N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43A-26.4

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

Section 8:43A-26.4 - Nurse staffing

(a) Ambulatory care facilities which provide drug abuse treatment services shall designate in writing a registered professional nurse as the director of nursing services. The director of nursing services, or a registered professional nurse designated in writing to act in the absence of the director of nursing services, shall be on the premises of the facility whenever medications are being administered and at times specified by the facility in the policy and procedure manual.

1. If the policies and procedures of the facility ensure that the conditions below are satisfied, then the facility need not comply with (a) above or with 8:43A-8.1:

i. Medications, including methadone, shall not be dispensed or administered in the facility;

ii. For each patient, the drug counselor to whom the patient is assigned shall obtain health-related information from the patient using a protocol or form approved by the medical director and shall record the information in the patient medical record. If the drug counselor determines that there is a need for immediate intervention by a physician or nurse, the counselor shall immediately notify the medical director or registered professional nurse or shall immediately provide the patient with an appropriate referral; and

iii. A physician or a registered professional nurse shall review each patient's health-related information within 15 days of the interview of the patient by the drug counselor. The physician or registered professional nurse shall determine the need for direct assessment by a physician or registered professional nurse or for referral to another health care provider. Direct assessment shall be ordered or referral made on the basis of this determination.

(b) In facilities providing methadone detoxification or methadone maintenance services, there shall be at least one registered professional nurse present in the facility for 150 or fewer patients and at least one additional licensed nurse present in the facility for each additional 150 or fewer patients, during all hours when medications are administered.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43A-26.4