SB 671

Under current administrative rules promulgated by the Department of Health

Services with respect to employment of nurse aides, a student enrolled in an

approved nurse aide training program who has completed 16 hours of classroom

training in certain required topics may be employed by a health care provider as a

nurse aide if the student is a full-time permanent employee. This bill requires that,

subject to any necessary federal approval, DHS allow a hospital, nursing home,

intermediate care facility for persons with an intellectual disability, home health

agency, or hospice to employ or contract for the services of students enrolled in an

approved nurse aide program as a nurse aide, if the individual is employed part-time

as a nurse's assistant, home health aide, or hospice aide fewer than 120 days, and

has a preceptor. As for students under current law, a student allowed to be employed

or contracted as a nurse aide under the bill may perform only services for which he

or she has received training and has been found proficient by an instructor under the

instructional program. In addition, as under current law, a hospital, nursing home,

home health agency, hospice, or intermediate care facility for persons with an

intellectual disability employing or contracting a student under the provisions of the

bill may not include that individual in meeting or complying with a requirement for

nursing care staff and functions, including a minimum nursing staff requirement.

The bill requires that an individual employed or contracted as a nurse aide must pass

a Wisconsin-approved nurse aide competency evaluation examination within 120

calendar days of the start of the individual's part-time employment as a nurse aide

or may not continue to be employed or contracted as a nurse aide.

The bill requires DHS to request, as soon as possible after the effective date of

the bill, any necessary federal approval required to implement the provisions of the

bill. If approval is granted or if no federal approval is required, DHS must implement

the provisions of the bill. If federal approval is necessary but not granted, DHS may

not implement the bill.