Recently, there has been some confusion over the frequency of required supervision in the delegation of nursing tasks in community-based care settings.

Specifically, the requirements of:

• Supervision to occur at least every 90 days was changed to 120 days.
• Weekly supervision for the first 4 weeks of delegated insulin injections was relaxed.

The rules were amended, but in September they returned to the original requirements of:

• Supervision at least every 90 days.
• Weekly supervision for the first 4 weeks of insulin injections.

The reason for the change is that RCW 18.79.260 has these timelines in statute and can’t be altered by rule.

A bill before the legislature (SHB 1124) would change RCW 18.79.260 to give the Nursing Commission the authority to write rules on this subject but didn’t pass in the 2021 legislature. The bill is before the legislature and could still pass.

If the Nursing Commission receives any complaints on this issue, they will be assessed for all information and context, including the pressures of the pandemic and ability to meet timelines.

The Nursing Commission always considers all facts including the circumstances when opening an investigation or making disciplinary decisions.

Continued patient care and access to needed medications is the most important objective. 

The Nursing Commission is confident that nurses in Washington State have risen to the occasion and treated their patients to the best of their ability throughout this pandemic.

Questions?

Contact:

Laura Hofmann, MSN, RN – Director of Clinical and Nursing Facility Regulatory Services
c: 425-231-4804