Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 6, March 26, 2024
A.
General: No agency licensed
pursuant to these regulations may employ an individual as a home health aide on
a full-time, part-time, temporary, per diem, or other basis unless:
(1) that individual is competent to provide
services as a home health aide;
(2)
that individual has completed a training program or a competency evaluation
program as outlined in Subsections C or E of 7.28.2.30 NMAC of these
regulations.
B.
Source of training: Any agency licensed pursuant to these
regulations may provide training under the following conditions:
(1) The agency must submit, in writing, its
intent to conduct home health aide training and the training curriculum to the
licensing authority. Approval of the curriculum must be obtained from the
licensing authority prior to instituting training.
(2) Agencies electing not to provide formal
training must identify the method by which they will establish the competency
of home health aides and document that each is determined competent.
(3) The licensing authority may deny a home
health agency the right to conduct home health aide training or competency
evaluation, for a specified period of time, not to exceed two years, if the
licensing authority finds the agency in substantial non-compliance with these
regulations.
C.
Course requirements: Home health aides: The home health aide
training program must address each of the subject areas listed below through
classroom and supervised practical training totaling at least 75 hours, with at
least 16 hours devoted to supervised practical training. "Supervised practical
training" means training in a laboratory or other setting in which the trainee
demonstrates knowledge while performing tasks on an individual under the direct
supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
(1) the individual being trained must
complete at least 16 hours of classroom training before beginning the
supervised practical training;
(2)
communications skills;
(3)
observation, reporting and documentation of patient status and the care or
service furnished;
(4) reading and
recording of vital signs;
(5) basic
infection control procedures;
(6)
basic elements of body functioning and changes in body function that must be
reported to an aide's supervisor;
(7) maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy
environment;
(8) recognizing
emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures (including CPR and first
aid);
(9) the physical, emotional
and developmental needs of and ways to work with the populations served by the
home health agency, including the need for respect for the patient, his or her
privacy and his or her property;
(10) appropriate and safe techniques in
personal hygiene and grooming that include, but are not limited to, bathing,
shampooing, nail and skin care, oral hygiene and toileting;
(11) safe transfer techniques and
ambulation;
(12) normal range of
motion and positioning;
(13)
nutrition and hydration;
(14)
patient/client rights, including respect for cultural diversity;
(15) any other task that the home health
agency may choose to have the home health aide perform.
D.
Instructor personnel:
(1) The training of home health aides must be
performed by, or under the supervision of, a registered nurse who possesses a
minimum of two years of nursing experience, at least one year of which must be
in the provision of home health services.
(2) Other pertinent personnel from the health
professions may also be utilized as supplemental instructors.
E.
Documentation of training
or competency evaluation:
(1) All
agencies which provide home health aide training courses or competency
evaluations must document such training or competency evaluation for each
individual taking the training or competency evaluation. Competency evaluation
includes both a written test and a skills demonstration. Skills demonstration
must be observed and documented by a registered nurse or licensed practical
nurse.
(2) Documentation must
include at least the following information:
(a) Training:
(i) name of individual taking
training;
(ii) title, purpose and
objectives of class;
(iii) name of
instructor and qualifications;
(iv)
number of hours of instruction;
(v)
date instruction was given.
(b) Competency:
(i) name of individual being evaluated for
competency;
(ii) date and method
used to determine competency.
F.
Annual in-service training:
Each home health aide must participate in at least 12 documented hours of
in-service training during each 12 month period. This requirement may be
fulfilled on a prorated basis during the home health aide's first year of
employment at the home health agency.
G.
Annual performance review: A
performance review, including written evaluation and skills demonstration must
be completed on each home health aide no less frequently than every 12
months.