FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1253

                                  C 300 L 89

BYRepresentatives Prentice, G. Fisher, Wood, Rasmussen, Day, Leonard and Wineberry;by request of Department of Licensing

Changing provisions regarding nursing assistants.

House Committe on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Nursing assistants must complete at least 75 hours of training within six months of employment in a nursing home.  A 1987 federal law requires that nursing assistants complete a nursing assistant training program within four months of employment.

The Board of Nursing is required by state law to develop curriculum standards by rule and approve nursing assistant training programs.  But state law also requires at least 25 classroom hours in specified subjects and 50 hours of on-the-job clinical practice.

Although state law provides for the registration and certification of nursing assistants employed by nursing homes, it is unclear whether the law extends to those nursing assistants employed in other health care facilities.

SUMMARY:

The requirement that nursing assistants must complete a nursing assistant training program within six months of employment is changed to four months to comply with federal law.

The number of classroom hours in specified subjects and clinical training hours required by state law is repealed, and the Board of Nursing is authorized to determine these curriculum standards by rule.

The registration and certification program for nursing assistants is clarified to include nursing assistants employed in settings beyond nursing homes, such as hospitals, hospice care facilities, home health agencies or other entities where health care services are delivered.

Other housekeeping changes are made in the law.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 95   0

      Senate    46     0 (Senate amended)

      House 97   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989