PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Create a practice standard regarding "conscious sedation." A rule would include definitions, how this practice standard applies to nurses, roles and responsibilities of these advanced skills.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.79.110.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission has received numerous requests for advisory opinions regarding conscious sedation. These requests have included questions about medications; level of training and preparation necessary prior to performing the procedures and questions about ongoing quality assurance measures. The rule would include statements about the above in addition to definitions, current practice standards and expectations of the Nursing Commission.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: A series of public rules writing workshops will be held in both Eastern and Western Washington. During these meetings the Nursing Commission will discuss the issues surrounding conscious sedation and alternatives to rule writing. Based on the input from nurses, students and health care organizations, the Nursing Commission will determine whether a rule, policy or guideline is appropriate.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Terry J. West, Program Manager, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504-7864, phone (360) 236-4712, fax (360) 236-4738, e-mail tjw1303@hub.doh.gov.
March 23, 1999
Paula R. Meyer, RN, MSN
Executive Director