SECTION 310:667-40-9. Nursing service

(a)   General. Each EH shall have an organized nursing service which provides twenty-four (24) hour nursing services for patients. The nursing service shall be supervised by a registered nurse.

(b)   Organization. The nursing service shall be well-organized with written policies delineating administrative and patient care responsibilities. The director of nursing shall be a registered nurse who shall be responsible for the operation of the service, including determining the staff necessary to provide nursing care for the EH. Nursing care shall be provided as specified by written procedures approved by the director of nursing and the governing body. All nursing procedures shall be consistent with state and federal law and current standards of practice. Procedures shall be reviewed and revised as necessary.

(c)   Staffing. The nursing service shall have adequate numbers of licensed nurses and other nursing personnel available to provide nursing care to all patients as needed based on patient census and acuity. At least one (1) registered nurse shall be on duty on-site to furnish or supervise all nursing services whenever patient care is provided. If the EH has no inpatients, the registered nurse may be available on an on-call basis provided he or she is available to return to the EH in a period of time not to exceed twenty (20) minutes.

(d)   Qualifications.

(1)   Individuals selected for the nursing staff shall be qualified by education and experience for the positions they are assigned. The EH shall verify current licensure of licensed nurses and maintain documentation of verification.

(2)   The selection and promotion of nursing service personnel shall be based on their qualifications and capabilities. The director of nursing shall have input regarding the employment, promotion, evaluation and termination of all nursing service personnel.

(3)   The qualifications required for each category of nursing staff shall be in written policy and job descriptions, and shall be available in the EH for reference. The functions of all nursing service personnel shall be clearly defined by written policy.

(e)   Delivery of care.

(1)   A registered nurse shall assess, plan, supervise, and evaluate the nursing care for each patient.

(2)   Each inpatient shall have a nursing care plan that includes assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. Nursing care plans shall be revised as necessary.

(3)   Nursing notes shall be informative and descriptive of the nursing care given and include assessment, interventions, and evaluation.

(4)   All drugs and biologicals shall be administered in accordance with state and federal laws by authorized individuals. Orders for drugs and biologicals shall be in writing and signed by the prescribing physician or practitioner who shall be authorized by law to write a prescription, with the exception of influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines, which may be administered per physician-approved hospital policy after an assessment for contraindications. When telephone or verbal orders for drugs, biologicals, treatments, and tests are used, they shall be given only to a practitioner authorized by administration to receive these orders and signed by the prescribing physician or practitioner or meet the requirements at OAC 310:667-19-2(c)(4). The person taking the telephone or verbal order shall read the order back to the physician or practitioner to ensure it was correctly understood and verify on the order the fact that the order was read back. Each facility, within its own procedures and protocols, shall establish a verification process to be placed on orders to demonstrate that the order was read back to the physician.

(5)   Blood products and intravenous medications shall be administered as required by EH written policy in accordance with state and federal law. EH staff administering blood products or intravenous medications shall be trained regarding hospital policies before they are allowed to carry out these responsibilities.

(6)   There shall be an effective procedure for reporting transfusion and adverse drug reactions to the attending physician or licensed independent practitioner and the prescribing physician or practitioner. Errors in drug administration and adverse reactions shall be compiled and reported through the quality assurance committee to the medical and professional staff.

(7)   All nursing service personnel shall be trained and currently certified to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and shall be knowledgeable of all EH emergency protocols.

(f)   Patient restraint. If patients are physically restrained, the EH shall comply with all requirements specified in OAC 310:667-15-8. If patients are chemically restrained, the EH shall comply with all requirements specified in OAC 310:667-15-9.

[Source: Added at 20 Ok Reg 1664, eff 6-12-03; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1189, eff 4-2-07 (emergency); Amended at 25 Ok Reg 2472, eff 7-11-08; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 1966, eff 7-25-13]