take the examination up to three times.

The director may waive the examination for applicants who apply within one year of the effective date and who possess commonly accepted standards of education and experience.  The director may certify applicants from other states without examination if the applicant is credentialed in the other state under standards substantially equivalent to Washington's standards.

The director must establish by rule procedural requirements for registration and certification renewal.

The State Board of Nursing is required to report to the Legislature by January 1, 1989 with proposed standards and procedures for educational programs and alternative training for nursing assistants seeking certification.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 91   0

      Senate    46     0(Senate amended)

      House 96   0(House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988

            January 1, 1990 (Sections 4 and 10)

Partial Veto Summary:  Vetoed are provisions that give authority to the State Board of Nursing to determine which states have credentialing requirements equivalent to those in Washington, as well as authority to determine what constitutes adequate proof of meeting criteria for certification.  These vetoes are technical in nature as other provisions in the act give identical authority to the Department of Licensing.  (See VETO MESSAGE)