3727.53 Written nursing services staffing plan.

3727.53 Written nursing services staffing plan.

(A) In accordance with division (B) of this section, each hospital shall create an evidence-based written nursing services staffing plan guiding the assignment of nurses hospital-wide. The staffing plan shall be implemented not later than ninety days after the hospital-wide nursing care committee is convened pursuant to section 3727.51 of the Revised Code, except that if the hospital’s next fiscal year starts not later than one hundred eighty days after the date on which the committee convenes, implementation may be delayed until the first day of that fiscal year.

(B) The staffing plan created under this section shall, at a minimum, reflect current standards established by private accreditation organizations or governmental entities. The plan shall be based on multiple nurse and patient considerations that yield minimum staffing levels for inpatient care units that ensure that the hospital has a staff of competent nurses with specialized skills needed to meet patient needs. These considerations shall include both of the following:

(1) The recommendations of the hospital-wide nursing care committee made under section 3727.52 of the Revised Code, which shall be given significant consideration;

(2) All of the matters listed in divisions (B)(1) to (5) of section 3727.52 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 2008 HB346 09-12-2008