Bill > A966

Introduced Session

This bill requires hospitals to establish nurse staffing committees. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Health to require a hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), as a condition of licensure, to establish a nurse staffing committee, either by creating a new committee or assigning the functions of a nurse staffing committee to an existing committee. At least 55 percent of the members of the nurse staffing committee are to be registered nurses currently providing direct patient care at the hospital, and no more than 45 percent of the members of the committee are to be hospital administrative staff. The selection of the registered nurses are to be according to the collective bargaining agreement, if there is one in effect at the hospital. If there is no applicable collective bargaining agreement, the members of the nurse staffing committee who are registered nurses are to be selected by their peers. The members of the nurse staffing committee who are hospital administrative staff are to be appointed by the hospital's chief executive officer. Participation in the nurse staffing committee by a hospital employee is to be on scheduled work time and compensated at the appropriate rate of pay. Nurse staffing committee members are to be relieved of all other work duties during meetings of the committee. Under the bill, the primary responsibilities of the nurse staffing committee include: (1) The development and oversight of an annual patient care unit and shift-based nurse staffing plan, which is to be based on the needs of patients, and which is to be used as the primary component of the staffing budget. The nurse staffing plan is to establish upwardly adjustable minimum ratios of direct care registered nurses to patients for each unit and for each shift of the hospital. Factors to be considered in the development of the nurse staffing plan include, but need not be limited to: hospital census data; hospital admission, discharge, and transfer data; the level of intensity and the nature of the care to be delivered to patients on each shift; skill mix, defined as the number and relative percentages of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and unlicensed assistive personnel among the total number of nursing personnel; the level of experience and specialty certification or training of nursing personnel providing care; the need for specialized or intensive equipment; the architecture and geography of the patient care unit; staffing guidelines adopted or published by health professional organizations; the availability of other personnel supporting nursing services on the unit; unit and facility level staffing, quality and patient outcomes data, and national comparisons, as available; hospital finances and resources; and strategies to enable registered nurses to take meal and rest breaks as required by law or the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, if any, between the hospital and a representative of the nursing staff; (2) A semiannual review of the staffing plan against patient need and known evidence-based staffing information; and (3) The review, assessment, and response to staffing variations or concerns presented to the committee. Furthermore, the staffing plan is required to: (1) not diminish other standards contained in State or federal law and rules, or the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, if any, between the hospital and a representative of the nursing staff; (2) ensure that a registered nurse is not assigned to work in a particular unit of the hospital without first having established the ability to provide professional care in such unit; and (3) provide for exemptions for some or all requirements of the nurse staffing plan during a state of emergency, as defined in section 23 of P.L.2011, c.19 (C.5:12-45.3), if the hospital is requested or expected to provide an exceptional level of emergency or other medical services. The nurse staffing committee is required provide the annual nurse staffing plan to the hospital's chief executive officer for review. If this nurse staffing plan is not adopted by the hospital, the chief executive officer of the hospital is to provide a written explanation to the committee of the reasons why the plan was not adopted. The chief executive officer must then either: identify those elements of the proposed plan being changed prior to adoption of the plan by the hospital; or prepare an alternate annual staffing plan that must be adopted by the hospital. One year after the of enactment of the bill, each hospital is to: 1) submit its adopted nurse staffing plan to the Department of Health and, thereafter, on an annual basis, and at any time that the plan is updated; 2) implement the adopted nurse staffing plan and assign nursing personnel to each patient care unit in accordance with the plan. Each nurse staffing committee is to develop a process to: examine and respond to a complaint regarding the hospital's implementation of the adopted nurse staffing plan; determine if a specific complaint is resolved; and dismiss a complaint based on unsubstantiated data. A registered nurse, a member of the nurse staffing committee, a hospital staff member, a hospital patient, or any other person may submit to the Department of Health any complaint that remains unresolved upon examination by the nurse staffing committee for further investigation. Each hospital is required to post, in a public area on each patient care unit, the nurse staffing plan and the nurse staffing schedule for that shift on the unit, as well as the relevant clinical staffing levels for that shift. The nurse staffing plan and current staffing levels are also to be made available to patients and visitors upon request. Finally, a hospital is prohibited from retaliating against or engaging in any form of intimidation of: (1) an employee for performing any duties or responsibilities in connection with the nurse staffing committee; or (2) an employee, patient, or other individual who notifies the nurse staffing committee, the hospital administration, or the Department of Health of concerns regarding nurse staffing. The Commissioner of Health is directed to establish procedures that enable persons to file complaints regarding the hospital's implementation of the adopted nurse staffing plan; and that provide for the investigation of such complaints. The department is only to investigate a complaint that was previously submitted to the nursing staff committee, and that provides evidence indicating a continuing pattern of unresolved violations for a minimum of a 60-day continuous period leading up to receipt of the complaint by the department. The department is not to investigate a complaint: that is determined by the nurse staffing committee to be resolved or dismissed; in the event of unforeseeable emergency circumstances; or if a hospital, after consultation with a nurse staffing committee, documents it has made reasonable efforts to obtain staffing to meet required assignments, but has been unable to do so. Under the bill, "unforeseeable emergency circumstance" means any unforeseen national, State, or municipal emergency; when a hospital disaster plan is activated; any unforeseen disaster or other catastrophic event that substantially affects or increases the need for health care services; or when a hospital is diverting patients to another hospital or hospitals for treatment or the hospital is receiving patients who are from another hospital or hospitals. After an investigation, if the department determines that there has been a violation, the department is to require the hospital to submit a corrective plan of action within 45 days of the presentation of findings from the department to the hospital. In the event that a hospital fails to submit, or submits but fails to follow, such a corrective plan of action in response to a violation or violations found by the department, the department may impose, for all violations asserted against a hospital at any time, in addition to any other penalties prescribed under State law, a civil penalty of $1,000 per day until the hospital submits or begins to follow the corrective plan of action or takes other action agreed to by the department. The department is required to maintain, for public inspection records, of any civil penalties, administrative actions, or license suspensions or revocations imposed on hospitals under this section. Finally, the bill directs the department to submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report regarding the department's investigation of such complaints within 18 months of the enactment of the bill. This report is to include the number of complaints submitted to the department, the disposition of these complaints, the number of investigations conducted, the associated costs for complaint investigations, and recommendations for any needed statutory changes. It is the sponsor's belief that the creation of nurse staffing committees will empower direct care nurses to determine the unique and variable needs of their patients to ensure quality care. Evidenced-based studies have shown that adequate nurse staffing based on research findings and the intensity of patient care is directly related to positive patient outcomes and assists in reducing errors and complications. Furthermore, appropriate staffing of hospital personnel improve staff safety and satisfaction, and reduce incidences of workplace injuries.

Committee Categories

Nancy Muñoz (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document