New Laws & Rules

Summary of New & Updated Rules effective September 8, 2025

• Chapter 20:48:03, a new section, number :18, was added to allow the board’s executive director to authorize the issuance of an order of emergency suspension to prevent the continued practice of a licensed nurse who constitutes an imminent threat to the public’s welfare; and a similar new rule was added in Chapter 20:48:16, Section :07 for registered personnel. The full board will take final action to suspend the license.
• Chapter 20:48:04.01, the chapter on the “Delegation of Nursing Tasks”, section :07 was amended and three new sections were added, numbered :20, :21 and :22, the new rules allow a registered nurse to delegate tracheostomy care and suctioning to a nursing assistant under certain circumstances, allowing a person with a tracheostomy to remain in their shared living home. These rules were added at the request of the Developmental Disabilities Division. Before delegating the tasks, the nurse must provide specific education and training to the nurse aide on the client’s tracheostomy and provide supervision of the aide. 
• Rules were also added for the delegation and regulation of Certified Nurse Aides. The Board and the Department of Health have co-regulated CNAs for many years and the new rules move the regulation of CNAs solely under the Board. The new and amended rules, in chapters 20:48:16 and 20:48:18, include nurse aide training program standards for approval, competency evaluation program requirements for the CNA knowledge exam and skills evaluation, registration requirements, and grounds for the discipline or removal from the registry. The Board intends to transition into the new rules over the next months to ensure no interruption in the training and registration of CNAs. 
  • Memo on Rules Implementation & Changes
  • Curriculum Requirements & Guide
  • Sample Curriculum Schedules 
• Title for Medication Aides was changed from "Unlicensed Medication Aide" or "UMA" to now be "Registered Medication Aide" or "RMA".