Final Rule on Posting of Nurse Staffing

Specialties Geriatric

Published

What is ya'lls opinion on the pros and cons of the final rule that every shift the exact numbers of direct care staff must be posted along with the census? Does it leave us open to increased risk exposure to lawsuits? Did you think the definition of direct care staff was nebulous and leaves too much room for variation?

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
What is ya'lls opinion on the pros and cons of the final rule that every shift the exact numbers of direct care staff must be posted along with the census? Does it leave us open to increased risk exposure to lawsuits? Did you think the definition of direct care staff was nebulous and leaves too much room for variation?

Posting the numbers forces facilities to comply.As long as you are in compliance then I don't see how the numbers alone will contribute to law suits.It's a good quality control indicator.I do agree that the regs make it easy for facilities to get creative with their staffing-I left a fpr profit LTC because of that....

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

We've been doing this for several years - unsure if we did it d/t federal or state law, but anyway, it's not new to me. It has never really been an issue either. Have never heard a family/visitor make even one comment about this. Ours is posted in the main lobby right by the front door and is easily viewed by anyone. I guess overall, it's probably a good thing - keeps facilities honest. AFter all, usually we are all b!t@%ing about not having enough staff and now facilities are forced to prove that they actually do have adequate staffing.

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Its a law. Not doing it would be a problem. Its also easy to find out anyway. Before we would post it, some families would just do a head count on thier own.

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Thanks everyone.

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