Director of Nurses Requirements for the State of Idaho

200. NURSING SERVICES.

01. Director of Nursing Services. A registered nurse currently licensed by the state of Idaho and qualified by training and experience shall be designated Director of Nursing Services in each SNF and ICF and shall be responsible and accountable for: (1-1-88)

a. Participating with the administrator in planning and budgeting for nursing care; (1-1-88)

b. Participating in the development and implementation of patient/resident care policies; (1-1-88)

c. Developing and/or maintaining goals and objectives of nursing service, standards of nursing practice, and nursing policy and procedures manuals; (1-1-88)

d. Assisting in the screening and selection of prospective patients/residents in terms of their needs, and the services available in the facility; (1-1-88)

e. Observing and evaluating the condition of each patient/resident and developing a written, individualized patient care plan which shall be based upon an assessment of the needs of each patient/resident, and which shall be kept current through review and revision; (1-1-88)

f. Recommending to the administrator the numbers and categories of nursing and auxiliary personnel to be employed and participating in their recruitment, selection, training, supervision, evaluation, counseling, discipline, and termination when necessary. Developing written job descriptions for all nursing and auxiliary personnel; (1-1-88)

g. Planning and coordinating orientation programs for new nursing and auxiliary personnel, as well as a formal, coordinated in-service education program for all nursing personnel; (1-1-88)

h. Making daily rounds of nursing units, assessing each patient/resident, reviewing clinical records, patient/resident care plans, medications, staff assignments and, whenever possible, accompanying physicians when they visit the facility; (1-1-88)

i. Preparing daily work schedule for nursing and auxiliary personnel which includes names of employees, professional designation, hours worked, and daily patient census; (1-1-88)

j. Coordinating the nursing service with related patient/resident care services; (1-1-88)

k. Establishing procedures for general nursing care for the cleanliness, comfort, and welfare of the patients/residents; (1-1-88)

l. Instructing all personnel in the proper isolation techniques to prevent infection to themselves and the patients/residents; (1-1-88)

m. Delegation of any or all of the Director of Nursing Services duties as appropriate. (1-1-88)

02. Minimum Staffing Requirements. (7-1-93)

a. A Director of Nursing Services (D.N.S.) shall work full time on the day shift but the shift may be varied for management purposes. If the Director of Nursing Services is temporarily responsible for administration of the facility, there shall be a registered nurse (RN) assistant to direct patient care. The Director of Nursing Services is required for all facilities five (5) days per week. (1-1-88)

i. The D.N.S. in facilities with an average occupancy rate of sixty (60) patients/residents or more shall have strictly nursing administrative duties. (1-1-88)

ii. The D.N.S. in facilities with an average occupancy rate of fifty-nine (59) patients/residents or less may, in addition to administrative responsibilities, serve as the supervising nurse. (1-1-88)

d. Nursing hours per patient/resident per day shall be provided to meet the total needs of the patients/ residents. The minimum staffing shall be as follows: (1-1-88)

i. Skilled Nursing Facilities with a census of fifty-nine (59) or less patients/residents shall provide two and four-tenths (2.4) hours per patient/resident per day. Hours shall not include the Director of Nursing Services but the supervising nurse on each shift may be counted in the calculations of the two and four-tenths (2.4) hours per patient/resident per day. (11-20-89)

ii. Skilled Nursing Facilities with a census of sixty (60) or more patients/residents shall provide two and four-tenths (2.4) hours per patient/resident per day. Hours shall not include the Director of Nursing Services or supervising nurse. (11-20-89)

iii. ICFs that admit only intermediate care patients/residents shall provide one and eight-tenths (1.8) hours per patient/resident per day. Hours may include the Director of Nursing Services, supervising nurse and charge nurses. (11-20-89)