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1 - STATE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

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1A - UNIFORM CREDENTIALING FOR HEAL

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1B - SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES FOR

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2 - LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH

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2A - ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ORGANIZI

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2B - FAMILY PLANNING AND CHILD SPAC

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2C - HOME HEALTH SERVICES

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2D - CERTIFICATE OF NEED

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2E - BIRTHING CENTERS

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2F - PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OF ABORT

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2G - SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTARY FOOD PRO

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2H - PRIMARY CARE SUPPORT PROGRAM

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2I - WOMEN'S RIGHT TO KNOW ACT

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2J - PREVENTIVE CARE PILOT PROGRAM

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2K - PROGRAMS OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE

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3 - PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COMMU

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3A - REPOSITORY OF INFORMATION ON M

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3B - PERTUSSIS

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3C - AIDS-RELATED MEDICAL TESTING A

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3D - TUBERCULOSIS TESTING, CONTROL,

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4 - SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

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4A - PRENATAL EXAMINATION

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4B - AUTOPSIES ON BODIES OF DECEASE

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4C - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ACT

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4D - AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLAT

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4E - UNIFORM MATERNAL SCREENING ACT

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5 - VITAL STATISTICS

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5A - CANCER CONTROL

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5B - HOSPITALS AND SIMILAR INSTITUT

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5C - NURSING HOMES

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5D - ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES

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5E - REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION OF

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5F - HEALTH CARE FINANCIAL DISCLOSU

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5G - OPEN HOSPITAL PROCEEDINGS

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5H - CHRONIC PAIN CLINIC LICENSING

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5I - HOSPICE LICENSURE ACT

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5J - CLINICAL LABORATORIES QUALITY

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5K - EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FO

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5L - LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGR

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5M - OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTION EDUCAT

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5N - RESIDENTIAL CARE COMMUNITIES

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5P - SENIOR SERVICES

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5Q - THE JAMES TIGER MORTON CATASTR

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5R - THE ALZHEIMER'S SPECIAL CARE S

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5S - OLDER WEST VIRGINIANS ACT

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5T - CARE HOME ADVISORY BOARD

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5U - ARTHRITIS PREVENTION EDUCATION

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5V - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RET

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5W - WEST VIRGINIA OFFICIAL PRESCRI

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6 - HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS

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7 - PURE FOOD AND DRUGS

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8 - ELECTROLOGISTS

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8A - NARCOTIC DRUGS

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8B - DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT

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9 - OFFENSES GENERALLY

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9A - TOBACCO USAGE RESTRICTIONS

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9B - IMPLEMENTING TOBACCO MASTER SE

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9C - STATE TOBACCO GROWERS' SETTLEM

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9D - ENFORCEMENT OF STATUTES IMPLEM

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9E - DELIVERY SALES OF TOBACCO

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9F - COUNTERFEIT CIGARETTES

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10 - UNIFORM DETERMINATION OF DEAT

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11 - SEXUAL STERILIZATION

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12 - SANITARY DISTRICTS FOR SEWAGE

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13 - SEWAGE WORKS AND STORMWATER W

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13A - PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICTS

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13B - COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ACT

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13C - DRINKING WATER TREATMENT REV

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13D - REGIONAL WATER AND WASTEWATE

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13E - COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT ACT

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14 - BARBERS AND COSMETOLOGISTS

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15 - STATE HOUSING LAW

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16 - HOUSING COOPERATION LAW

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17 - NATIONAL DEFENSE HOUSING

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18 - SLUM CLEARANCE

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19 - ANATOMICAL GIFT ACT

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20 - AIR POLLUTION CONTROL

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21 - BLOOD DONATIONS

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22 - DETECTION AND CONTROL OF PHEN

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22A - TESTING OF NEWBORN INFANTS F

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22B - BIRTH SCORE PROGRAM

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23 - TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD; TRANSPL

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24 - STATE HEMOPHILIA PROGRAM

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25 - DETECTION OF TUBERCULOSIS, HI

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26 - WEST VIRGINIA SOLID WASTE MAN

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27 - STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF RADIO

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27A - BAN ON CONSTRUCTION OF NUCLE

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28 - ASSISTANCE TO KOREAN AND VIET

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29 - HEALTH CARE RECORDS

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29A - WEST VIRGINIA HOSPITAL FINAN

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29B - HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY

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29C - INDIGENT CARE

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29D - STATE HEALTH CARE

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29E - LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMIS

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29F - UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED P

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29G - WEST VIRGINIA HEALTH INFORMA

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29H - INTERAGENCY HEALTH COUNCIL

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29I - WEST VIRGINIA HEALTH CARE AU

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30 - WEST VIRGINIA HEALTH CARE DEC

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30A - MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

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30B - HEALTH CARE SURROGATE ACT

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30C - DO NOT RESUSCITATE ACT

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31 - COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW

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32. ASBESTOS ABATEMENT

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33 - BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER PR

