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H 288

NURSES – Adds to existing law to provide for nurses to delegate tasks to non-nurses under certain conditions.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

Idaho H 288 allows licensed nurses to delegate certain non-judgmental tasks to trained, certified non-nurses under supervision, with formal national certifications required.

Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
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Bill Summary · H 288

Summary of Idaho House Bill No. 288 (H 288)

Overview

  • Subject: Nursing; delegation of tasks by nurses to non-nurses
  • Purpose: Establish a formal framework allowing licensed nurses to delegate certain tasks to non-nurses under appropriate supervision, clarifying what tasks may be delegated and the qualifications required for non-nurses to perform them.
  • Status: Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
  • Introduced: February 20, 2025
  • Effective Date: July 1, 2025 (emergency clause declared)
  • Fiscal Impact: No state or local revenue or expenditure impact anticipated

What the bill would do

  • New statute added: Creates Idaho Code § 54-1421 (54-1421) to regulate delegation by nurses.
  • Delegation authority: A nurse who has appropriate education, training, and experience and is licensed under Chapter 14 may delegate to a non-nurse tasks that do not involve the exercise of independent medical judgment.
  • Nurse supervision: The nurse responsible for the delegation must provide proper supervision and be satisfied that the non-nurse is qualified and adequately trained.
  • Definition of delegable tasks: “Tasks that do not involve the exercise of independent medical judgment” are duties the individual has received formal training to perform and who is certified to perform them by a national organization acceptable to the board.
  • Certification requirement: Non-nurses must be certified to perform these tasks by a national organization approved by the Idaho Board of Nursing.

Who is affected

  • Licensed nurses in Idaho (nurses practicing under Idaho’s nursing act) who may delegate certain duties.
  • Non-nurses (e.g., medical assistants or other staff) who perform delegated tasks, provided they have formal training and certification from an acceptable national organization.
  • Healthcare facilities and clinics employing nurses and non-nurses, which may implement delegated task arrangements under the new framework.

Key provisions and limits

  • Delegation is limited to tasks that do not involve independent medical judgment.
  • Delegation requires ongoing supervision by the licensed nurse.
  • Non-nurses must have formal training and national certification acceptable to the board.
  • The act does not authorize independent practice by non-nurses; it expands delegation within supervised, trained boundaries.

Procedural and timeline details

  • Introduction and first reading: February 20, 2025
  • Printing/Referral: February 20, 2025 (referred to Joint Rules Administrative for printing)
  • Committee action: February 21, 2025 (reported printed and referred to Health & Welfare)
  • Effective date: July 1, 2025 (due to emergency clause)

Fiscal and policy implications

  • The accompanying Fiscal Note states no net revenue impact or expenditure change for state or local governments.
  • Policy aim aligns with increasing workforce flexibility and efficiency while prioritizing patient safety through supervision and standardized training/certification.

Bottom line

H 288 would codify a nurse-led delegation framework in Idaho, permitting licensed nurses to supervise non-nurses performing defined, non–independent-judgment tasks that are formally trained and certifiable by an approved national organization. The bill emphasizes supervision, qualifications, and standardized certification, with an effective date of July 1, 2025, and no anticipated fiscal impact.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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