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

Not confirmed. This research did not find a Tennessee Board of Nursing rule on delegating nursing tasks to home care aides. Tennessee's certified medication aides can give medications only in nursing homes, assisted care living facilities and PACE programs, and never by injection. Whether home care aides can give or help with medications at home was not confirmed from primary sources.

What conditions apply?

• Tennessee's certified medication aide program (T.C.A. 63-7-127) applies only to nursing homes, assisted care living facilities and PACE programs, not private homes
• Even in those settings, medication aides may not give injections (including subcutaneous), tube medications or IV medications
• No Board of Nursing rule setting out delegation of nursing tasks to unlicensed home care aides was found

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?

Confirm with the Tennessee Board of Nursing and the Department of Health what home care aides may do with medications.