PERMANENT RULES
(Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission)
Date of Adoption: July 13, 2000.
Purpose: WAC 246-840-830, amend rule to extend authority to certify the cause of death to all advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) categories (not just "certified nurse midwife as defined in WAC 246-840-300").
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-840-830 Determination and pronouncement of death.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 70.58.170 and 70.58.180.
Other Authority: Chapter 133, Laws of 2000.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-11-166 on May 24, 2000.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
July 14, 2000
Frank T. Maziarski, CRNA, MS
Chairman, Nursing Commission
OTS-3957.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 97-13-100, filed 6/18/97,
effective 7/19/97)
WAC 246-840-830
Determination and pronouncement of death by
a licensed registered nurse.
A registered nurse may determine
and pronounce death, but shall not certify death as defined in
RCW 70.58.160 unless the registered nurse is ((an)) a licensed
ARNP((-certified nurse midwife)) as defined in WAC 246-840-300.
(1) A registered nurse may assume responsibility for the determination and pronouncement of death only if there are written policies and procedures relating to the determination and pronouncement of death in the organization with which the registered nurse is associated as an employee or by contract, provided:
(a) The decedent was under the care of a health care practitioner qualified to certify cause of death; and
(b) The decedent was a patient of the organization with which the registered nurse is associated; and
(c) There is a "do not resuscitate order" in the patient's record when the decedent was assisted by mechanical life support systems at the time of determination and pronouncement of death.
(2) A registered nurse who assumes responsibility for the determination and pronouncement of death shall be knowledgeable of the laws and regulations regarding death and human remains which affect the registered nurse's practice of this responsibility.
(3) A registered nurse who assumes responsibility for the determination and pronouncement of death shall:
(a) Perform a physical assessment of the patient's condition;
(b) Insure that family and physician and other caregivers are notified of the death; and
(c) Document the findings of the assessment and notification in all appropriate records.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.79 RCW. 97-13-100, § 246-840-830, filed 6/18/97, effective 7/19/97.]