N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-7.5

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

Section 8:43G-7.5 - Cardiac surgery staff time and availability

(a) There shall be at least a ratio of one registered professional nurse to one patient during the patient's stay in the cardiovascular surgical intensive care service or recovery room until the patient is stabilized.

(b) For patients who remain in the cardiovascular surgical intensive care service or recovery room beyond the initial period of stabilization, there shall be at least a ratio of two registered professional nurses to three such patients.

(c) Following reclassification or transfer of the patient to an intermediate level of care, nurse staffing shall be in accordance with 8:43G-9.20(a)6.

(d) An anesthesiologist responsible for providing anesthesia care during cardiac surgery shall meet one of the following qualifications:

1. Is board certified in anesthesiology, and has completed additional training in providing anesthesia care during cardiac surgery; or

2. Is board eligible in anesthesiology, has completed additional training in providing anesthesia care during cardiac surgery, and is examined for certification within two years of initial anesthesia board eligibility.

(e) An anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist experienced in cardiac surgery and with hospital privileges for providing anesthesia care during cardiac surgery shall be available in the surgical suite to assist the anesthesiologist for each cardiac surgical procedure.

(f) There shall be a physician in the hospital at all times who is able to manage cardiac emergencies in the surgical intensive care service or recovery room.

(g) During the entire period of the patient's stay in the cardiovascular surgical intensive care service or recovery room, the operating surgeon or a designated alternate shall arrive at the hospital within 30 minutes of being summoned for an emergency.

(h) A physician who is board certified in internal medicine, in the subspecialty of cardiovascular disease, or other designated physician shall be in the hospital and available for assistance whenever cardiac surgery is being performed.

(i) One registered professional nurse who is certified in basic cardiac life support and trained and experienced in assisting cardiac surgery shall be in each operating room when cardiac surgery is performed. There shall be an additional assistant in each operating room who is a registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, or technician.

(j) A perfusionist who is certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion or meets the experience requirements shall be available to operate the perfusion pump for each cardiac surgical procedure. A second perfusionist meeting the same requirements shall be available in the surgical suite to assist. In emergency cases, a second perfusionist may be off-site and readily summoned if needed.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-7.5

Amended by R.1992 d.72, effective 2/18/1992.
See: 23 New Jersey Register 2590(a), 24 New Jersey Register 590(a).
Qualifications for cardiac surgery anesthesiologist specified at (c).
Amended by 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).
In (a), deleted "the first 24 hours of" following "during", and added "until the patient is stabilized" at the end; in (b), substituted "beyond the initial period of stabilization" for "after 24 hours" following "room", substituted "two" for "one" following "ratio of", and substituted "three" for "two" following "nurses to"; inserted a new (c); and recodified former (c) through (i) as (d) through (j).