The health care environment, particularly home health care is forever changing due to patients being sent home form hospitals sooner then before and with many different tubes, catheters and health care demands. The Registered Nurses role working in a home health company has also changed to more of a teaching role which is prevalent in Medicare and Private Pay companies. The Board of Nurses Examiners (BNE) has allowed certain tasks to be delegated by an RN or Qualified Trainer to an unlicensed person. BNE as set out guidelines for RNs to follow provided that the clients condition is stable and predicable in order to delegate certain tasks. In addition, the caregiver must be able to perform the task with supervision by the RN or Qualified Trainer. Tasks that are commonly delegated include glucose monitoring and insulin administration, breathing inhalation treatments, Care of Gastronomy Tubes, topical and sublingual medications and suppositories.

If you or someone you know will need delegated services, you should contact an agency that as a License in Home Community support Services and id actively involved in this type of service. You should make sure that there is nursing supervision involved. The client or clients responsible party should also be involved with the care if possible.

Source: Life Made Easy (published 2006 in Austin Senior Guide)