HB 1218-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Provides that a nursing assistant meeting the requirements of  RCW 18.88A.210 who provides care to individuals in community-based care settings, as defined in RCW 18.79.260(3), may accept delegation of nursing care tasks by a registered nurse as provided in RCW 18.79.260(3).

     Provides that, on or before June 30, 2001, the nursing care quality assurance commission, in conjunction with the professional nursing organizations and the department of social and health services, shall make any needed revisions or additions to nurse delegation protocols by rule, including standards for nurses to obtain informed consent prior to the delegation of nursing care tasks.  Nursing task delegation protocols are not intended to regulate the settings in which delegation may occur, but are intended 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.

     Repeals RCW 18.88A.220 and 18.88A.240.