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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 10.27.11.05" title_num="10" subtitle_num="27" chapter_num="11" heading="Nursing Functions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The following nursing functions require nursing knowledge, judgment, and skill and may not be delegated:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The nursing assessment including, but not limited to, the admission, shift, transfer, or discharge assessment;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Development of the nursing diagnosis;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The establishment of the nursing care goal;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Development of the nursing care plan;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Evaluation of the client's progress, or lack of progress, toward goal achievement; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Any nursing task which requires nursing knowledge, judgment, and skill.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The nurse may delegate treatments of a routine nature if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The licensed nursing staff of the specific unit of care has identified the function as being routinely performed;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The specific treatments are performed at a high frequency necessary to retain competency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The treatment has an inherently low risk to the client; as determined by weighing the following factors:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Type of equipment utilized to perform the function;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Nurse staffing ratio that allows for close supervision;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Basic educational preparation of the unlicensed individual or certified nursing assistant performing the delegated function; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Knowledge and skill set of the nurse delegating and supervising the delegated function; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>There is a quality assurance mechanism in place to assure the function is performed safely and client outcomes meet accepted professional nursing standards including, but not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An ongoing formalized documented performance appraisal mechanism designed to assure that unlicensed individual or certified nursing assistant's revalidation of continued competency is a component of the quality assurance mechanism; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Client outcomes meeting accepted professional standards, as reflected by:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Infection rates;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Rates of adverse events;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Error rates; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Patient satisfaction surveys.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The nurse may delegate the obtaining of specific information to an unlicensed individual or certified nursing assistant.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>When implementing the plan of care, the nurse may delegate a nursing task to an unlicensed individual or certified nursing assistant after the nurse has completed a client assessment and when the delegation of that task does not jeopardize the client's welfare.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The nurse may delegate the responsibility to perform a nursing task to an unlicensed individual if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Acceptance of the delegated nursing task does not become a routine part of the unlicensed individual's job duties; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An unlicensed individual merely provides assistance with activities of daily living unless the client's needs are such that adverse health consequences are predictable.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Administration of medication is a nursing function. As such, the nurse retains full responsibility for medication administration.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>The following activities related to medication administration may not be delegated except as provided in §H of this regulation:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Calculation of any medication dose;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Administration of medications by injection route;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Administration of medications by way of a tube inserted in a cavity of the body; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Administration of medication by intravenous route.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Delegation of Medication Administration.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The administration of medication as listed in §H(3) of this regulation may be delegated to certified medicine aides and medication technicians only in compliance with §H(2) of this regulation and when clients meet the requirements of Regulation .03F or .04D of this chapter in the following situations:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Supervised group living settings;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Supervised or sheltered work settings;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Independent living settings;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Schools;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Correctional institutions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Hospice care;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Adult medical day care centers; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Child care centers established for children with health or medical conditions or both.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A nurse may delegate to a medication technician or certified medicine aide under this section when:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The nurse has provided instruction and direction; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The medication technician or certified medicine aide is on site in the unit of care on a continuing basis to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Monitor the therapeutic effects of the medication;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Observe, record, and report untoward effects of the medication;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Perform monitoring procedures required for each medication;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Observe for changes in the individual client's behavior and clinical status;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Record and report the changes observed to the delegating nurse; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Withhold administration of the medication.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A nurse may delegate administration of the following medications to a medication technician or a certified medicine aide according to Regulations .03F, .04C, and .05H(1) of this chapter:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Medication by metered dose inhalant, nebulizer, and oxygen by nasal cannula or mask;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Medication by gastrostomy tube or rectal tube if the nurse has calculated the dosage;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Oral medication, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Measuring as prescribed an amount of liquid medication where the nurse has calculated the dose; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Administering a fraction of a tablet if the nurse has cut the tablet;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Medication by subcutaneous injection if the nurse has calculated the dose;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Medication administered by topical route excluding stage III and IV pressure ulcers and wound care;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Medication administered by suppository route;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Medication drops administered by routes involving eye, ear, and nose; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Where the registered nurse makes an on-site visit at least every 7 days to assess the client status and the performance of the medication technician's or certified medicine aide's administration of topical medication to stage three or four pressure ulcers or wounds.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>