Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND LICENSING › Chapter 246-841A - Nursing assistants › DEFINITIONS › Section 246-841A-390 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
The definitions in
					 RCW
					 18.88A.020 and in this section apply
					 throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Asynchronous" means online learning of
				  classroom or theory content that allows students to view and participate with
				  online instructional materials within a flexible, but defined time period and
				  does not include a live video lecture component.
(2) "Clinical" means students' in-facility
				  experiences providing care in accordance with the nursing assistant scope of
				  practice under the supervision of an approved instructor for the training
				  program. Students who opt to complete clinical requirements through the nursing
				  assistant-registered work pathway may be supervised by a licensed nurse as
				  described in subsection (8)(b) of this section.
(3) "Commission" means the Washington state
				  nursing care quality assurance commission.
(4) "Common curriculum" means the curriculum
				  framework provided by the commission for use by all programs. The curriculum
				  framework includes materials for nine basic units and integrates three
				  specialty trainings (developmental disabilities, mental health, and dementia)
				  as directed by the legislature. The common curriculum supports students'
				  development of a holistic, person-centered care approach.
(5) "Competency evaluation" means the
				  measurement of an individual's knowledge and skills as related to safe,
				  competent performance of one's professional role. A formal, state-required
				  competency evaluation is required for certification as a nursing assistant or
				  for a certification endorsement as a medication assistant.
(6) "Corrective action" means the necessary
				  steps a nursing assistant training program must take to address identified
				  deficiencies in or violations of program standards.
(7) "Corrective action designation" means a
				  classification added by the commission to a nursing assistant training
				  program's approval status when deficiencies in or violations of program
				  standards exist. Corrective action designations are described in WAC
				  246-841A-470 and include: Full
				  approval with plan of correction; full approval with plan of correction and
				  technical assistance; and conditional approval.
(8) "Direct patient care" means implementing
				  all aspects of the nursing process with patients through hands-on, face-to-face
				  contact by a licensed nurse. The nursing process consists of assessment,
				  diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
(9) "Direct supervision" means:
(a) For nursing assistant and medication
				  assistant students in clinical: An approved instructor is always on-site to
				  ensure appropriate care assignments, supervise, teach, and evaluate performance
				  while the students are providing care.
(b) For nursing assistant-registered
				  employees using the nursing assistant-registered work pathway for clinical
				  credit in a nursing assistant training program: A licensed nurse is always
				  on-site to supervise and evaluate competency for all tasks assigned and care to
				  be provided.
(c) For medication
				  assistants employed in a nursing home: The licensed registered nurse who
				  directs medication administration and commission-approved treatments to a
				  medication assistant is on-site, immediately accessible in person, and has
				  assessed the residents prior to performance of these duties.