20 ILCS 1705/15.4 — Illinois Code / Chapter 20 / Act 1705 / Section 15.4
Section 15.4
Status: in_force

(20 ILCS 1705/15.4) Sec. 15.4. Authorization for nursing delegation to permit direct care staff to administer medications. (a) This Section applies to (i) all residential programs for persons with a developmental disability in settings of 16 persons or fewer that are funded or licensed by the Department of Human Services and that distribute or administer medications, (ii) all intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities with 16 beds or fewer that are licensed by the Department of Public Health, and (iii) all day programs certified to serve persons with developmental disabilities by the Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services shall develop a training program for authorized direct care staff to administer medications under the supervision and monitoring of a registered professional nurse. The training program for authorized direct care staff shall include educational and oversight components for staff who work in day programs that are similar to those for staff who work in residential programs. This training program shall be developed in consultation with professional associations representing (i) physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, (ii) registered professional nurses, and (iii) pharmacists. (b) For the purposes of this Section: "Authorized direct care staff" means non-licensed persons who have successfully completed a medication administration training program approved by the Department of Human Services and conducted by a nurse-trainer. This authorization is specific to an individual receiving service in a specific agency and does not transfer to another agency. "Medications" means oral, injectable, auto-injectable, and topical medications, insulin, oxygen, and vaginal and rectal creams and suppositories. "Oral" includes inhalants and medications administered through enteral tubes, utilizing aseptic technique. "Topical" includes eye, ear, and nasal medications. Any controlled substances must be packaged specifically for an identified individual. "Insulin in an injectable or auto-injectable form" means a subcutaneous injection, auto-injection, or other technology including, but not limited to: (i) an insulin pump; (ii) an insulin pod; (iii) an insulin pen pre-filled by the manufacturer; and (iv) a syringe. "GLP-1 receptor agonists in an injectable or auto-injectable form" means medication used for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and obesity. Authorized direct care staff may administer insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonists via auto-injection or an insulin pen pre-filled by the manufacturer as delegated by the registered nurse and as ordered by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, if: (i) the staff has successfully completed a Department-approved advanced training program specific to insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonist administration developed in consultation with professional associations listed in subsection (a) of this Section, and (ii) the staff consults with the registered nurse, prior to administration, of any insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonist dose that is determined based on a blood glucose test result. The authorized direct care staff shall not: (i) calculate the insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonist dosage needed when the dose is dependent upon a blood glucose test result, or (ii) administer insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonists to individuals who require blood glucose monitoring greater than 3 times daily, without consultation with and unless directed to do so by the registered nurse. An individual may self-administer insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonists in any form if the individual is deemed independent by the nurse-trainer through the use of the Department's required standardized screening and assessment instruments. "Nurse-trainer training program" means a standardized, competency-based medication administration train-the-trainer program provided by the Department of Human Services and conducted by a Department of Human Services master nurse-trainer for the purpose of training nurse-trainers to train persons employed or under contract to provide direct care or treatment to individuals receiving services to administer medications and provide self-administration of medication training to individuals under the supervision and monitoring of the nurse-trainer. The program incorporates adult learning styles, teaching strategies, classroom management, and a curriculum overview, including the ethical and legal aspects of supervising those administering medications. "Self-administration of medications" means an individual administers his or her own medications or a portion of his or her own medications. To be considered capable to self-administer their own medication, individuals must, at a minimum, be able to identify their medication by size, shape, or color, know when they should take the medication, and know the amount of medication to be taken each time. The use of assistive or enabling technologies can be used to demonstrate a person's capability to administer his or her own medications. "Training program" means a standardized medication administration training program approved by the Department of Human Services and conducted by a registered professional nurse for the purpose of training persons employed or under contract to provide direct care or treatment to individuals receiving services to administer medications and provide self-administration of medication training to individuals under the delegation and supervision of a nurse-trainer. The program incorporates adult learning styles, teaching strategies, classroom management, curriculum overview, including ethical-legal aspects, and standardized competency-based evaluations on administration of medications and self-administration of medication training programs. (c) Training and authorization of non-licensed direct care staff by nurse-trainers must meet the requirements of this subsection. (1) Prior to training non-licensed direct care staff to administer medication, the