Ohio committee hears opposition to reduced training, expanded duties for medication aides

Two witnesses told the Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review on Thursday they oppose proposed Ohio Board of Nursing rules that would reduce training hours for medication aides and expand the circumstances in which aides may administer drugs. The proposed rules, agency staff said, were written to implement changes made by Senate Bill 144 to the Ohio Revised Code, which sets a 30-clock-hour classroom requirement and 16 hours of supervised clinical practice for medication aide programs. The witnesses said the proposed rules conflict with existing nursing standards and federal guidance and would end safeguards for nursing home residents. Paul Dosey, a witness (no organizational affiliation provided), told the committee the proposals remove long-standing delegation and training requirements and “contradict” provisions of the Nurse Practice Act that, he said, require a nurse-led process in medication administration. “Under the…