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34 - LICENSURE OF RADON MITIGATORS

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35 - LEAD ABATEMENT

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36 - NEEDLESTICK INJURY PREVENTION

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37 - BODY PIERCING STUDIO BUSINESS

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38 - TATTOO STUDIO BUSINESS

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39 - PATIENT SAFETY ACT

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40 - STATEWIDE BIRTH DEFECTS INFOR

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41 - ORAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ACT

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42 - COMPREHENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEAL

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43 - ENGINE COOLANT AND ANTIFREEZE

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44 - THE PULSE OXIMETRY NEWBORN TE

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CHAPTER 16. PUBLIC HEALTH.
ARTICLE 5O. MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION BY UNLICENSED PERSONNEL.

§16-5O-1. Short title.

This article may be cited as the "Medication Administration by Unlicensed Personnel Act."

§16-5O-2. Definitions.

     As used in this article, unless a different meaning appears from the context, the following definitions apply:

     (a) "Administration of medication" means:

     (1) Assisting a person in the ingestion, application or inhalation of medications, including prescription drugs, or in the use of universal precautions or rectal or vaginal insertion of medication, according to the legibly written or printed directions of the attending physician or authorized practitioner, or as written on the prescription label; and

     (2) Making a written record of such assistance with regard to each medication administered, including the time, route and amount taken. However, for purposes of this article, "administration" does not include judgment, evaluation, assessments, injections of medication, monitoring of medication or self-administration of medications, including prescription drugs and self-injection of medication by the resident.

     (b) "Authorizing agency" means the department's office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification.

     (c) "Department" means the Department of Health and Human Resources.

     (d) "Facility" means an ICF/ID, assisted living, behavioral health group home, private residence in which health care services are provided under the supervision of a registered nurse or an adult family care home that is licensed by or approved by the department.

     (e) "Facility staff member" means an individual employed by a facility but does not include a health care professional acting within the scope of a professional license or certificate.

     (f) "Health care professional" means a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy, a podiatrist, registered nurse, practical nurse, registered nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, dentist, optometrist or respiratory care professional licensed under chapter thirty of this code.

     (g) "ICF/ID" means an intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability which is certified by the department.

     (h) "Location of medication administration" means a facility or location where the resident requires administration of medication or assistance in taking medications.

     (i) "Medication" means a drug, as defined in section one hundred one, article one, chapter sixty-a of this code, which has been prescribed by a duly authorized health care professional to be ingested through the mouth, applied to the outer skin, eye or ear, or applied through nose drops, vaginal or rectal suppositories.

     (j) "Registered professional nurse" means a person who holds a valid license pursuant to article seven, chapter thirty of this code.

     (k) "Resident" means a resident of a facility.

     (l) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources or his or her designee.

     (m) "Self-administration of medication" means the act of a resident, who is independently capable of reading and understanding the labels of drugs ordered by a physician, in opening and accessing prepackaged drug containers, accurately identifying and taking the correct dosage of the drugs as ordered by the physician, at the correct time and under the correct circumstances.

     (n) "Self-administration of medication with assistance" means assisting residents who are otherwise able to self administer their own medications except their physical disabilities prevent them from completing one or more steps in the process.

     (o) "Supervision of self-administration of medication" means a personal service which includes reminding residents to take medications, opening medication containers for residents, reading the medication label to residents, observing residents while they take medication, checking the self administered dosage against the label on the container and reassuring residents that they have obtained and are taking the dosage as prescribed. §16-5O-3. Administration of medications in facilities.

     (a) The secretary is authorized to establish and implement a program for the administration of medications in locations of medication administration where the resident requires administration of or assistance in taking medications. The program shall be developed and conducted in cooperation with the appropriate agencies, advisory bodies and boards.

     (b) Administration of medication pursuant to this article shall be performed only by:

     (1) Registered professional nurses;

     (2) Other licensed health care professionals; or

     (3) Facility staff members who have been trained and retrained every two years and who are subject to the supervision of and approval by a registered professional nurse.

     (c) Subsequent to assessing the health status of an individual resident, a registered professional nurse, in collaboration with the resident's attending physician and the facility staff member, may recommend that the facility authorize a facility staff member to administer medication if the staff member:

     (1) Has been trained pursuant to the requirements of this article;

     (2) Is considered by the registered professional nurse to be competent;

     (3) Consults with the registered professional nurse or attending physician on a regular basis; and

     (4) Is monitored or supervised by the registered professional nurse.

     (d) Nothing in this article may be construed to prohibit any facility staff member from administering medications or providing any other prudent emergency assistance to aid any person who is in acute physical distress or requires emergency assistance.

     (e) Supervision of self-administration of medication by facility staff members who are not licensed health care professionals may be permitted in certain circumstances, when the substantial purpose of the setting is other than the provision of health care. §16-5O-4. Exemption from licensure; statutory construction.

