Texas Health and Safety Code

§ 257.003 — NURSE STAFFING POLICY AND PLAN

HS § 257.003Title 4. HEALTH FACILITIES · Part B. LICENSING OF HEALTH FACILITIES · Ch. 257. NURSE STAFFING

Statute text

(a)The governing body of a hospital shall adopt, implement, and enforce a written nurse staffing policy to ensure that an adequate number and skill mix of nurses are available to meet the level of patient care needed. The policy must include a process for:

(1)requiring the hospital to give significant consideration to the nurse staffing plan recommended by the hospital's nurse staffing committee and to that committee's evaluation of any existing plan;

(2)adopting, implementing, and enforcing an official nurse services staffing plan that is based on the needs of each patient care unit and shift and on evidence relating to patient care needs;

(3)using the official nurse services staffing plan as a component in setting the nurse staffing budget;

(4)encouraging nurses to provide input to the committee relating to nurse staffing concerns;

(5)protecting from retaliation nurses who provide input to the committee; and

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Legislative history

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 742 (S.B. 476), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.