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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 12. Health
Agency 5. Department of Health
Chapter 371. Regulations for the Licensure of Nursing Facilities
12/22/2024

12VAC5-371-200. Director of nursing.

A. Each nursing facility shall employ a full-time director of nursing to supervise the delivery of nursing services. The individual hired shall be a registered nurse licensed by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

B. The duties and responsibilities of the director of nursing shall include, but are not limited to:

1. Developing and maintaining (i) nursing service objectives, (ii) standards of practice, (iii) policy and procedure manuals, and (iv) job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel;

2. Recommending to the administrator the resources needed to carry out nursing service, including but not limited to, equipment and supplies and the number and level of nursing personnel to be employed;

3. Participating in the employment of nursing personnel, including (i) recruitment, (ii) selection, (iii) position assignment, (iv) orientation, (v) in-service education, (vi) supervision, (vii) evaluation, and (viii) termination;

4. Participating with the medical director in developing and implementing policies for resident care;

5. Assuring that the comprehensive plan of care is maintained in conjunction with other disciplines;

6. Coordinating nursing services with other services such as medical, rehabilitative, and social services and the resident activity program;

7. Participating in quality assurance committee meetings to identify issues and to develop and implement appropriate plans of action to correct identified problems;

8. Making daily rounds on resident floors, unless this duty has been delegated to another licensed nurse; and

9. Recommending and coordinating the training needs of nursing staff with the individual responsible for in-service training.

C. A registered nurse, designated in writing by the administrator, shall serve in the temporary absence of the director of nursing so there is the equivalent of a full-time director of nursing on duty for a minimum of five days a week.

D. The director of nursing shall not function as a nursing supervisor in facilities with 60 or more beds.

E. The nursing facility shall notify the OLC, in writing, within five days of a vacancy in the director of nursing position. The written notice shall give the name and Virginia license number of the individual appointed to serve as director of nursing, and whether the appointment is permanent or temporary.

F. The director of nursing position shall not be held by a temporary designate for more than 90 days. Temporary agency personnel shall not be utilized to fill the director of nursing position.

G. Written notification, giving the name and license number of the individual, shall be sent to the OLC when a permanent appointment is made.

H. A license for a new nursing facility or an increase in bed size in an existing nursing facility shall not be issued if the director of nursing position is vacant.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-127 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2007.

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