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2002 SESSION

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SB 161 Requirements for nursing home licensure.

Introduced by: Leslie L. Byrne | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Requirements for nursing home licensure. Establishes, as a condition of licensure, staffing standards for all nursing homes as follows: (i) each nursing home must have a full-time director of nursing who must be a professional registered nurse; (ii) each nursing home must have designated nursing supervisors on duty at all times who must be professional registered nurses; (iii) each nursing home with 100 beds or more must employ a full-time assistant director of nursing who must be a professional registered nurse; (iv) each nursing home with fewer than 100 beds must employ a part-time professional registered nurse as assistant director of nursing; (v) each nursing home with 100 beds or more must employ a full-time director of in-service education; and (vi) each nursing home with fewer than 100 beds must employ a part-time director of in-service education. In addition, each nursing home must maintain a minimum staffing ratio of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses to residents of at least one to 15 during the day shift, at least one to 20 during the evening shift, and at least one to 30 during the night shift. A nursing home must maintain a minimum staffing ratio of certified nurse aides to residents of at least one to five during the day shift, at least one to five during the evening shift, and at least one to 10 during the night shift. Further, in order to meet the individual needs of residents with extensive nursing care requirements or higher acuity levels, each nursing home must decrease the established caregiver to resident ratios. On a form provided by the Board, each nursing home must post, in a manner easily visible and readily accessible to residents, families, caregivers, and others on each wing and floor of its facility, the actual staffing ratios, according to the most recently completed cost reporting period, grouped by categories of employees and shifts and a list, in at least 48-point type, of the names of the nursing staff on duty at the beginning of each shift on each such wing or floor. This information must be expressed in actual numbers and as staffing ratios, and must include the actual numbers of additional staff employed to meet the additional needs of residents with extensive nursing care requirements or higher acuity levels. The Commissioner of Health is required to ensure that the nursing home staffing requirements are enforced and, in the case of any violations, the Commissioner may evoke various penalties and remedies.


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