Florida lawmakers continued moving forward Tuesday with a proposal allowing trained certified nursing assistants to give medications to nursing-home residents.
The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the Senate version of the bill (SB 558), which sponsor Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, said would help free up nurses to provide higher-level care to nursing-home residents.
Committee Chairwoman Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, said the designation of “qualified medication aides” would also lead to certified nursing assistants receiving training to help them become nurses.
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After being trained, the certified nursing assistants could provide what Burton called “routine” medications to residents.
The House Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee last week approved the House version of the bill (HB 351).
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