LAC 48:I.9343. Organization and Staffing

A. There shall be an organized nursing service that provides 24-hour nursing services. The nursing services shall be under the direction and supervision of an RN director of nursing licensed to practice in Louisiana with a minimum of two years of full-time experience as an RN in a hospital setting, employed full time, as defined by hospital policy, or at a minimum of 36 hours per week. There shall be a similarly qualified RN to act in the absence of the director of nursing services. B. Written nursing policies and procedures shall define and describe the patient care provided. There shall be a written procedure to ensure that all licensed nurses providing care in the hospital have a valid and current Louisiana license to practice, prior to providing any care. C. Nursing services are either furnished or supervised and evaluated by a registered nurse. D. Each inpatient nursing unit shall have at least one RN on duty at all times when there are patients admitted to the unit. E. A registered nurse shall assign the nursing service staff for each patient in the hospital. Staffing shall be planned in accordance with the nursing needs of the patients, as demonstrated by a specific assessment process, specialized qualifications and competence of the nursing staff available. F. The nursing staff shall be assigned clinical and/or management responsibilities according to education, experience and assessment of current competency and applicable laws. G. There shall be at least two hospital employees, one of whom shall be a registered nurse, physically present in the hospital when there is one or more hospitalized patients.