SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1964

BYHouse Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Prentice, D. Sommers, Braddock, Brooks, Gallagher, S. Wilson, Baugher, Cantwell, G. Fisher, Anderson and Winsley)

Substituting the term health care facility for nursing home in the nursing assistant's act.

House Committe on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 22, 1989; March 23, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Johnson, Kreidler, Niemi, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Scott Plack (786-7409)

                  March 23, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & CORRECTIONS, MARCH 23, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In consideration of the critical shortage of nurses in the workforce, especially among nursing assistants, the Legislature enacted in 1988 a program of registration and voluntary certification for nursing assistants.

Nursing assistants are employed principally in nursing homes.  However, nursing assistants are also employed by hospitals and other health facilities, and there is a question whether the registration and certification program applies to nursing assistants employed in these settings.

The current composition of the advisory committee for nursing assistants to the Board of Nursing and the Department of Licensing has no members representing hospitals or home health facilities.

SUMMARY:

The registration and certification program for nursing assistants is changed to include nursing assistants employed in settings 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.

The membership of the advisory committee is changed to remove the representative of the long-term care ombudsman program and to include representatives of acute care hospitals and home health care.  The nursing assistant registration law is recodified under a new chapter, Chapter 18.88A RCW.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 15, 1989

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The Board of Nursing may adopt rules to implement the Nursing Assistant Practice Act.  Language is deleted allowing the board to define the scope of practice of nursing assistants.

Senate Committee - Testified: Patty Joynes, WSNA (pro)