Ch. 194 1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Preamble

WHEREAS, At the same time the population of the State is aging, the advent of
managed care has resulted in numerous changes in the delivery of health care in the State
that seek to reduce the cost of health care, including reductions in the length of hospital
stays; and

WHEREAS, As a result of these changes, care is being provided in a variety of
settings, including the homes of individuals, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and
long-term care facilities; and

WHEREAS, Nursing assistants play an important role in providing care in all of
these settings; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 recognized the
benefit of regulating nursing assistants who work in nursing homes by establishing
minimal educational requirements and requiring registration of nursing assistants who
work in nursing homes; and

WHEREAS, Nursing assistants who work in other settings in the State are not
currently regulated; and

WHEREAS, Because of the absence of regulation, there is not a central repository
lor the collection of complaints and investigations of alleged disciplinary problems
relating to nursing assistants; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health Occupations

SUBTITLE 6A. CERTIFICATION OF NURSING ASSISTANTS.

8-6A-01.

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(B) "APPROVED NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING PROGRAM" MEANS A
COURSE OF TRAINING THAT MEETS THE BASIC NURSING ASSISTANT CURRICULUM
PRESCRIBED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

(C) "BOARD" MEANS THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING.

(D) "CERTIFICATE" MEANS A CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE BOARD TO
PRACTICE AS A CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT IN THE STATE.

(E) "CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS
CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD TO PRACTICE AS A CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT IN
THE STATE.

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