New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 3A - CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Chapter 52 - MANUAL OF REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS
Subchapter 8 - REQUIREMENTS FOR CENTERS SERVING SICK CHILDREN
Section 3A:52-8.3 - Requirements for additional staff for centers serving sick children

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 3A:52-8.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

(a) The staff requirements for centers serving sick children are as follows:

1. In addition to the staff members required in 3A:52-4.2, the center shall ensure that a physician licensed by the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners or a registered nurse licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing is at the center during the hours children are in attendance.

2. The staff member specified in (a)1 above may also serve as the head teacher, group teacher or program supervisor where applicable, provided that:
i. The person meets the staff qualification requirements for such positions, based on the center size and type, as specified in 3A:52-4.6(c) and (d); or

ii. The person has two years of work experience with children of the age group being served.

3. In centers that primarily serve well children and provide sick care only as a component of the overall program, the physician or registered nurse, as specified in (a)1 above, shall be required to be at the center for at least 50 percent of the sick care component's daily operating hours, and shall be on call and available to come to the center immediately at all other times, provided that the following conditions are met:
i. The physician or registered nurse is present at all times when children are being admitted to the center;

ii. Sick care is provided only to children who are regularly enrolled in the center's program serving well children;

iii. No more than eight children are served in the sick care component at any one time;

iv. Children under six months of age are not admitted to the sick child care component at any time;

v. The physician or registered nurse assesses that no child will be placed at risk during the time when the physician or registered nurse is absent; and

vi. The on-call physician or nurse does not serve as the center's head teacher.

4. In centers specified in (a)3 above, the provisions specified in (a)3i through vii above need not be met if the physician or registered nurse remains at the center during all hours the children are in attendance.

(b) The responsibilities of the staff physician or registered nurse are as follows:

1. The physician or registered nurse, as specified in (a)1 above, shall be responsible for developing and implementing the center's medical program, including:
i. Conducting the daily admission assessment of each child, as specified in 3A:52-8.1(c)4;

ii. Maintaining records on each child, as specified in 3A:52-8.7(a); and

iii. Reviewing and administering medication, as specified in 3A:52-7.5(b), as applicable for each child.

(c) The following staff/child ratios shall apply:

Age of ChildStaff/Child Ratio
Birth up to 3 months of age1:1
3 months up to 18 months of age1:3
18 months up to 2 1/2 years of age1:5
2 1/2 years of age and above1:7

(d) Grouping of children shall be as follows:

1. The center shall group children according to the illnesses categorized below:
i. Upper-respiratory;

ii. Gastro-intestinal;

iii. Chicken pox; and

iv. Any other illness that has been included in the center's admission policy.

(e) Additional staff training shall be provided as follows:

1. The center shall provide training for each new staff member upon beginning work at the center and for all staff members annually.

2. Such training shall include:
i. Basic knowledge of first aid principles;

ii. Recognizing the symptoms of illness;

iii. Feeding sick children;

iv. When and how to call for medical advice;

v. Taking children's temperatures;

vi. Any other care that may be required for admissible illnesses and conditions;

vii. Infection control;

viii. Review of center policies and procedures;

ix. Child development, including activities for children who are sick; and

x. Communicating with parents concerning a child's illness.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Jersey may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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