Section 132.62. Nursing services.

 

(1)   Definitions. "Nursing personnel" means nurses, nurse aides, nursing assistants, and orderlies.

(2)   Nursing administration.

(a) Director of nursing services in skilled care and intermediate care facilities.

1. `Staffing requirement.' Every skilled care facility and every intermediate care facility shall employ a full-time director of nursing services who may also serve as a charge nurse in accordance with par. (b) .

2. `Qualifications.' The director of nursing services shall be a registered nurse.

3. `Duties.' The director of nursing services shall be responsible for:

a. Supervising the functions, activities and training of the nursing personnel;

b. Developing and maintaining standard nursing practice, nursing policy and procedure manuals, and written job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel;

c. Coordinating nursing services with other resident services;

d. Designating the charge nurses provided for by this section;

e. Being on call at all times, or designating another registered nurse to be on call, when no registered nurse is on duty in the facility; and

f. Ensuring that the duties of nursing personnel shall be clearly defined and assigned to staff members consistent with the level of education, preparation, experience, and licensing of each.

(b) Charge nurses in skilled care facilities and intermediate care facilities.

1. `Staffing requirement.' A skilled nursing facility shall have at least one charge nurse on duty at all times, and:

a. A facility with fewer than 60 residents in need of skilled nursing care shall have at least one registered nurse, who may be the director of nursing services, on duty as charge nurse during every daytime tour of duty;

b. A facility with 60 to 74 residents in need of skilled nursing care shall, in addition to the director of nursing services, have at least one registered nurse on duty as charge nurse during every daytime tour of duty;

c. A facility with 75 to 99 residents in need of skilled nursing care shall have, in addition to the director of nursing services, at least one registered nurse on duty as charge nurse during every daytime tour of duty. In addition, the facility shall have at least one registered nurse on duty as charge nurse every day on at least one other non-daytime tour of duty.

d. A facility with 100 or more residents in need of skilled nursing care shall have, in addition to the director of nursing services, at least one registered nurse on duty as charge nurse at all times.

e. An intermediate care facility shall have a charge nurse during every daytime tour of duty, who may be the director of nursing.

3. `Duties.'

a. The charge nurse, if a registered nurse, shall supervise the nursing care of all assigned residents, and delegate the duty to provide for the direct care of specific residents, including administration of medications, to nursing personnel based upon individual resident needs, the facility's physical arrangement, and the staff capability.

b. The charge nurse, if a licensed practical nurse, shall manage and direct the nursing and other activities of other licensed practical nurses and less skilled assistants and shall arrange for the provision of direct care to specific residents, including administration of medications, by nursing personnel based upon individual resident needs, the facility's physical arrangement, and the staff capability. A licensed practical nurse who serves as a charge nurse shall be under the supervision and direction of a registered nurse who is either in the facility or on call.

(3)   Nurse staffing. In addition to the requirements of sub. (2) , there shall be adequate nursing service personnel assigned to care for the specific needs of each resident on each tour of duty. Those personnel shall be briefed on the condition and appropriate care of each resident.

History: Cr. Register, July, 1982, No. 319 , eff. 8-1-82; am. (2) (b) 2. and (c), r. (2) (d), Register, January, 1987 , No 373, eff. 2-1-87; am. (3) (a), Register, February, 1989, No. 398 , eff. 3-1-89; CR 04-053 : am. (2) (a) 1. and r. and recr. (3) (a) Register October 2004 No. 586 , eff. 11-1-04; CR 06-053 : r. (1) (b), (2) (a) 2. b., (b) 2. and (c), (3) (a) and (c) to (h), renum. (1) (a) to be (1), cons., renum. and am. (2) (a) 2. (intro.) and a. to be (2) (a) 2., cons., renum. and am. (3) (intro.) and (b) to be (3), Register August 2007 No. 620 , eff. 9-1-07.