Journal of Gerontological Nursing
By Pamela K. Randolph, MS, RN; Jill Scott-Cawiezell, PhD, RN, FAAN
Received: July 7, 2009; Accepted: November 5, 2009; Posted: April 22, 2010
In times of fiscal constraints, nursing homes are seeking to maximize use of licensed staff through delegation of low-risk tasks to unlicensed personnel. Between 2004 and 2008, the Arizona State Board of Nursing developed and conducted a pilot program to determine the impact on patient health and safety of licensed nurses delegating medication administration to trained certified nursing assistants. There were no differences in patterns of medication errors before and after the introduction of medication technicians, and structured interviews revealed that participants viewed the role favorably, with reported increased role satisfaction on the part of delegating nurses. Efforts are underway to extend the program statewide.
doi:10.3928/00989134-20100330-06
