Minnesota Administrative Rules

4664.0265 HOME HEALTH AIDE REQUIREMENTS.

Subpart 1.

Self-administration of medications; medication administration; other nursing and physical therapy procedures.

A.

A home health aide may perform assistance with self-administration of medications, medication administration, and other nursing and physical therapy procedures if delegated the activity by a registered nurse or physical therapist.

B.

"Assistance with self-administration of medications" means performing a task to enable a hospice patient to self-administer medication and includes one or more of the following:

(1)

bringing the medication to the hospice patient;

(2)

opening a container containing medications set up by a nurse, physician, or pharmacist;

(3)

emptying the contents from the container into the hospice patient's hand;

(4)

giving a medication container with contents to the hospice patient;

(5)

providing liquids or nutrition to accompany medication that a patient is self-administering; or

(6)

documenting the administration of medication or documenting the reason for not administering the medication as ordered.

C.

"Medication administration" means performing a task to ensure that a hospice patient takes a medication and includes one or more of the following:

(1)

checking the hospice patient's medication record;

(2)

preparing the medication for administration;

(3)

administering the medication to the hospice patient; or

(4)

documenting after the administration of medication or documenting the reason for not administering the medication as ordered.

D.

"Medication reminder" means providing an oral or visual reminder to a hospice patient to take medication.

E.

"Pro re nata medication" or "p.r.n. medication" means a medication that is ordered to be administered to or taken by a hospice patient as necessary. The administration of a p.r.n. medication must be reported to a registered nurse:

(1)

within a time period that is specified by a registered nurse prior to the administration; or

(2)

if no time limit is specified, no later than 24 hours after its administration.

Subp. 2.

Training.

A home health aide performing assistance with self-administration of medication, medication administration, and other nursing and physical therapy procedures must:

A.

be instructed by a registered nurse or physical therapist on specific written instructions and proper methods to perform the procedure;

B.

be instructed by a registered nurse or physical therapist on reporting information to a registered nurse or physical therapist regarding the hospice patient's refusal of the procedure, when to report to the registered nurse or physical therapist, medication side effects, and reasons why the medication was not administered or not self-administered; and

C.

demonstrate to a registered nurse or physical therapist the home health aide's ability to competently follow the procedure. The registered nurse or physical therapist shall provide patient-specific instructions as required under part 4664.0260, subpart 5.

Subp. 3.

Authorization and limitations on administering medications.

Home health aides may be delegated to perform medication administration and assistance with self-administration of medications, whether oral, suppository, eye drops, ear drops, inhalant, topical, or administered through a gastrostomy tube. A home health aide delegated assistance with self-administration of medications and medication administration under this subpart must not be delegated administration of medications by injection, whether intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously.

Subp. 4.

Fines.

For a violation of the following subparts, the stated fine shall be assessed:

A.

subpart 1, $350;

B.

subpart 2, $300; and

C.

subpart 3, $350.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144A.752

History:

28 SR 1639

Published Electronically:

October 11, 2007