RCW 18.88A.010 Legislative declaration. (1) The legislature takes special note of the contributions made by nursing assistants in health care facilities whose tasks are arduous and whose working conditions may be contributing to the high and often critical turnover among the principal cadre of health care workers who provide for the basic needs of patients. […]
RCW 18.88A.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) “Alternative training” means a nursing assistant-certified program meeting criteria adopted by the commission under RCW 18.88A.087 to meet the requirements of a state-approved nurse aide competency evaluation program consistent with 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395i-3(e) and (f) […]
RCW 18.88A.030 Scope of practice—Nursing home employment—Voluntary certification—Rules. (1)(a) A nursing assistant may assist in the care of individuals as delegated by and under the direction and supervision of a licensed (registered) nurse or licensed practical nurse. (b) A health care facility shall not assign a nursing assistant-registered to provide care until the nursing assistant-registered […]
RCW 18.88A.040 Registration and certification. (1) No person may practice or represent himself or herself as a nursing assistant-registered by use of any title or description without being registered by the department pursuant to this chapter. (2) After October 1, 1990, no person may by use of any title or description, practice or represent himself […]
RCW 18.88A.050 Powers of secretary. In addition to any other authority provided by law, the secretary has the authority to: (1) Set all nursing assistant certification, registration, medication assistant endorsement, and renewal fees in accordance with RCW 43.70.250 and to collect and deposit all such fees in the health professions account established under RCW 43.70.320; […]
RCW 18.88A.060 Commission—Powers. In addition to any other authority provided by law, the commission may: (1) Determine minimum nursing assistant education requirements and approve training programs; (2) Approve education and training programs and examinations for medication assistants as provided in RCW 18.88A.082; (3) Define the prescriber-ordered treatments a medication assistant is authorized to perform under […]
RCW 18.88A.080 Registration requirements. (1) The secretary shall issue a registration to any applicant who pays any applicable fees and submits, on forms provided by the secretary, the applicant’s name, address, and other information as determined by the secretary, provided there are no grounds for denial of registration or issuance of a conditional registration under […]
RCW 18.88A.082 Medication assistant endorsement—Requirements. (1) Beginning July 1, 2013, the secretary shall issue a medication assistant endorsement to any nursing assistant-certified who meets the following requirements: (a) Ongoing certification as a nursing assistant-certified in good standing under this chapter; (b) Completion of a minimum number of hours of documented work experience as a nursing […]
RCW 18.88A.085 Certification of requirements. (1) After January 1, 1990, the secretary shall issue a nursing assistant certificate to any applicant who demonstrates to the secretary’s satisfaction that the following requirements have been met: (a) Successful completion of an approved training program or successful completion of alternative training meeting established criteria adopted by the commission […]
RCW 18.88A.087 Certification—Alternative training—Credentialing reciprocity—Report. (1) The commission shall adopt criteria for evaluating an applicant’s alternative training to determine the applicant’s eligibility to take the competency evaluation for nursing assistant certification. At least one option adopted by the commission must allow an applicant to take the competency evaluation if he or she: (a)(i) Is a […]
RCW 18.88A.088 Certification—Military training or experience. An applicant with military training or experience satisfies the training or experience requirements of this chapter unless the commission determines that the military training or experience is not substantially equivalent to the standards of this state. [ 2011 c 32 § 10.]
RCW 18.88A.090 Competency evaluations. (1) The commission shall examine each applicant, by a written or oral and a manual component of competency evaluation. The competency evaluation shall be limited to the purpose of determining whether the applicant possesses the minimum skill and knowledge necessary to practice competently. (2) Any applicant failing to make the required […]
RCW 18.88A.100 Waiver of examination for initial applications. The secretary shall waive the competency evaluation and certify a person to practice within the state of Washington if the commission determines that the person meets commonly accepted standards of education and experience for the nursing assistants. This section applies only to those individuals who file an […]
RCW 18.88A.110 Certificates for applicants credentialed in another state. An applicant holding a credential in another state may be certified by endorsement to practice in this state without the competency evaluation if the secretary determines that the other state’s credentialing standards are substantially equivalent to the standards in this state. [ 2010 c 169 § […]
RCW 18.88A.120 Applications for registration and certification—Fee. Applications for registration, certification, and medication assistant endorsement shall be submitted on forms provided by the secretary. The secretary may require any information and documentation that reasonably relates to the need to determine whether the applicant meets the criteria for registration, certification, and medication assistant endorsement credentialing provided […]
RCW 18.88A.130 Renewal of registration or certification. Registrations, certifications, and medication assistant endorsements shall be renewed according to administrative procedures, administrative requirements, and fees determined by the secretary under RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280. [ 2012 c 208 § 8; 1996 c 191 § 75; 1994 sp.s. c 9 § 715; 1991 c 16 § 15.] […]
RCW 18.88A.140 Exemptions. Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit or restrict: (1) The practice by an individual licensed, certified, or registered under the laws of this state and performing services within their authorized scope of practice; (2) The practice by an individual employed by the government of the United States while engaged […]
RCW 18.88A.150 Application of uniform disciplinary act. The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unregistered, uncertified, or unendorsed practice, issuance of certificates, registrations, and medication assistant endorsements, and the discipline of persons registered or with certificates under this chapter. The secretary shall be the disciplinary authority under this chapter. [ 2012 c 208 § […]
RCW 18.88A.200 Delegation of nursing care tasks—Legislative finding. The legislature recognizes that nurses have been successfully delegating nursing care tasks to family members and auxiliary staff for many years. The opportunity for a nurse to delegate to nursing assistants qualifying under RCW 18.88A.210 may enhance the viability and quality of health care services in community-based […]
RCW 18.88A.210 Delegation—Basic and specialized nurse delegation training requirements. (1) A nursing assistant meeting the requirements of this section who provides care to individuals in community-based care settings or in-home 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). (2) For […]
