N.J. Admin. Code § 8:39-43.10

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 8:39-43.10 - Approval of a nurse aide in long-term care facilities training program-nurse aide training program instructor/evaluator

(a) Written approval of the Department is required prior to enrollment of students and the commencement of a training program in an educational institution, a facility, or a proprietary program. Training program approval, when granted, shall be granted for a 24-month period.

(b) An approved training program for nurse aides shall consist of 90 hours of training. This shall include 50 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical experience in a New Jersey licensed long-term care facility. All training programs shall use the curriculum approved by the Department, in accordance with (c) below.

(c) The New Jersey Curriculum for Nurse Aide Personnel in Long-Term Care Facilities (the curriculum), which has been approved by the Department, shall be the approved curriculum for a 90 hour training program. The entire content of the curriculum shall be taught. A copy of the curriculum and the form needed to apply for approval of a training course may be obtained by contacting the Division of Certificate of Need and Licensing.

(d) The New Jersey competency evaluation shall consist of both a skills examination and a written/oral examination.

(e) A facility-based approved training program and the New Jersey competency evaluation shall be scheduled so as to be completed within 120 days of the starting date of employment for a nurse aide.

(f) A training program offered in an educational institution to train and test certified nurse aides shall be approved by the Department.

(g) No resident care unit shall serve as the site of clinical instruction for more than one training program at a time.

(h) The training program for nurse aides shall not be used as a substitute for staff orientation or staff education programs.

(i) Classroom and clinical instruction for particular tasks or procedures shall be scheduled concurrently to the extent practicable.

(j) The Department may request submission of additional information or require the redesign and/or revision of the program materials. Redesign or revision of the program application does not ensure that approval will be granted.

(k) Any changes in a training program, such as changes in location, dates, times or instructors, shall be reported in writing, to the Certification Program at least 30 working days prior to the planned change. No change shall be implemented without the written approval of the Certification Program.

(l) The facility or educational institution conducting a training program shall maintain on file a copy of the lesson plans for the course. Each lesson plan shall state, at a minimum, the following:

1. The objective(s) of the lesson;

2. The content of the lesson;

3. A description of clinical activities for each lesson, consistent with the objectives in the curriculum;

4. The hours of instruction;

5. Methods of presentation and teacher strategies; and

6. Methods for evaluation of students with respect to their classroom and clinical performance in the facility.

(m) Each nurse aide training program instructor shall:

1. Be currently licensed in New Jersey as a registered professional nurse;

2. Possess at least two years of nursing experience;

3. Possess at least one year of experience as a registered professional nurse in a licensed long-term care facility;

4. Have successfully completed a training workshop in teaching adults or have experience in teaching adults or supervising nurse aides;

5. In a facility-based program, the training of nurse aides may be performed pursuant to the general supervision of the director of nursing for the facility who is prohibited from performing the actual training, pursuant to 42 CFR 483.152(a)(5)(iii); and

6. Professionals identified at 42 CFR 483.152(a)(5)(iv) who have at least one year of experience in their field may supplement the training of the instructor.

(n) Each nurse aide training program evaluator shall:

1. Be currently licensed in New Jersey as a registered professional nurse;

2. Possess at least three years of full-time or full-time equivalent experience in a licensed health care facility;

3. Possess at least one year of full-time or full-time equivalent experience as a registered professional nurse in a licensed long-term care facility, within the five years immediately preceding submission of the evaluator resume to the Certification Program of the Department for approval; and

4. Have successfully completed a training workshop offered by the Department for evaluators.

(o) The student-to-instructor ratio for classroom instruction shall not exceed a ratio of 20 students to one instructor.

(p) The student-to-instructor ratio for clinical instruction shall not exceed a ratio of 10 students to one instructor.

(q) Each student shall be under the supervision of the registered professional nurse instructor at all times when providing resident care as part of the student's clinical experience in the facility. The registered professional nurse instructor shall be responsible for evaluating the student's classroom and clinical performance.

(r) The resume of each nurse instructor/evaluator currently teaching the training program shall be available in the facility or educational institution.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:39-43.10

Petition for Rulemaking.
See: 53 N.J.R. 1866(a).
Notice of readoption with technical change, effective 12/20/2021.
See: 53 N.J.R. 2199(a).
Petition for Rulemaking.
See: 54 N.J.R. 284(a).

Amended by 55 N.J.R. 2258(a), effective 11/6/2023