You asked for information on recently passed New Jersey legislation on the posting of staffing levels in certain health care facilities.

SUMMARY

Under legislation signed on January 24, 2005, New Jersey hospitals and nursing homes will have to compile, post, and make available to the public and state health regulators daily information on staffing levels in their facilities. The law takes effect 180 days after its enactment.

NEW JERSEY LAW ON POSTING OF STAFFING LEVELS

The legislation (A. 1727) requires hospitals and nursing homes to tally and post daily the number of licensed or registered health professionals who provide direct patient care on each shift. A licensed general hospital must compile and post daily in the patient care area of each unit of the hospital information that details for each unit and for the shift, the following:

1. the number of registered professional nurses (RNs) providing direct patient care and the ratio of patients to RNs;

2. the number of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) providing direct patient care and the ratio of patients to LPNs;

3. the number of certified nurse aides (CNAs) providing direct patient care and the ratio of patients to CNAs;

4. the number of licensed or registered health care professionals meeting state staffing requirements; and

5. the methods the hospital used for determining and adjusting direct patient care staffing levels.

Nursing homes must provide the above information for each shift per day. The daily updates on staffing levels and ratios must be displayed in areas visible and accessible to all patients and their families and caregivers. Nursing homes and hospitals must also provide to the public, upon request, the information that is posted.

The information on staffing must be reported monthly to the state health department, which will in turn issue quarterly reports including a written explanation to help the public understand and interpret the data.

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