N.J. Admin. Code § 8:39-43.2

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

Section 8:39-43.2 - Requirements for nurse aide certification

(a) An applicant for certification as a nurse aide in long-term care facilities shall:

1. Successfully complete a nurse aide in long-term care facilities training program that has been approved by the Department;

2. Provide evidence that he or she is of good moral character, including, but not limited to, compliance with the requirements of the Criminal Background Investigation Program in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:43I; and

3. Pass both the Department's clinical skills competency exam and written/oral exam.

(b) An applicant shall fulfill the requirements in (a) above in order to be listed on the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry.

(c) The following individuals, although not certified, may be employed as nurse aides:

1. Individuals who complete and pass the eight-hour Temporary Nurse Aide Training Program sponsored by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living program and have demonstrated competency using the program's skills competency checklist.

2. All individuals seeking to work as a nurse aide pursuant to this waiver/modification must comply with the requirements for a criminal background check pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:43I, and the time delineated at N.J.S.A. 26:2H-84(d) (60 days for the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety background check and an additional 60 days for the Federal authorities' background check) will be extended for a period of 90 days.

3. Long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, assisted living programs, and comprehensive personal care homes may temporarily employ individuals who qualify pursuant to (c)1 and 2 above. Facilities that hire one or more nurse aides under the modified requirements created by this waiver/modification must:

i. Retain records detailing which, if any, of the above actions were implemented, including a list of the names, Social Security numbers, and birth dates of the individuals temporarily hired pursuant to this waiver/modification, the training records and completed competency checklists, the duration of the implementation, and must document and immediately report to the Department any incidents involving the abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property of a resident of the facility, which are attributable to the nurse aides hired under this waiver/ modification; and

ii. Within one week of the hiring of one or more nurse aides, provide the Department with the names, Social Security numbers, and birth dates of the individuals temporarily hired pursuant to this waiver/modification by sending the information to:

Garlina Finn, Education Program Development Specialist

Certification Program

New Jersey Department of Health

PO Box 358

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0358

4. When the Public Health Emergency is lifted, facilities will be required to return to operation in accordance with all licensure standards. Nurse aides employed pursuant to this waiver/ modification will no longer be eligible to work as nurse aides and will have to fulfill the regulatory requirements to become a certified nurse aide.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:39-43.2

Modified by Executive Order No. 103(2020) 52 N.J.R. 1152(a), effective 4/29/2020

Modified by Executive Order No. 103(2020) 52 N.J.R. 1641(a), effective 4/14/2020