Standards of Professional Conduct

PURPOSE: The Board of Nursing Home Administrators is committed to high standards of care for the aging population in Missouri nursing homes. To assure that those standards are met by licensed administrators in Missouri, the board provides standards of conduct consistent with accepted standards of the nursing home administration profession. Behavior (acts, knowledge and practice) which fails to conform to the accepted standards shall constitute unprofessional conduct. This rule sets out those standards which must be maintained by the nursing home administrator. (1) The administrator shall— (A) Be held responsible for informing him/herself of the needs of the residents and the needs of the facility and apprise the operator of these needs on a routine basis; (B) Be held responsible for the actions of all employees with regard to Chapter 198, RSMo, unless— 1. Upon learning of the violation, the administrator attempted to immediately correct the violation; 2. The administrator did not sanction the violation; and 3. The administrator did not attempt to avoid learning of the violation; (C) Establish and enforce policies and procedures to safeguard patient or resident care; (D) Establish and enforce policies and procedures for the protection of residents rights, funds and property; (E) Establish and enforce policies and procedures for all nursing home rules as stated in 19 CSR 30-82 through 19 CSR 30-89; (F) Not permit or allow another person to use his/her nursing home administrator license for any purpose; (G) Report through the proper channels the incompetent, unethical or illegal practice of any health care professional; and (H) Devote reasonable time and attention to the management of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the facility. SENIOR SERVICES (2) Failure of the licensee to comply with any of the provisions of section (1) of this rule in performing any of the acts covered by the licensure law may be considered by the board to be conduct which is detrimental to the interest of the public and may be deemed in violation of the licensure law and shall be sufficient cause for the board to pursue a complaint against the offending licensee to the Administrative Hearing Commission. AUTHORITY: section 344.070, RSMo 2000.* This rule was previously filed as 13 CSR 73-2.095. Original rule filed Jan. 19, 1988, effective April 11, 1988. Amended: Filed June 28, 1990, effective Dec. 31, 1990. Moved and amended: Filed Jan. 31, 2003, effective Aug. 30, 2003. *Original authority: 344.070, RSMo 1969, amended 1979, 1993, 1995.