Nursing Services- Staff Ratio Requirements for the State of Georgia

(4) There shall be at least one nurse, registered, licensed undergraduate, or licensed practical on duty and in charge of all nursing activities during each eight-hour shift.

(5) There shall be sufficient nursing staff on duty at all times to provide care for each patient according to his needs. A minimum of 2.0 hours of direct nursing care per patient in a 24-hour period must be provided. For every seven (7) total nursing personnel required, there shall be not less than one registered nurse or licensed practical nurse employed. Dining assistants are to be used to supplement, not replace, existing nursing staff requirements and as such are not considered nursing staff and are not to be included in computing the required minimum hours of direct nursing care.