2021 Tennessee Code
Part 1 - General Provisions
§ 63-7-127. Medication Aides

Failing to assist in maintaining a facility record for each patient that accurately reflects the medication administration by the medication aide or failure to maintain a record for each patient that accurately reflects the name and title of the aide providing care, or both;
Using or removing without authorization drugs, supplies, or equipment from any licensed nursing home, assisted care living facility, or Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) as defined in § 56-2-121;
Using any intoxicating beverage or illegally using any narcotic or dangerous drug while on duty in any licensed nursing home, assisted care living facility, or PACE;
Being under the influence of alcoholic beverages, or under the influence of drugs that impair judgment while on duty in any licensed nursing home, assisted care living facility, or PACE;
Impersonating another licensed or certified healthcare provider;
Having received a revocation, suspension, probation, or other discipline of a certificate to practice as a medication aide, or its equivalent, or as a certified nurse aide, by another state for any act or omission that would constitute grounds for the revocation, suspension, probation, or other discipline of a certificate in this state;
Practicing as a medication aide certified in this state on a lapsed certificate;
Aiding, abetting, or assisting an individual to violate or circumvent any law or duly promulgated rule intended to guide the conduct of any certified or licensed healthcare provider;
Exercising undue influence on a patient, including the promotion or sale of services, goods, appliances, or drugs in such a manner as to exploit the patient for financial gain of the medication aide or of a third party;
Discriminating in the rendering of services as it relates to race, age, sex, religion, national origin, or the condition of the patient;
Violating confidentiality of information or knowledge concerning the patient, except when required to do so by a court of law;
Failing to take appropriate action in safeguarding the patient from incompetent healthcare practices;
Failing to report, through proper channels, facts known to the individual regarding incompetent, unethical, or illegal practices of any healthcare provider;
Performing healthcare techniques or procedures without proper education and practice; or
Engaging in acts of dishonesty that relate to the practice of a medication aide;
Is convicted of any one (1) of the following crimes:
First degree murder, § 39-13-202;
Second degree murder, § 39-13-210;
Kidnapping, § 39-13-303;
Aggravated kidnapping, § 39-13-304;
Especially aggravated kidnapping, § 39-13-305;
Aggravated robbery, § 39-13-402;
Especially aggravated robbery, § 39-13-403;
Aggravated rape, § 39-13-502;
Rape, § 39-13-503;
Exploitation of an adult under § 39-14-111 [repealed]; or
Abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult under § 71-6-117;
Furnished or otherwise provided the board with false or incomplete information on an application for a certificate regarding the individual's criminal conviction record; or
Has violated or attempted to violate, or assisted in or abetted the violation of, or conspired to violate, this chapter, any duly promulgated rule, or any lawful order of the board issued pursuant to this chapter.
All disciplinary actions taken by the board under this section shall conform to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, part 3, and may be heard by a screening panel pursuant to § 63-7-115(c).
(1) A qualified entity seeking approval to provide a medication aide training program shall apply to the board of nursing on a form prescribed and provided by the board, along with the applicable fee established by the board.
The board shall approve the applicant described in subdivision (i)(1) if the applicant is a qualified entity, or a combination of qualified entities, and if the content of the course of instruction to be provided by the program meets the standards, specified by the board in rules promulgated under this section, and includes:
At least sixty (60) hours of instruction, consisting of forty (40) classroom hours and twenty (20) clinical hours. The standard minimum curriculum shall be determined by the board of nursing and shall include appropriate instruction to enable communication, attention to safety, knowledge of medications, and other factors as determined necessary by the board; and
A supervised clinical practice component that includes an approved medication aide training program sufficient to assure that students are prepared to administer medications as a medication aide in a safe and effective manner and that:
Consists of twenty (20) hours, including experience in tasks related to the administration of medication, and that is conducted under the direction and supervision of a licensed nurse;
Requires any licensed nursing home, assisted care living facility, or PACE participating in the training program to have a written agreement to provide licensed nurse supervision of the student; and
Requires supervision of a student engaged in medication administration by a licensed nurse.
The board may deny, suspend, or revoke the approval granted to the qualified entity of a medication aide training program for reasons specified in rules promulgated under this subsection (i). All actions taken by the board to deny, suspend, or revoke the approval of a training program shall conform to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.