RCW 70.41.410
Nurse staffing committee—Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and RCW 70.41.420 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Hospital" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70.41.020, and also includes state hospitals as defined in RCW 72.23.010.
(2) "Intensity" means the level of patient need for nursing care, as determined by the nursing assessment.
(3) "Nursing personnel" means registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and unlicensed assistive nursing personnel providing direct patient care.
(4) "Nurse staffing committee" means the committee established by a hospital under RCW 70.41.420.
(5) "Patient care unit" means any unit or area of the hospital that provides patient care by registered nurses.
(6) "Skill mix" means the number and relative percentages of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and unlicensed assistive personnel among the total number of nursing personnel.
[ 2008 c 47 § 2.]
NOTES:
Findings—Intent—2008 c 47: "(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) Research evidence demonstrates that registered nurses play a critical role in patient safety and quality of care. The ever-worsening shortage of nurses available to provide care in acute care hospitals has necessitated multiple strategies to generate more nurses and improve the recruitment and retention of nurses in hospitals; and
(b) Evidence-based nurse staffing that can help ensure quality and safe patient care while increasing nurse satisfaction in the work environment is key to solving an urgent public health issue in Washington state. Hospitals and nursing organizations recognize a mutual interest in patient safety initiatives that create a healthy environment for nurses and safe care for patients.
(2) In order to protect patients and to support greater retention of registered nurses, and to promote evidence-based nurse staffing, the legislature intends to establish a mechanism whereby direct care nurses and hospital management shall participate in a joint process regarding decisions about nurse staffing." [ 2008 c 47 § 1.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 70 - Public Health and Safety
Chapter 70.41 - Hospital Licensing and Regulation.
70.41.005 - Transfer of duties to the department of health.
70.41.010 - Declaration of purpose.
70.41.030 - Standards and rules.
70.41.040 - Enforcement of chapter—Personnel—Merit system.
70.41.100 - Applications for licenses and renewals—Fees.
70.41.110 - Licenses, provisional licenses—Issuance, duration, assignment, posting.
70.41.115 - Specialty hospitals—Licenses—Exemptions.
70.41.122 - Exemption from RCW 70.41.120 for hospitals accredited by other entities.
70.41.125 - Hospital construction review process—Coordination with state and local agencies.
70.41.130 - Administrative actions against license—Rules—Procedure.
70.41.150 - Denial, suspension, revocation of license—Disclosure of information.
70.41.155 - Duty to investigate patient well-being.
70.41.160 - Remedies available to department—Duty of attorney general.
70.41.180 - Physicians' services.
70.41.190 - Medical records of patients—Retention and preservation.
70.41.220 - Duty to keep records of restrictions on practitioners' privileges—Penalty.
70.41.240 - Information regarding conversion of hospitals to nonhospital health care facilities.
70.41.250 - Cost disclosure to health care providers.
70.41.300 - Long-term care—Definitions.
70.41.322 - Discharge planning—Requirements—Lay caregivers.
70.41.324 - Discharge planning—Certain policies and criteria not required.
70.41.326 - Discharge planning—Construction—Liability.
70.41.330 - Hospital complaint toll-free telephone number.
70.41.340 - Investigation of hospital complaints—Rules.
70.41.365 - Statewide sexual assault kit tracking system—Participation by hospitals.
70.41.367 - Sexual assault evidence kit collection—Availability, plan, and notice requirements.
70.41.370 - Investigation of complaints of violations concerning nursing technicians.
70.41.380 - Notice of unanticipated outcomes.
70.41.390 - Safe patient handling.
70.41.410 - Nurse staffing committee—Definitions.
70.41.420 - Nurse staffing committee.
70.41.425 - Nurse staffing—Department investigations.
70.41.440 - Duty to report violent injuries—Preservation of evidence—Immunity—Privilege.
70.41.450 - Estimated charges of hospital services—Notice.
70.41.460 - Contract with department of corrections.
70.41.480 - Findings—Intent—Authority to prescribe prepackaged emergency medications—Definitions.
70.41.485 - Opioid overdose reversal medications—Distribution—Labeling—Liability.
70.41.500 - Down syndrome—Parent information.