WSR 16-11-087
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission)
[Filed May 17, 2016, 12:13 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-840-010, 246-841-400 through 246-841-595 and 246-842-100 through 246-842-210, may need to be revised to eliminate duplication and update nursing assistant program requirements.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.79.110, 18.88A.060, 18.79.260.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Nursing care quality assurance commission (NCQAC) will consider updating nursing assistant rules to reflect the most current standards and practice. The scope of practice for nursing assistants varies depending on the work setting. NCQAC would like to eliminate confusion about nursing assistant scope of practice in non-community based care settings. NCQAC will standardize, as allowed by law, the scope of practice for nursing assistants. The nursing assistant education rules may need to be updated and clarified. Chapters 246-841 and 246-842 WAC are similar, therefore NCQAC is considering consolidating them.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department of social and health services will be involved as a stakeholder.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Carole Reynolds, Washington State Nursing Commission, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504-7864, phone (360) 236-4785, fax (360) 236-4738, Carole.Reynolds@doh.wa.gov. The NCQAC will notify stakeholders of the rule making by posting the information on the department of health web site and sending notification on the NCQAC listserv. NCQAC will hold stakeholder meetings across the state while developing rules. NCQAC will hold a webinar during each stakeholder meeting to increase access.
May 17, 2016
Paula R. Meyer MSN, RN, FRE
Executive Director, NCQAC