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New legislation requires NJ hospitals to post nurse staffing ratios daily

Nurse Leader Weekly, January 28, 2005

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New legislation requires NJ hospitals to post nurse staffing ratios daily
In the fall of 2005, New Jersey will join Illinois as the only states to require hospitals to publicly disclose the number of nurses and other healthcare professionals providing direct care to patients, thanks to legislation signed by acting Gov. Richard J. Codey on January 24.

Illinois hospitals are only required to provide staffing level information upon request, while New Jersey's staff level disclosure law says hospitals must post this information daily in the facility where it can be viewed by patients and families. Under federal law, nursing homes already are required to disclose staffing levels.

According to the new law, facilities must organize staffing data by unit and shift and must include the number of registered nurses (RN) providing direct patient care and the ratio of patients to RNs. It also must include the same information for licensed practical nurses (LPN), certified nurse aides (CNA), plus other licensed or registered healthcare professionals meeting state staffing requirements. It also requires hospitals post the methods used for determining and adjusting direct patient care staffing levels.

This information must also be provided upon request to the public and reported monthly to the state department of health. The department will issue quarterly reports to the public, in which it intends to explain the data to consumers.  

Facilities that fail to comply are subject to unspecified penalties that will be determined by the health commissioner.

To view the text of the bill, click here. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2004/Bills/A2000/1727_S3.HTM

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