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Administrative Code

Virginia Administrative Code
11/21/2024

Part II. Medication Aide Training Programs

18VAC90-60-40. Establishing and maintaining a medication aide training program.

A. Establishing a medication aide training program.

1. A program provider wishing to establish a medication aide training program shall submit a completed application and pay the prescribed fee to the board at least 90 days in advance of the first expected offering of the program.

2. Initial approval may be granted when all documentation of the program's compliance with requirements as set forth in this part has been submitted and deemed satisfactory to the board.

3. If approval is denied, the applicant may request, within 30 days of the mailing of the decision, an informal conference committee to be convened in accordance with § 2.2-4019 of the Code of Virginia.

4. If the committee's recommendation is to deny approval, no further action will be required of the board unless the program requests a hearing before the board or a panel thereof in accordance with § 2.2-4020 and subdivision 11 of § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

B. Maintaining an approved medication aide training program. To maintain approval, the program shall:

1. Continue to comply with requirements as set forth in this part.

2. Document that the cumulative passing rate for the program's first-time test takers taking the competency evaluation required for registration over the past two years is not less than 80%.

3. Report all substantive changes within 10 days of the change to the board to include a change in the program instructors, curriculum or program location.

4. Cooperate with any unannounced visits to the program conducted by board representatives for the purpose of ensuring compliance with requirements for approval or in response to complaints about the program.

5. Provide documentation that each student enrolled in such program has been given a copy of applicable Virginia law and regulation for the registration and practice of medication aides.

6. Provide each student with a certificate of completion, which shall include the name of the program, the approval number provided by the board, and the signature of the instructor.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 22, eff. August 15, 2013; Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2019.

18VAC90-60-50. Requirements for instructional personnel.

A. Primary instructors in an approved program shall be licensed registered nurses, licensed practical nurses or pharmacists who, consistent with provisions of the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), are authorized to administer or dispense drugs and have at least three years of experience in such practice.

B. Licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, or pharmacists who have not had at least three years of experience in administering or dispensing drugs may be used as secondary instructors for the supervised skills practice hours of the program.

C. To be qualified as an instructor, a nurse or a pharmacist shall:

1. Hold a current, active, unrestricted license or a multistate licensure privilege; and

2. Successfully complete a course, including a postcourse examination, that is designed to prepare the instructor to teach the medication aide curriculum approved by the board for administration of medications to clients in assisted living facilities. The course shall include adult learning principles and evaluation strategies and shall be completed prior to teaching a course in a medication aide program.

D. Each instructor in an approved program shall:

1. Participate in the planning of each learning experience and be responsible for the teaching and evaluation of students;

2. Ensure that course objectives are accomplished and the curriculum content has been completed; and

3. Maintain student records as required by 18VAC90-60-70 B.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2007.

18VAC90-60-60. Requirements for the program curriculum.

A. Prerequisite for the program. A student seeking enrollment in a medication aide training program shall have successfully completed the direct care staff training required by the Department of Social Services for employment in an assisted living facility or an approved nurse aide education program.

B. Hours of instruction. An approved program shall consist of a minimum of 68 hours of student instruction and training to include:

1. At least 40 hours of classroom or didactic instruction over and above any facility orientation program or training in direct client care provided by the facility;

2. At least 20 hours of supervised skills practice in medication administration to residents of an assisted living facility, after which the training program shall evaluate the student's minimal competency in the clinical skills of administering medications on a form provided by the board. Up to 20% of the supervised skills practice may be completed by a simulation experience in a simulation laboratory. The clinical evaluation shall be conducted one-on-one with a qualified instructor with experience in medications in long-term care; and

3. An eight-hour module in facilitating client self-administration or assisting with the administration of insulin to include instruction and skills practice in the administration of insulin as specified in the board-approved curriculum.

C. Content of the curriculum. An approved program shall use the curriculum developed and provided by the board, which shall, at a minimum, include the following topics:

1. Preparing for safe administration of medications to clients in assisted living facilities;

2. Maintaining aseptic conditions;

3. Understanding of basic pharmacology;

4. Facilitating client self-administration or assisting with medication administration;

5. Following proper procedure for preparing, administering, and maintaining medications; and

6. Following appropriate procedures for documentation and reporting to the licensed health care professional on duty at the facility or to the client's prescriber.

D. In addition to the training curriculum, the program may provide one or more four-hour modules that can be used by facilities as refresher courses or by medication aides to satisfy requirements for continuing education.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 22, eff. August 15, 2013; Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2019.

18VAC90-60-70. Other program requirements.

A. Ratio. An approved training program shall maintain a ratio of no more than 10 students for one instructor for the 20 hours of supervised skills practice as required by 18VAC90-60-60 B.

B. Records.

1. Each medication aide training education program shall develop and maintain an individual record of major skills taught and the date of performance by the student. At the completion of the program, the medication aide must receive a copy of this record and a certificate of completion from the program, as specified in 18VAC90-60-40.

2. A record of the reports of graduates' performance on the approved competency evaluation program shall be maintained.

3. A record that documents the disposition of complaints against the program shall be maintained.

4. All records required by this section shall be maintained for at least five years.

C. Student identification. The medication aide students shall wear identification that clearly distinguishes them as a "medication aide student" while engaged in practical skills training under direct supervision by an instructor. Name identification shall follow the policy of the assisted living facility in which the medication aide is engaged in practical training.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2019.

18VAC90-60-75. Conditional or withdrawal of approval of a medication aide training program.

A. If the board determines that a medication aide training program is not maintaining the requirements of Part II (18VAC90-60-40 et seq.) of this chapter, the board may:

1. Place the program on conditional approval with terms and conditions to be met within the timeframe specified by the board; or

2. Withdraw program approval.

B. If the board either places a program on conditional approval with terms and conditions to be met within a timeframe specified by the board or withdraws approval, the following shall apply:

1. No further action will be required of the board unless the program requests an informal conference pursuant to §§ 2.2-4019 and 54.1-109 of the Code of Virginia.

2. If withdrawal or continued program approval with terms and conditions is recommended following the informal conference, the recommendation shall be presented to the board or a panel of the board for review and action.

3. If the recommendation of the informal conference committee is accepted by the board or a panel of the board, the decision shall be reflected in a board order, and no further action by the board is required unless the program requests a formal hearing within 30 days from entry of the order in accordance with § 2.2-4020 of the Code of Virginia.

4. If the decision of the board or a panel of the board following a formal hearing is to withdraw approval or continue on conditional approval with terms or conditions, the program shall be advised of the right to appeal the decision to the appropriate circuit court in accordance with § 2.2-4026 of the Code of Virginia and Part 2A of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2019.

18VAC90-60-80. Requirements for closing of a program.

When a medication aide training program closes, the program provider shall:

1. Notify the board of the date of closing following completion of the last program for which students are already enrolled.

2. Submit to the board a list of all persons who have completed the program with the date of completion of each.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2007.

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