Can a nurse delegate tasks to home care caregivers in Nevada?

Yes. Nevada lets an RN delegate nursing care to trained assistive personnel in any setting, as long as the task needs no nursing judgment and the caregiver is competent and accepts it. The rules do not list specific tasks or say whether medications or insulin can be delegated. Nevada also lets a health care provider authorize a personal assistant to perform specific nursing tasks for a person with a disability at home, with no ongoing supervision required.

What conditions apply?

• An RN (or LPN) may delegate nursing care to assistive personnel if the care is within the delegator's scope, the delegatee is competent and verbally accepts, and the care involves no nursing judgment or critical decision making
• Before delegating, the nurse weighs how much direction is needed, the complexity of care, the delegatee's training and validated competence, and the agency's policies
• The delegator stays accountable for the patient and must supervise to ensure quality of care
• Separately, a provider of health care may authorize a paid personal assistant to perform specific medical, nursing or home health services for a person with a disability, if the tasks are simple, low-risk and ones the person would normally do themselves, and the person's condition is stable and predictable

Is there an exception for self-directed care?

Under NRS 629.091, a person with a disability (or their parent, guardian or responsible person) can direct a paid personal assistant to perform specific medical or nursing services that a health care provider has authorized and documented; after authorization no further supervision is required, but not in a medical facility.

What is the difference between medication reminders and administration?

Reminding a client to take their medicine, or handing them a container they open themselves, is usually treated as assistance. Giving the medicine, such as placing pills in the mouth, giving an injection or crushing tablets, is administration and generally needs a license or nurse delegation. Check your state's rule and the client's care plan.

What should you confirm with the state?

Nevada's nursing rules do not address medication delegation in homes directly; confirm with the Nevada State Board of Nursing.