Sec. 30.08.10.06. Nursing Personnel

A. A neurotrauma center shall have:

(1) A nurse manager who is administratively responsible for the center;

(2) An organizational chart relating the nurse manager to other members of the neurotrauma center and the hospital; and

(3) A masters-prepared advanced practice nurse with clinical expertise in neurotrauma care with responsibility for clinical nursing oversight and nursing staff consultation.

B. The nurse manager shall:

(1) Be a registered nurse;

(2) Have a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing;

(3) Have at least 2 or more years experience in acute neurotrauma care; and

(4) Have at least 1 year or more experience in an intensive care unit.

C. The neurotrauma center nursing department shall:

(1) Have a patient classification system to determine nurse staffing for each patient in the neurotrauma center;

(2) Have a neurotrauma center orientation program that documents nursing competencies specific to the care and treatment of acute neurologic injuries;

(3) Have appropriately trained nursing staff to manage the complex physical and emotional needs of neurotrauma patients;

(4) Require that each new staff nurse hired for the neurotrauma center complete the orientation program before assuming independent practice in the center;

(5) Provide nursing staff employed in the critical care areas with a minimum of 8 hours of neurotrauma-related continuing education annually and 4 hours for nurses working in the acute care units; and

(6) Promote specialty certification for nurses working in critical care units within 3 years of assignment to neurotrauma.

D. Nurses in the critical care areas shall spend 50 percent of their clinical practice time caring for patients with neurologic injury.

E. Neurotrauma nursing staff shall be involved with the centers prevention and outreach education programs.