Section 1337.3 Of Article 9. Training Programs In Skilled Nursing And Intermediate Care Facilities From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 9.
1337.3
. (a) The department shall prepare and maintain a list of
approved training programs for nurse assistant certification. The
list shall include training programs conducted by skilled nursing or
intermediate care facilities, as well as local agencies and education
programs. In addition, the list shall include information on whether
a training center is currently training nurse assistants, their
competency test pass rates, and the number of nurse assistants they
have trained. Clinical portions of the training programs may be
obtained as on-the-job training, supervised by a qualified director
of staff development or licensed nurse.
(b) It shall be the duty of the department to inspect a
representative sample of training programs. The department shall
protect consumers and students in any training program against fraud,
misrepresentation, or other practices that may result in improper or
excessive payment of funds paid for training programs. In evaluating
a training center's training program, the department shall examine
each training center's trainees' competency test passage rate, and
require each program to maintain an average 60 percent test score
passage rate to maintain its participation in the program. The
average test score passage rate shall be calculated over a two-year
period. If the department determines that a training program is not
complying with regulations or is not meeting the competency passage
rate requirements, notice thereof in writing shall be immediately
given to the program. If the program has not been brought into
compliance within a reasonable time, the program may be removed from
the approved list and notice thereof in writing given to it. Programs
removed under this article shall be afforded an opportunity to
request reinstatement of program approval at any time. The department'
s district offices shall inspect facility-based centers as part of
their annual survey.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1337.1, the approved training program
shall consist of at least the following:
(1) A 16-hour orientation program to be given to newly employed
nurse assistants prior to providing direct patient care, and
consistent with federal training requirements for facilities
participating in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
(2) (A) A certification training program consisting of at least 60
classroom hours of training on basic nursing skills, patient safety
and rights, the social and psychological problems of patients, and
elder abuse recognition and reporting pursuant to subdivision (e) of
Section 1337.1. The 60 classroom hours of training may be conducted
within a skilled nursing facility, an intermediate care facility, or
an educational institution.
(B) In addition to the 60 classroom hours of training required
under subparagraph (A), the certification program shall also consist
of 100 hours of supervised and on-the-job training clinical practice.
The 100 hours may consist of normal employment as a nurse assistant
under the supervision of either the director of staff development or
a licensed nurse qualified to provide nurse assistant training who
has no other assigned duties while providing the training.
(3) At least two hours of the 60 hours of classroom training and
at least four hours of the 100 hours of the supervised clinical
training shall address the special needs of persons with
developmental and mental disorders, including intellectual
disability, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, dementia,
Parkinson's disease, and mental illness.
(d) The department, in consultation with the State Department of
Education and other appropriate organizations, shall develop criteria
for approving training programs, that includes program content for
orientation, training, inservice and the examination for testing
knowledge and skills related to basic patient care services and shall
develop a plan that identifies and encourages career ladder
opportunities for certified nurse assistants. This group shall also
recommend, and the department shall adopt, regulation changes
necessary to provide for patient care when facilities utilize
noncertified nurse assistants who are performing direct patient care.
The requirements of this subdivision shall be established by January
1, 1989.
(e) On or before January 1, 2004, the department, in consultation
with the State Department of Education, the American Red Cross, and
other appropriate organizations, shall do the following:
(1) Review the current examination for approved training programs
for certified nurse assistants to ensure the accurate assessment of
whether a nurse assistant has obtained the required knowledge and
skills related to basic patient care services.
(2) Develop a plan that identifies and encourages career ladder
opportunities for certified nurse assistants, including the
application of on-the-job postcertification hours to educational
credits.
(f) A skilled nursing or intermediate care facility shall
determine the number of specific clinical hours within each module
identified by the department required to meet the requirements of
subdivision (d), subject to subdivisions (b) and (c). The facility
shall consider the specific hours recommended by the state department
when adopting the certification training program required by this
chapter.
(g) This article shall not apply to a program conducted by any
church or denomination for the purpose of training the adherents of
the church or denomination in the care of the sick in accordance with
its religious tenets.
(h) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall
provide to the department a standard process for approval of college
credit. The department shall make this information available to all
training programs in the state.