Colorado Code § 12-255-131

Delegation of nursing or midwifery tasks - rules
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(1) Any licensed
practical nurse, registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, or certified midwife may
delegate any task included in the nurse's or certified midwife's licensed scope of practice, subject
to the requirements of this section. A licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, advanced
practice registered nurse, or certified midwife may delegate nursing or certified midwife tasks to
licensed, certified, registered, or unlicensed or unregulated assistive personnel. In no event may a
registered nurse or certified midwife delegate to another person the authority to select
medications if the person is not, independent of the delegation, authorized by law to select
medications.
(2) Delegated tasks must be within the area of responsibility of the delegating nurse or
certified midwife and must not require any delegatee to exercise the judgment required of a
nurse or certified midwife.
(3) No delegation shall be made without the delegating nurse or certified midwife
making a determination that, in the licensee's professional judgment, the delegated task can be
properly and safely performed by the delegatee and that the delegation is commensurate with the
patient's safety and welfare.
(4) The delegating nurse or certified midwife is solely responsible for determining the
required degree of supervision the delegatee will need, after an evaluation of the appropriate
factors, which include but are not limited to the following:
(a) The stability of the condition of the patient;
(b) The training and ability of the delegatee;
(c) The nature of the nursing or certified midwife task being delegated; and
(d) Whether the delegated task has a predictable outcome.
(5) An employer of a nurse or certified midwife may establish policies, procedures,
protocols, or standards of care that limit or prohibit delegations by nurses or certified midwives
in specified circumstances.
(6) The board may promulgate rules pursuant to this section, including but not limited to
standards on the assessment of the proficiency of the delegatee to perform delegated tasks, and
standards for accountability of any nurse or certified midwife who delegates nursing or certified
midwife tasks. The rules shall be consistent with the provisions of part 3 of article 1.5 of title 25,
section 25.5-10-204 (2)(j), and section 27-10.5-103 (2)(i).

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