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AED
At its April 12-13, 2000 meeting, the Board determined that it is not appropriate to instruct certified nursing assistants in the use of the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). The Board stated that a certified nursing assistant should contact a nurse or a physician immediately to assess any situation that would necessitate life support interventions.
At its February 14-15, 2001 meeting, the Board revisited the issue based on changes in national standards and determined that certified nursing assistants may receive instruction in the use of the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) according to the organization/facility's established policies and procedures.
Dulcolax
The Board determined at its April, 1992 meeting that a CNA may administer a Dulcolax suppository to a patient on a long standing bowel program.
CNA-M in Congregate Facility
An advisory ruling was requested regarding the appropriateness of CNA-Ms administering daily medications to clients in a congregate care facility which is physically attached to a nursing home.
The Board determined that a CNA-M may be used in other than a nursing home, under the following circumstances:
- The site is physically attached to the nursing home and permits immediate access to a licensed nurse at all times.
- A licensed nurse must be on site in the complex at all times.
April 5-6, 1995
CNA-M in Other Sites Physically Attached
At its December 13, 1995 meeting, the Board determined that a certified nursing assistant-medications (CNA-M) may be utilized in other than a nursing home if the site is physically attached to a nursing home and permits immediate access, at all times, to an on-site licensed nurse.
CNA-M - Nebulizers
At its August 2-3, 2000 meeting, the Board determined that nebulizer treatments will not be included in the Certified Nursing Assistant-Medication (CNA-M) curriculum.
Preparation H
At its February 7-8, 1996 meeting, the Board determined that a home health aide may not insert " Preparation H " suppositories.
Reporting Pain
At its June 4-5, 2003 meeting, the Board stated that a certified nursing assistant (CNA), using a subjective scale, may ask a patient a pain number/level and report it to a registered professional nurse (RN). The RN is responsible for the patient assessment. CNAs may document data on a CNA documentation tool. Institutional policy must be clear about the differentiation between the RN assessment and the collection of data as a task by a CNA for the purpose of reporting to a RN. CNA documentation does not equal a nursing assessment.
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