Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A. Director of Nursing. The nursing home
shall provide for an organized nursing service, under the direction of a
full-time registered nurse.
B.
Termination of Services of Director of Nursing.
(1) If the nursing home terminates the
services of the director of nursing, the nursing home immediately shall notify
the Department of the termination.
(2) The name and license number of the
replacement director of nursing shall be supplied to the Department as soon as
employment begins.
(3) A copy of
the agreement between the nursing home and the replacement shall be sent to the
Department.
C. Director
of Nursing's Vacancy Exceeding 30 Days. If the position of director of nursing
remains vacant for a period exceeding 30 days, the nursing home's license may
be revoked unless the administrator and the governing body are able to
demonstrate that they have made every effort to obtain a replacement.
D. Relief for Director of Nursing.
(1) When the director of nursing is absent,
the individual shall designate an experienced, qualified registered nurse to
direct the nursing service.
(2) In
a nursing home in which the director of nursing serves as relief for the
administrator, the director of nursing shall designate a specific registered
nurse who shall be in charge of the nursing service while the director of
nursing covers for the administrator.
E. Responsibilities of the Director of
Nursing. The responsibilities of the director of nursing shall include:
(1) Assisting in the development and updating
of statements of nursing philosophy and objectives to define the type of
nursing care the nursing home shall provide;
(2) Preparation of written job descriptions
for nursing service personnel;
(3)
Planning to meet the total nursing needs of residents to be met and
recommending the assignment of a sufficient number of supervisory and support
personnel for each tour of duty;
(4) Development and maintenance of nursing
service policies and procedures to implement the program of care;
(5) Participation in the coordination of
resident services through appropriate staff committee meetings on issues
relating to:
(a) Pharmacy;
(b) Infection control;
(c) Resident care policies;
(d) Quality assurance programs; and
(e) Departmental meetings;
(6) Cooperation with
administration in planning the orientation program and the staff development
program to upgrade the competency of personnel;
(7) Ensuring that nursing personnel
understand the philosophy and meet the objectives;
(8) Participation in planning and budgeting
for nursing services;
(9)
Establishment of a procedure to ensure that nursing service personnel,
including private duty nurses, have valid and current Maryland
licenses;
(10) Execution of
resident care policies unless delegated to the principal physician or medical
director;
(11) Participation in the
selection of prospective admissions to ensure that the nursing home's staff is
capable of meeting the needs of all residents admitted;
(12) Coordination of the interdisciplinary
resident care management efforts; and
(13) Supervision of certified medicine aides
to ensure that the aides act within the limitations and restrictions placed on
them.
F. Delegation of
Responsibilities. The director of nursing shall make clear any authority
delegated to another staff member.
G. Daily Rounds - Director of Nursing.
(1) Although daily rounds are primarily the
responsibility of the charge nurse or nurses, the director or assistant
director of nursing shall periodically make clinical rounds to nursing units,
randomly reviewing clinical records, medication orders, resident care plans,
and staff assignments and visiting residents.
(2) Upon request, the director or assistant
director of nursing may accompany physicians visiting residents.
H. Director of Nursing's
Continuing Education. The director of nursing shall assume responsibility for
maintaining professional competence of staff through their participation in
education programs.
