Brief Description: Providing for the registration of nursing technicians.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Deccio, Thibaudeau and Winsley).

Hearing Date: 3/25/03

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

Background:

Current law allows nursing students to practice nursing without a license when it is incidental to their course of study or when they are employed as nursing aides. Under the Washington Administrative Code nursing students may register with the Department of Health as nursing technicians if they are currently enrolled in a nursing program. Nursing technicians must be supervised by a registered nurse and cannot practice independently. The supervising nurse is responsible for client safety and must be available and physically present at the health care facility. The employer of nursing technicians must verify their status as students, determine their level of education and competency, and ensure that they do not exceed their abilities when they practice.

Summary of Bill:

Nursing technicians are defined as nursing students who are employed by a hospital or nursing home and are either enrolled in a nursing program approved by the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (Commission) and have not graduated, or have graduated from a Commission-approved nursing program within 30 days.

Nursing technicians may perform nursing functions that are within their education, skill, and knowledge as demonstrated to and verified by their nursing program. They may only practice under the direct supervision of a registered nurse with an unrestricted license and two years of experience in the setting where the nursing technician works. They may not: (1) administer chemotherapy, blood or blood products, intravenous medications, scheduled drugs, or central line procedures; (2) assume responsibility for assessments, planning, implementation, or evaluation of patient care; (3) function independently or act as a supervisor; or (4) perform nursing procedures that are beyond their education and experience.

In order to practice as a nursing technician, an individual must be registered by the Department of Health (Department). In addition to providing any registration criteria established by the Department, nursing technician applicants must submit acknowledgments from their nursing program and employer. Nursing technicians are added to the Uniform Disciplinary Act and are subject to discipline by the Commission.

Employers of nursing technicians must document the authorized nursing functions that each nursing technician may perform and may not require the nursing technician to work beyond his or her education and training. Employers of nursing technicians are responsible for verifying that nursing technicians are recent graduates of a nursing program or continue to be students of a nursing program. The Department may investigate and fine employers of nursing technicians who do not comply with their obligations regarding nursing technicians.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.