Nursing Services- Staff Ratio Requirements for the State of Maine

9.A.3. Licensed Staff Coverage

a. There shall be a Registered Professional Nurse on duty for at least eight (8) consecutive hours each day of the week.

b. Licensed nurse coverage shall be provided according to the needs of the residents as determined by their levels of care. The following minimum coverage shall be met:

1. Day Shift

a. In each facility there shall be a licensed nurse on duty seven (7) days a week.

b. Each facility must designate a Registered Professional Nurse or a Licensed Practical Nurse as the charge nurse. In facilities with twenty (20) beds or less, the Director of Nursing may also be the charge nurse.

c. In facilities larger than twenty (20) beds, in addition to the Director of Nursing, there shall also be another licensed nurse on duty.

d. An additional licensed nurse shall be added for each fifty (50) beds above fifty (50).

e. In facilities of one hundred (100) beds and over, the additional licensed nurse shall be a Registered Professional Nurse for each multiple of one hundred (100) beds.

2. Evening Shift

a. There shall be a licensed nurse on duty eight (8) hours each evening.

b. An additional licensed nurse shall be added for each seventy (70) beds.

c. In facilities of one hundred (100) beds and over, one of the additional licensed nurses shall be a Registered Professional Nurse.

3. Night Shift

a. There shall be a licensed nurse on duty eight (8) hours each night.

b. An additional licensed nurse shall be added for each one hundred (100) beds.

c. In facilities of one hundred (100) beds and over there shall be a Registered Professional Nurse on duty.

d. Registered Professional Nurse on Call

All licensed nursing facilities, regardless of size, shall have a Registered Professional Nurse on duty or on call at all times.

e. Private Duty Nurses

The presence of private duty nurses shall have no effect on the nursing staff requirements.

9.A.4. Minimum Staffing Ratios

A. The nursing staff-to-resident ratio is the number of nursing staff to the number of occupied beds. Nursing assistants in training shall not be counted in the ratios.

The minimum nursing staff-to-resident ratio shall not be less than the following:

1. On the day shift, one direct-care provider for every 5 residents;

2. On the evening shift, one direct-care provider for every 10 residents; and

3. On the night shift, one direct-care provider for every 15 residents

The definition of direct care providers and direct care is found in Chapter 1 of these Regulations.
(see Page 2)