WAC 246-980-130. Provision for delegation of certain tasks to a home care aide

(1) A home care aide-certified may perform tasks delegated by a registered nurse for patients in community-based care settings or in-home care settings each as defined in RCW 18.79.260 (3)(e). (2) Before performing any delegated task a home care aide-certified must show the certificate of completion of the core delegation training from the department of social and health services to the registered nurse delegator. (3) A home care aide-certified who is performing nurse delegation tasks must comply with all applicable requirements of the nursing care quality assurance commission in WAC 246-840-910 through 246-840-970 . (4) A home care aide-certified, who may be performing insulin injections must show a certificate of completion of diabetic training from the department of social and health services to the registered nurse delegator. (5) A home care aide-certified must meet any additional training requirements identified by the department of social and health services. (6) For the purposes of this section, delegated nursing care tasks must be performed: (a) Only for the specific patient for whom those tasks are delegated; (b) Only with the patient's consent; and (c) In compliance with all applicable requirements in WAC 246-840-910 through 246-840-970 . (7) A home care aide-certified may consent or refuse to consent to perform a delegated nursing care task. The home care aide-certified is responsible for his or her own actions with the decision to consent or refuse to consent and the performance of the delegated nursing care task. (8) A home care aide-certified must not accept delegation of, or perform, the following nursing care tasks: (a) Administration of medication by injection, with the exception of insulin injections; (b) Sterile procedures; (c) Central line maintenance; (d) Acts that require nursing judgment. (9) A person who is working as a long-term care worker but has not received a home care aide certification must have either an active nursing assistant-certified or an active nursing assistant-registered credential issued by the department and comply with WAC 246-841-405 to perform delegated tasks.