Report Title:+

Nurse Staffing Plan

Description:

Requires health care facilities to submit to the department of health a nurse staffing plan that was developed by a committee of nurses employed by the health care facilities.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

791

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to health.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§321-    Nurse staffing plan. (a) Each health care facility shall submit a nurse staffing plan to the department annually.

(b) The nurse staffing plan shall be developed by a planning committee comprised of nurses employed by the health care facility as follows:

(1) For health care facilities with more than one hundred beds, six nurses that provide direct care and six nurses that provide administrative or clinical services; and

(2) For health care facilities with one hundred beds or less, three nurses that provide direct care and three nurses that provide administrative or clinical services.

(c) The planning committee shall, among other things, establish the minimum number of nursing staff required based on outcomes research, and base the nurse staffing plan on:

(1) The American Nurses Association's Principles for Nurse Staffing;

(2) The nursing care required by the aggregate and the individual needs of patients to determine the number and category of nursing staff required;

(3) The specialized qualifications, available skill sets, and staff competency;

(4) The scope of practice for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants;

(5) The acuity system for determining the number of nursing staff to have on duty; and

(6) Any other relevant information that ensures patient safety and the nursing care needs of patients are met.

(d) The health care facility and planning committee shall implement, monitor, and evaluate the nurse staffing plan throughout the year. Any changes to the nurse staffing plan by the planning committee shall be submitted to the department.

(e) As used in this section, health care facility shall mean the same as provided in section 323D-2."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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