10A NCAC 13K .1202      ADDITIONAL STAFFING REQUIREMENTS FOR HOSPICE INPATIENT UNITS

(a)  All nursing services shall be provided under the supervision of a registered nurse.

(b)  A facility providing respite care must provide 24-hour nursing services that meet the nursing needs of all patients and are furnished in accordance with each patient's plan of care. Each patient must receive all nursing services as prescribed by the physician and must be kept comfortable, clean, well-groomed and protected from accident, injury and infection. The presence of a Registered Nurse (RN) to provide direct care on all shifts is not required for patients receiving general inpatient care for respite unless specific nursing needs are in an individual patient's plan of care. If a patient in an inpatient facility is receiving general inpatient care for symptom management, then the 24-hour patient care RN staff must be available.

(c)  Considerations for determining sufficiency of nursing personnel include:

(1)           number of patients;

(2)           specific patient care requirements;

(3)           family care needs; and

(4)           availability of support from other interdisciplinary team members.

(d)  Hospice caregivers shall only provide care to patients in licensed hospice residential beds in a combined hospice inpatient and residential facility.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131E-202;

Eff. June 1, 1991;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2010; February 1, 1996;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. December 22, 2018.