Fla. Stat. § 400.488 — Florida Code / Title XXIX / Chapter 400 / Part III / Section 400.488
400.488 Assistance with self-administration of medication and with other tasks.
Status: in_force

(1) For purposes of this section, the term: (a) “Informed consent” means advising the patient, or the patient’s surrogate, guardian, or attorney in fact, that the patient may be receiving assistance with self-administration of medication or other tasks from an unlicensed person. (b) “Unlicensed person” means an individual not currently licensed to practice nursing or medicine who is employed by or under contract to a home health agency and who has received training with respect to assisting with the self-administration of medication or other tasks as provided by agency rule.

(2) Patients who are capable of self-administering their own medications and performing other tasks without assistance shall be encouraged and allowed to do so. However, an unlicensed person may, consistent with a dispensed prescription’s label or the package directions of an over-the-counter medication, assist a patient whose condition is medically stable with the self-administration of routine, regularly scheduled medications that are intended to be self-administered. An unlicensed person may also provide assistance with other tasks specified in subsection (6). Assistance with self-administration of medication or such other tasks by an unlicensed person may occur only upon a documented request by, and the written informed consent of, a patient or the patient’s surrogate, guardian, or attorney in fact. For purposes of this section, self-administered medications include both legend and over-the-counter oral dosage forms, topical dosage forms, transdermal patches, and topical ophthalmic, otic, and nasal dosage forms, including solutions, suspensions, sprays, inhalers, and nebulizer treatments.

(3) Assistance with self-administration of medication includes: (a) Taking the medication, in its previously dispensed, properly labeled container, from where it is stored and bringing it to the patient. For purposes of this paragraph, an insulin syringe that is prefilled with the proper dosage by a pharmacist and an insulin pen that is prefilled by the manufacturer are considered medications in previously dispensed, properly labeled containers. (b) In the presence of the patient, confirming that the medication is intended for that patient, orally advising the patient of the medication name and purpose, opening the container, removing a prescribed amount of medication from the container, and closing the container. (c) Placing an oral dosage in the patient’s hand or placing the dosage in another container and helping the patient by lifting the container to his or her mouth. (d) Applying topical medications. (e) Returning the medication container to proper storage. (f) Keeping a record of when a patient receives assistance with self-administration under this section. (g) Assisting with the use of a nebulizer, including removing the cap of a nebulizer, opening the unit dose of nebulizer solutions, and pouring the prescribed premeasured dose of medication into the dispensing cup of the nebulizer.

(4) Assistance with self-administration of medication does not include: (a) Mixing, compounding, converting, or calculating medication doses, except for measuring a prescribed amount of liquid medication or breaking a scored tablet or crushing a tablet as prescribed. (b) The preparation of syringes for injection or the administration of medications by any injectable route. (c) Administration of medications by way of a tube inserted in a cavity of the body. (d) Administration of parenteral preparations. (e) The use of irrigations or debriding agents used in the treatment of a skin condition. (f) Assisting with rectal, urethral, or vaginal preparations. (g) Assisting with medications ordered by the physician or health care professional with prescriptive authority to be given “as needed,” unless the order is written with specific parameters that preclude independent judgment on the part of the unlicensed person, and at the request of a competent patient. (h) Medications for which the time of administration, the amount, the strength of dosage, the method of administration, or the reason for administration requires judgment or discretion on the part of the unlicensed person.

(5) Assistance with the self-administration of medication by an unlicensed person as described in this section does not constitute administration as defined in s. 465.003.

(6) Assistance with other tasks includes: (a) Assisting with the use of a glucometer to perform blood-glucose level checks. (b) Assisting with putting on and taking off antiembolism stockings. (c) Assisting with applying and removing an oxygen cannula but not with titrating the prescribed oxygen settings. (d) Assisting with the use of a continuous positive airway pressure device but not with titrating the prescribed setting of the device. (e) Assisting with measuring vital signs. (f) Assisting with colostomy bags.

(7) The agency may by rule establish procedures and interpret terms as necessary to administer this section.

History: s. 7, ch. 99-332; s. 6, ch. 2020-9; s. 1, ch. 2022-48.