Section 250.2240  Nursing Service

a)         The organization and staffing of the nursing service shall be in accordance with Subpart I – Nursing Service and Administration, except as amended and modified in this Part.

b)         The registered professional nurse supervising the nursing program of the psychiatric service shall be required to have had a minimum of three years experience in a recognized psychiatric facility and demonstrated competency in psychiatric nursing acceptable to the Department, and to have completed an advanced degree program in psychiatric nursing or be otherwise qualified by education acceptable to the Department.

c)         The nursing personnel of the psychiatric unit in the general hospital shall be a separate staff whose line assignment is limited to the psychiatric service or psychiatric unit. Qualified nurses should be available for consultation with nursing staff on nonpsychiatric services and units.

d)         There shall be at least one registered nurse qualified in psychiatric nursing on duty at all times on each psychiatric nursing unit. The number of registered professional nurses and other nursing personnel shall be adequate to provide the individual patient care required in carrying out the nursing plan for each patient.

(Source:  Amended at 5 Ill. Reg. 507, effective December 29, 1980)