House bill NO. 154

INTRODUCED BY P. Tuss

By Request of the Department of Labor and Industry

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO NURSING LICENSING; revising medication aide II qualifications relating to work experience; and AMENDING section 37-8-423, MCA.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 37-8-423, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-8-423. Medication aide II -- qualifications. An applicant for a license to practice as a medication aide II shall submit to the board written evidence that the applicant:

(1)        has successfully completed at least an approved 4-year high school course of study or the equivalent as determined by the office of public instruction;

(2)        holds a valid certificate from the department of public health and human services as a certified nursing assistant;

(3)        has been employed as a certified nursing assistant in a long-term care facility licensed to provide skilled nursing care, as defined in 50-5-101, for a minimum of 2 years 1,000 hours;

(4)        holds a valid certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(5)        (a) has successfully completed a training program specified by the board that includes 100 hours of education consisting of classroom instruction, laboratory skills, and supervised medication administration related to basic pharmacology and principles of safe medication administration; or

(b)        is currently licensed as a medication aide in another state with a program that is determined by the board to be reasonably equivalent to the board-specified program;

(6)        has passed a board-approved competency examination with at least 80% proficiency; and

(7)        has completed 12 6 hours of annual continuing education in pharmacology and medication administration."