Nevada State Health Division Bureau of Licensure and Certification

Nevada RNformation, Nov 2003 by Allen, Diane

The Nevada State Board of Health has the legal authority to adopt regulations for medical facilities as follows:

Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 449.037

1. The board [of Health] shall adopt:

(a) Licensing standards for each class of medical facility or facility for the dependent covered by NRS 449.001 to 449.240, inclusive, and for programs of hospice care.

(b) Regulations governing the licensing of such facilities and programs.

(c) Regulations governing the procedure and standards for granting an extension of the time for which a natural person may provide certain care in his home without being considered a residential facility for groups pursuant to NRS 449.017. The regulations must require that such grants are effective only if made in writing.

(d) Any other regulations as it deems necessary or convenient to carry out the provision of NRS 449.001 to 449.240

The State Health Division's has the legal authority to investigate complaints as follows:

NRS 449.150 Powers of [Nevada State} health division. The health division may:

(2). Upon the receipt of a complaint against a medical facility or facility for dependent, except for a complaint concerning the cost of services, conduct an investigation into the premises, facilities, qualifications of personnel, methods of operation, policies, procedures and records of that facility or any other medical facility or facility for the dependent

Regulations that address nurse staffing in state licensure Nevada Administrative Codes (NACs) in Hospitals. Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Ambulatory Surgical Services

Nevada Administrative Code (NAC)

Current Hospital Regulations NAC 449

* Adopted as temporary regulations on December 8, 1998.

* Adopted as permanent regulations on September 10, 1999 and became effective September 27, 1999.

* NAC 449.371. Intensive Care Units

(5) Whenever a patient is present in the intensive care unit, a registered nurse, with training and experience in intensive care nursing, shall supervise the nursing care and nursing management of the intensive care service.

(6) All licensed nurses working in an intensive care unit must:

(a) Have training and experience in intensive care nursing; or

(b) Work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse who has training and experience in intensive care nursing.

(7) The hospital shall establish a system for determining the nursing needs of each patient in the intensive care unit that includes an assessment made by a registered nurse trained in critical care of the patients' needs and the provision of staffing based on that assessment.

(8). The hospital shall follow the written policies for the plans for nurse staffing, which are dependent upon the acuity level of the patients in the intensive care unit, to ensure that the needs of the patients are met.

* NAC 449.361. Nursing Service

(1) A hospital shall have a well-organized plan that provides for 24-hour nursing services. The nursing services must be furnished or supervised by a registered nurse.

(3) The nursing service shall have a sufficient number of licensed registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and other personnel to provide nursing care to all patients as needed. A sufficient number of registered nurses and other members of the nursing staff must be on duty at all time to ensure that proper care is provided to each patient. A person who is not a registered nurse may be assigned to care for a patient, if:

(a) The extent of care provided by the person is consistent with his education and experience and is within his scope of practice; and

(b) The person is supervised by a registered nurse while providing that care.

(4) A hospital shall have a system for determining the nursing needs of each patient. The system must include assessment made by a registered nurse of the needs of each patient and the provision of staffing based on those assessments.

(7) The nursing services must be under the direct supervision of a chief administrative nurse. The chief administrative nurse must be knowledgeable, skilled and competent in clinical practice and nursing management. The chief administrative nurse shall direct and supervise the nursing services in compliance with chapter 632 of NRS and nationally recognized standards for organized nursing service.

* NAC 449.364. Obstetric Services

(1). If a hospital provides obstetric services, the obstetric services mist be provided through an obstetric department which is well organized and sufficiently staffed to ensure the health and safety of he patients.

(4) A hospital shall ensure that the obstetric department has adequate staffing and equipment, including, with limitation:

(a) A sufficient number of registered nurses, trained in perinatal care of a maternal patient and in newborn care, who are on duty at all times to ensure that proper care is provided to each patient;

(e) Sufficient personnel on the premises and immediately available for each delivery of a newborn who;

(1) Are trained and experienced in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on adults and newborns; and