Nurse to resident ratios in LTC for Colorado

suzanne4, RN · Jan 20, 2008

There are no ratio laws in place anywhere for LTC. What ever the company can get away is usually what happens.

Does not bode well for a new grad at all.

Reigen · Jan 20, 2008

COLORADO

Standard

Code of Colorado Regulations 1011, Chapter 5, Part 7

Nursing care facility must provide nurse staffing sufficient in number to provide at least 2.0 hours of nursing time per resident per day.

Professional Nurse Coverage

Nursing care facility: at least one RN must be on duty (and on the premises) at all times [except as provided under section 7.6].

Each resident care unit must be staffed with at least a licensed nurse.

Intermediate care facility: at least one RN or LPN must be on duty (and on the premises) on the day shift 7 days/week. Facility may use LPN as DoN.

Nursing facility required to employ a full-time Director of Nursing who is an RN and qualified by education and experience to direct facility nursing care.

Staff Counted in Standard

If 60+ residents, the time of the DoN, Staff development Coordinator, and other supervisory personnel who are not providing direct resident care may not be used in computing this ratio.

Nursing Waivers

Waivers of the RN requirement may be granted if:

facility is located in a rural area;

the facility has at least one FT RN who is regularly on duty;

facility has only residents whose attending physicians have indicated that each resident does not require the services of an RN for a 48-hour period or the facility has made arrangements for a professional nurse or physician to be on-site as necessary to provide needed services when the regular FT RN is not on duty; and

facility has made a good faith effort to comply with the RN requirement but RNs are unavailable in the area.

Hope this helps

Reigen

hope3456, ASN, RN · Jan 20, 2008

CO doesn't have ratio laws. I worked in a LTC in fort collins, they are all pretty much the same. they are 'for profit' corporations and they will cut corners where ever they can....they really aren't regulated that well either IMHO.

ksettle · Jan 22, 2008

PRofit for facility that can cut corners and get away with staffing less than is necessary to provide quality care, hmmmmmm, urband legend or fact? Just joking, work at a Texas LTAC where staffing has b/c barebones and difficult to adjust to...I know of worse scenarios but the other night I was the only R.N , census down, 2 admissions, 2 LVN's, 17 patients + 2, no CNA. I empathize with everyone faced with overwhelming odds of completing all their tasks...admitting pt's, assessing, active pts going bad,turning q2h,cleaning the cdiff patients,gowning up and down MRSA/VRE, the rectal tubes, the confused, suctioning copious secretions, passing meds, FS and VSq4 on numerous patients. Organization sometimes isn't enough as well as asking for additional help. I will say a prayer for all of us and hope you say one for me.I know this will only help little or none...from Texas to Colorada, a big Howdy and God Bless us all...Keith