PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: RCW 18.79.260 and 18.88A.210, [18.88A.]230 as amended by chapter 95, Laws of 2000 (HB 1218) in the 1999 legislative session. This bill amends the statute titled, Registered nurses -- Activities allowed and Delegation--Generally--Rules--Activities allowed. The amendment to the statutes relates to the delegation of nursing tasks to nursing assistants and requires the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to write rules to revise or add to, the nurse delegation protocols. The sections affected by the statute are WAC 246-840-910, 246-840-920, 246-840-930, 246-840-940, 246-840-950, 246-840-960, 246-840-970, 246-840-980, and 246-841-405.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.79.260, 18.88A.060, [18.88A.]210.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The statute requires that rules be written or revised regarding nurse delegation protocols. This includes the elimination of the delegated tasks list and delineation of the standards for nurses to obtain informed consent prior to the delegation of nursing care tasks. These rules will be used to ensure that nursing care services have a consistent standard of practice upon which the public and the profession may rely, and to safeguard the authority of the nurse to make independent professional decisions regarding the delegation of a task. This will allow better coordination of care for residents in community care settings and ensure that registered nurses will direct the assessment and evaluation of the resident and nursing assistant to accurately carry out the delegated plan of care.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Department of Social and Health Services will be involved in the rule-writing process through open, public workshop sessions.
Process for Developing New Rule: The nursing commission will hold open rules writing workshops to work with provider groups, licensed nurses, nursing assistants and other state agencies who regulate facilities where nurse delegation occurs. Following the workshops a public rules hearing will be held to take additional input. All persons on the interested persons mailing list will be contacted to participate in this open public process.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jeanne Vincent, Nurse Practice Manager, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 236-4725, fax (360) 236-4738.
May 11, 2000
Paula R. Meyer, RN, MSN
Executive Director