NAC449.5535. Nurses.

     1. Each nurse employed by a facility must be licensed to practice nursing in this State.

     2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, each nurse of a facility who is assigned charge responsibilities must:

     (a) Be a registered nurse; and

     (b) Have at least 6 months of experience as a nurse in performing hemodialysis or in providing nursing care for a patient with permanent kidney failure. The experience required pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph must be obtained within the 2 years immediately preceding the date on which the nurse is assigned charge responsibilities by the facility.

     3. The provisions of paragraph (b) of subsection 2 do not apply to a registered nurse who holds a current certificate in nephrology nursing or hemodialysis issued by a board that is nationally recognized.

     4. Each charge nurse of a facility shall:

     (a) Make daily assignments based on the requirements of each patient of the facility for treatment;

     (b) Provide immediate supervision of the care provided to each of those patients;

     (c) Conduct an assessment of a patient of the facility if required by the circumstances concerning the treatment of the patient; and

     (d) Communicate with the patient’s physician and the social worker and licensed dietitian of the facility concerning the treatment of the patient.

     5. If a facility provides training concerning self-care for patients of the facility, a registered nurse who has at least 12 months of experience in performing dialysis and experience in the applicable dialysis modality must:

     (a) Be responsible for training the patient and each member of the family of the patient who intends to assist the patient in providing care for the patient; and

     (b) Supervise other members of the staff of the facility who assist in providing that training.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R130-99, eff. 8-1-2001; A by R090-12, 12-20-2012)