Second Regular Session Sixty-fourth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 04-0369.01 Kristen Forrestal HOUSE BILL 04-1014 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Tochtrop, SENATE SPONSORSHIP Isgar, House Committees Senate Committees Health, Environment, Welfare, & Institutions A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the regulation of medication administration by certified nurse aides. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted.) Requires a certified nurse aide to meet specific prerequisites prior to obtaining training as a medication aide to administer medications in nursing facilities. Requires that the training to become a medication aide include classroom training, skills demonstration, and clinical experience. Requires specific topics to be included in the training classes. Limits the tasks that a medication aide may perform after completing a training program. Requires the state board of nursing (board) to promulgate rules regarding medication aides. Grants authority to the board to approve medication aide training and education programs. Repeals the training, education, and functions of medication aides, effective July 1, 2009. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. Part 1 of article 38.1 of title 12, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read: 12-38.1-110.5. Medication aides - training - scope of duties - repeal. (1) Prior to a certified nurse aide obtaining training as a medication aide to administer medications in a nursing facility, the certified nurse aide shall meet the following prerequisites: (a) Possession of a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma; (b) Attainment of the age of eighteen years; (c) The ability to read and comprehend English; (d) At least two thousand hours working as a certified nurse aide in a nursing facility; and (e) Letters of recommendation from a director of nursing and two charge nurses. (2) (a) A certified nurse aide who has met the prerequisites of subsection (1) of this section may train to become a medication aide to administer medications in a nursing facility. Such training shall include one hundred forty hours of training that includes one hundred hours of classroom training, twenty hours of return skills demonstration, and twenty hours of clinical experience. (b) A training class shall include the following topics: (I) Fundamentals of the gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, skin and sensory, urinary, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive, and nervous systems and the medications affecting each system; (II) Psychotherapeutic medications; (III) Inflammation, infection, immunity, and malignant disease; (IV) Pain management; (V) Basic principles of administering medications and infection control; (VI) Documentation of medication administration; (VII) Patients' rights and ability to refuse medication; (VIII) Behavioral intervention; and (IX) Positions of patients in preparation for medication administration. (3) (a) A certified nurse aide who has completed a board-approved medication aide training program may perform the following tasks, in a nursing facility only: (I) Measurement and documentation of vital signs prior to administering medications; (II) Administration of routinely prescribed oral medications, which the medication aide has personally prepared, including the crushing and administering of medications if such preparation is appropriate according to the manufacturer's instructions and a physician's order, and excluding coumadin and its derivatives and any scheduled drugs; and (III) Documentation of any medications personally administered by the medication aide. (b) A medication aide shall report medication administration errors to his or her supervisor. (4) (a) The board shall promulgate rules regarding the supervision requirements for a medication aide, the requirements for a registered nurse to do a patient assessment prior to a medication aide administering medications, and requirements for a registered nurse to review medications to be administered by a medication aide. (b) The board has the authority to approve all training and education programs for medication aides. (5) The administration of medications by medication aides shall not alter requirements and limitations on the delegation of nursing tasks pursuant to section 12-38-132. (6) (a) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2009. (b) Prior to such repeal, the training, education, and functions of medication aides shall be reviewed as provided for in section 24-34-104, C.R.S. SECTION 2. 24-34-104 (40), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PARAGRAPH to read: 24-34-104. General assembly review of regulatory agencies and functions for termination, continuation, or reestablishment. (40) The following agencies, functions, or both, shall terminate on July 1, 2009: (j) The training, education, and functions of medication aides pursuant to section 12-38.1-110.5, C.R.S. SECTION 3. Effective date. This act shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state constitution (August 4, 2004, if adjournment sine die is on May 5, 2004); except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor.