NAC640A.270. Delegation of duties to occupational therapy aide or technician; limitations.

     1. A person may assist a licensed occupational therapist as an occupational therapy aide or technician. Such an occupational therapy aide or technician is not required to be licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 640A of NRS or possess the professional or advanced training in basic anatomical, biological, psychological or social sciences which are required for the practice of occupational therapy.

     2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, a licensed occupational therapist may delegate duties to an occupational therapy aide or technician if he or she determines, before delegating a duty, that the aide or technician possesses the necessary knowledge, competence, training and skills to perform the duty. The duties which may be delegated to an occupational therapy aide or technician include, but are not limited to, the:

     (a) Routine maintenance of a department;

     (b) Transportation of a patient;

     (c) Preparation of a work area for a therapy session with a patient;

     (d) Preparation of treatment equipment for a therapy session with a patient;

     (e) Attendance to the personal needs of a patient during treatment;

     (f) Assistance in the construction of adaptive equipment and splints;

     (g) Performance of clerical, secretarial and administrative duties; and

     (h) Monitoring a patient for safety purposes while the patient is performing an activity, including, without limitation, the practice of repetitive skills.

     3. A licensed occupational therapist may not delegate a duty to an occupational therapy aide or technician if the duty requires the aide or technician to make independent evaluations, assessments or recommendations. The duties which may not be delegated to an aide or technician include, but are not limited to, the:

     (a) Interpretation of the record of a patient referred to an occupational therapist;

     (b) Interpretation of prescriptions for a patient;

     (c) Development, planning, adjustment or modification of procedures for the treatment of a patient;

     (d) Recordation of the treatment or progress of a patient;

     (e) Duties described in subsection 3 of NAC 640A.265; and

     (f) Performance of any duty which requires the aide or technician to act independently or without the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist during a therapy session with a patient.

     4. An occupational therapist who delegates a duty to an aide or technician:

     (a) Shall directly supervise the aide or technician in accordance with the provisions of NAC 640A.275;

     (b) Is professionally responsible for the duty performed by the aide or technician; and

     (c) Shall note in the record of a patient any duties performed by the aide or technician.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Occupational Therapy, eff. 12-23-92; A 5-23-96; R179-01, 9-20-2002; R210-07, 9-18-2008)