     (a) Any individual who is not otherwise authorized by law to administer medication may administer medication in locations covered by this article if he or she meets the requirements and provisions of this article. Any person who administers medication pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of chapter thirty of this code.

     (b) All licensed health care professionals as defined in this article remain subject to the provisions of their respective licensing laws.

     (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, this article shall not be construed to violate or be in conflict with any of the provisions of articles seven or seven-a, chapter thirty of this code.

     (d) Any parent or guardian may administer medication to his or her adult or minor child regardless of whether or not the parent or guardian receives compensation for caring for said child. §16-5O-5. Instruction and training.
(a) The office of health facility licensure and certification shall establish a council of nurses to represent the facilities and registered professional nurses affected by the provisions of this article. The council of nurses shall prepare a procedural manual and recommendations regarding a training course to the secretary of the department of health and human resources. The council shall meet every two years to review the training curricula, competency evaluation procedures and rules implemented by the secretary, and shall make recommendations as deemed necessary.

(b) The department shall develop and approve training curricula and competency evaluation procedures for facility staff members who administer medication pursuant to the provisions of this article. The department shall consider the recommendations of the council of nurses and shall consult with the West Virginia board of examiners for registered nurses in developing the training curricula and competency evaluation procedures.

(c) The program developed by the department shall require that any person who applies to act as a facility staff member authorized to administer medications pursuant to the provisions of this article shall:

(1) Hold a high school diploma or general education diploma;

(2) Be trained or certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid;

(3) Participate in the initial training program developed bythe department;

(4) Pass a competency evaluation developed by the department; and

(5) Subsequent to initial training and evaluation, participate in a retraining program every two years.

(d) Any facility may offer the training and competency evaluation program developed by the department to its facility staff members. The training and competency programs shall be provided by the facility through a registered professional nurse.

(e) A registered nurse who is authorized to train facility staff members to administer medications in facilities shall:

(1) Possess a current active West Virginia license in good standing to practice as a registered nurse;

(2) Have practiced as a registered professional nurse in a position or capacity requiring knowledge of medications for the immediate two years prior to being authorized to train facility staff members; and

(3) Be familiar with the nursing care needs of residents of facilities as described in this article.

§16-5O-6. Availability of records; eligibility requirements of facility staff.

(a) Any facility which authorizes unlicensed staff members to administer medications pursuant to the provisions of this article shall make available to the authorizing agency a list of the individual facility staff members authorized to administer medications.

(b) A facility may permit a facility staff member to administer medications in a single specific agency only after compliance with all of the following:

(1) The staff member has successfully completed a training program and received a satisfactory competency evaluation as required by the provisions of this article;

(2) The facility determines there is no statement on the state administered nurse aide registry indicating that the staff member has been the subject of finding of abuse or neglect of a long-term care facility resident or convicted of the misappropriation of such a resident's property;

(3) The facility staff member has had a criminal background check or if applicable, a check of the state police abuse registry, establishing that the individual has been convicted of no crimes against persons or drug related crimes;

(4) The medication to be administered is received and maintained by the facility staff member in the original container in which it was dispensed by a pharmacist or the prescribing healthcare professional; and

(5) The facility staff member has complied with all other applicable requirements of this article, the rules adopted pursuant to this article and such other criteria, including minimum competency requirements, as are specified by the authorizing agency.

§16-5O-7. Oversight of medication administration by unlicensed personnel.

(a) Each facility in which medication is administered by unlicensed personnel shall establish in policy an administrative monitoring system. The specific requirements of the administrative policy shall be established by the department through rules proposed pursuant to section eleven of this article.

(b) Monitoring of facility staff members authorized pursuant to this article shall be performed by a registered professional nurse employed or contracted by the facility.

§16-5O-8. Withdrawal of authorization.
The registered professional nurse who monitors or supervises the facility staff members authorized to administer medication pursuant to this article may withdraw authorization for a facility staff member if the nurse determines that the facility staff member is not performing medication administration in accordance with the training and written instructions. The withdrawal of the authorization shall be documented and shall be relayed to the facility and the department in order to remove the facility staff member from the list of authorized individuals.

§16-5O-9. Fees.

The department may set and collect fees necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this article pursuant to rules authorized by section eleven of this article.

§16-5O-10. Limitations on medication administration.

The following limitations apply to the administration of medication by facility staff members:

(a) Injections or any parenteral medications may not be administered;

(b) Irrigations or debriding agents used in the treatment of a skin condition or minor abrasions may not be administered;

(c) No verbal medication orders may be accepted, no new medication orders shall be transcribed and no drug dosages may be converted and calculated; and

(d) No medications ordered by the physician or a health care professional with legal prescriptive authority to be given "as needed" may be administered unless the order is written with specific parameters which preclude independent judgment.

§16-5O-11. Rules.
The department shall promulgate emergency rules pursuant to the provisions of section fifteen, article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this article. Subsequently, the department may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.