Nevada government begins study of nurse staffing

Nevada RNformation, Nov 2003 by Bunch, Cynthia

a. The use of established methods of analysis and technical models developed by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis of the Bureau of Health Professions of the Health Resources and Services Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Regional Centers for Health Workforce Studies located in:

i. The University of California at San Francisco;

ii. The University of Illinois at Chicago;

iii. The State University of New York at Albany; and

iv. The University of Washington,

b. A comprehensive evaluation of the current requirements in Nevada for staffing of the system for the delivery of health care,

c. A comprehensive evaluation of the required methods of recordkeeping by medical facilities or other organizations that provide organized nursing services of statistics relating to staffing and patient care.

d. The identification of conditions under which nurses may refuse work assignments without jeopardizing the quality of patient care.

e. A survey of the staffing of the system for the delivery of health care in Nevada that is required by the Bureau of Licensure and Certification of the Health Division of the Department of Human Resources, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and any other state or federal law concerning medical facilities or other organizations that provide organized nursing services.

f. A comprehensive evaluation of the practices of recruitment and retention of staff that are used by medical facilities and other organizations that provide organized nursing services in Nevada.

g. Recommendations regarding staffing of the system for the delivery of health care in Nevada.

h. A comprehensive evaluation of any disaster or emergency situations that would not be covered in any recommendations for the staffing of the system for the delivery of health care.

2. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, to satisfy the objectives of the study, the subcommittee shall collaborate with a statewide advisory group of persons consisting of one representative appointed by each of the following:

a. The Nevada Nurses' Association.

b. The Bureau of Licensure and Certification of the Health Division of the Department of Human Resources.

c. The Nevada Hospital Association.

d. The State Board of Nursing.

e. The Nevada State Medical Association.

f. Two organizations that represent the interests of nursing selected by the Chairman of the subcommittee.

g. The University and Community College System of Nevada.

h. The Nevada Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Partners of the Nevada Office of Rural Health of the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

i. The Nevada Area Health Education Center Program of the Center for Education and Health Services Outreach of the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

j. A qualified peer review organization that is governed by Titles Xl and XVlII of the Social Security Act.

3. The subcommittee appointed pursuant to this section shall submit a report of its findings and any recommendations for legislation to the Legislative Committee on Health Care on or before June 1, 2004. The Legislative Committee on Health Care shall submit the report of the subcommittee and any recommendations for legislation on or before July 1, 2004, to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislative Commission and the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.