N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-19.16

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 8:43G-19.16 - Normal newborn nurse staff qualifications, staff time and availability

(a) Hospitals designated as a CPC-Basic may provide care to neonates born greater than 2,499 grams or at least 36 weeks gestation. The only exception to this criteria is if it has been documented in the medical record that the neonate was expected to meet the weight and age criteria and the neonate does not require a higher level of care than otherwise specified for a CPC-Basic. Service restrictions placed on CPC-Basic include:

1. Mechanical ventilatory support shall not be provided except for resuscitative measures; and

2. Total parenteral nutrition shall not be provided.

(b) The physician director of newborn care in hospitals designated as a CPC-Basic shall be board certified in pediatrics.

(c) There shall be a nurse manager of the normal newborn nursery who may also function as the nurse manager of the obstetric service. This individual shall be a registered professional nurse with, at a minimum:

1. Three-years of experience in inpatient neonatal services within the five years immediately preceding the date of appointment;

2. Educational preparation in maternal-fetal neonatal nursing, in accordance with hospital policy; and

3. Completion of 24 contact hours of maternal-fetal or neonatal nursing approved by a nationally recognized nurse education accrediting body every three years.

(d) There shall be a health professional certified in neonatal resuscitation available within the unit at all times.

(e) The normal newborn nursery shall be covered at all times by a pediatrician, family practice physician with pediatric privileges, or certified neonatal or pediatric nurse practitioner who is either present in the hospital or available by telephone and able to arrive within 30 minutes of being, summoned, under normal transportation conditions.

(f) The normal newborn nursery shall have a registered professional nurse present whenever a neonate is in the newborn nursery. Additional staffing, assignments shall be determined by acuity levels appropriate to infants.

(g) The normal newborn nursery shall have at least one registered professional nurse to every eight neonates. However, so long as one registered nurse is on duty as required by (d) above, licensed practical nurses may be used to comply with the nurse:infant ratio requirement.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-19.16

New Rule, R.1999 d.436, effective 12/20/1999.
See: 31 New Jersey Register 367(a), 31 New Jersey Register 614(a), 31 New Jersey Register 4293(c).
Former N.J.A.C. 8:43G-19.16, Postpartum patient services, recodified to N.J.A.C. 8:43G-19.14.