N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 10 §§ 712-1.3

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 43, October 23, 2024

Section 712-1.3 - Nursing units

(a) Nursing units shall consist of up to 40 certified beds. The commissioner may approve nursing units with additional beds, provided that patient care is not adversely affected and appropriate arrangements are made for patient care and supervision.

(b) Single bedrooms shall be a minimum of 100 square feet in size and multi-bed rooms shall be a minimum of 80 square feet per bed, exclusive of toilet enclosures, lockers, closets and vestibules.

(c) Patient beds shall not be spaced closer than three feet from each other and sides of beds shall be at least two feet from walls.

(d) Window sills shall not be higher than three feet above the floor and shall be above grade.

(e) Handwashing facilities, with other than hand controls, shall be provided for each patient bedroom.

(f) Each patient bedroom shall have a toilet directly adjacent to it. Where this is not feasible, toilets shall be provided in each nursing unit, in such proximity to the patient rooms served as to adequately provide for patient needs, in a ratio of not more than eight patient beds for each centralized toilet served. Water closets shall have appropriate grab bars.

(g) At least one centrally located shower or tub within each nursing unit shall be provided for each 20 patients, or fraction thereof, served. Bathtubs and showers shall have appropriate grab bars.

(h) A nurses' calling system shall be provided.

(i) A locker or closet shall be provided for each patient, to be located within or directly adjacent to each bedroom, sufficient in size to hold normal wearing apparel and personal effects.

(j) In multi-bed rooms, flame-retardant cubicle curtains shall be provided for each bed.

(k) Nurses' stations shall be located to provide adequate supervision of patient corridors. Use of a convex mirror for such purpose shall be permitted. A staff water closet and lavatory shall be located in the vicinity of the nurses' station, if such facilities cannot be provided directly adjacent to the nurses' station.

(l) Each nursing unit shall include a medication room with a sink, refrigerator, and locked storage cabinets, or a separate and distinct part of the clean utility room or the nurses' station with double-locked storage cabinets, refrigerator, and a sink, which shall be used to prepare and store medications.

(m) Each nursing unit shall include separate clean and soiled utility rooms. Clean utility room facilities shall be equipped with a sink with hot and cold running water and other than hand control faucets; a soap and paper towel dispenser; and self-closing waste receptacles. Clean utility room facilities shall be located in a separate area in the nurses' station when no other space is available.

(n) One nourishment pantry shall be provided on each patient floor. When no other space is available, the nourishment station may be included with, but shall be a separate and distinct part of, the nurses' station.

(o) The soiled utility room shall contain a handwashing sink, work counter, waste receptacle, and soiled linen receptacles. A clinical sink or equivalent flushing rim fixture shall be included, unless other satisfactory means of disposing of sanitary wastes are provided.

(p) Provision shall be made for the administration of suction and oxygen to patients, with built-in or portable equipment.

(q) At least one janitor's closet for each patient floor shall be provided.

(r) A stretcher and wheelchair parking area, or alcove, shall be provided on each patient floor.

(s) A minimum of one dayroom per patient floor shall be provided.

(t) Isolation rooms shall be provided on the basis of one for each 30 beds or major fraction thereof, unless the hospital has a separate contagious disease unit. Each isolation room shall provide for:

(1) only one patient per room;

(2) a lavatory within the patient room, or toilet room;

(3) a view-window for nursing observation;

(4) a separate toilet room with bath or shower; and

(5) an entrance from the corridor through a vestibule space, which may be a closed anteroom or an open passageway, with adequate facilities to maintain aseptic conditions including lavatory or sink. One closed anteroom may serve several isolation rooms.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 10 §§ 712-1.3