Section 138.13. Nursing staff; other health care personnel

(a) There shall be at least one registered nurse assigned to provide nursing care for patients in the cardiac catheterization area at all times who shall have intensive care or coronary care experience and knowledge of cardiovascular medications, and experience with cardiac catheterization patients. In pediatric units, this nurse shall also have experience in pediatric cardiac surgery units.

(b) There shall be nursing service goals and objectives, standards of nursing practice, procedure manuals and written job descriptions for each level of personnel which shall include the following:

(1) A means for assessing the nursing care needs of the patients and determining adequate staffing to meet those needs.

(2) Staffing patterns that are adequate to meet the nursing goals, standards of practice and the needs of the patients.

(3) An adequate number of licensed and unlicensed assistive personnel to assure that staffing levels meet the total nursing needs of the patient.

(4) Nursing personnel assigned to duties consistent with their training, experience and scope of practice, where applicable.

(c) In addition to the requirements for the nursing staff in subsections (a) and (b), there shall be service goals and objectives, standards of patient care, procedure manuals and written job descriptions for each level of other health care personnel which includes the following:

(1) A means for assessing the needs of patients and determining adequate staffing to meet those needs.

(2) Staffing patterns that are adequate to meet patient care goals, standards of practice and needs of patients.

(3) An adequate number of licensed and unlicensed health care personnel to assure that staffing levels meet the total needs of patients.

(4) Catheterization laboratory health care personnel shall be assigned to duties consistent with their training, experience and scope of practice when applicable.

(d) The patient’s preoperative and postoperative care in the cardiac catheterization area shall be provided by a registered nurse and other nursing staff as required to meet patient care needs. Either nursing personnel or other health care personnel with appropriate education, training and experience shall assist the physician in the performance of the cardiac catheterization procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.