Bill Requiring On-Duty RNs at All Times Draws Support

The "Put a Nurse In the Nursing Home" bill introduced by Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois would require nursing homes to have a registered nurse on duty 24/7. It's drawn support from the Coalition of Geriatric Nursing Organizations, Consumer Voice and, most recently, the American Nurses Association.

Supporters of the bill believe that it would:

• Improve the quality of care nursing home residents receive
• Ensure the safety of residents in a way that isn't possible with the current eight-hour-per-day on-duty requirement 
• Allow the RN time to create care plans and evaluate and treat residents who were recently discharged from the hospital or are at risk for readmission

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