RN Delegation to Unlicensed Staff
Sets out whether the Agency provides health-related tasks that need a registered nurse, what an attendant does if asked to perform a nursing task, and, where the Agency does provide such tasks, how the registered nurse assesses the client, decides whether the task may be delegated, teaches and checks the attendant, and supervises the task under the Texas Board of Nursing rules.
About this policy
- Policy number
- TX-CL-03
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- 26 TAC §558.298
- Library
- Texas home care · 46 policies
- Category
- Clinical tasks
- Sections
- 23
In short
- Do only the tasks on the client’s service plan. Never do a nursing task you were not trained and checked on.
- If asked to do a task not on the plan, politely say no. You will not get in trouble for it.
- Call the office right away about any such request, and write it on your visit record. In an emergency, call 911 first.
- A task a nurse teaches you is for that one client only. Do not do it for anyone else.
- If the client seems different, or you feel unsure, stop the task and call the nurse or the office.
What's inside
23 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (26 TAC §558.298)
- 5. What Staff Do If Asked to Perform a Task Outside the Agency’s Scope
- 6. Which Tasks Need a Nurse’s Decision
- 7. Which Board of Nursing Rules Apply
- 8. Delegation Procedure (Where the Agency Provides Delegated Tasks)
- 9. Additional Requirements for Specific Tasks
- 9.1 Health maintenance activities the client directs
- 9.2 Medication from a pill reminder container
- 9.3 Insulin and other injectable diabetes medications
- 9.4 Gastrostomy tube feeding and medication (26 TAC §558.404(h))
- 10. Teaching and Checking the Attendant
- 11. Supervision (26 TAC §558.404(g))
- 12. Responsibilities
- 12.1 Staff Training
- 13. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 14. References
- 15. Related Policies and Forms
- 16. Approval
- 17. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Do your attendants perform any health-related task beyond personal care, such as giving medication, insulin, or a tube feeding? Show me the registered nurse’s decision for each one.
- Who is the delegating registered nurse, and how can the attendant reach the nurse while performing the task?
See Cura Core with your agency's name on it.
Choose your state and type of agency, buy your Policy Pack online and get your sign-in by email. Already a customer? Sign in to your portal.