Illinois Nursing Home Administrators (NHA) Practice Exam

What is the best estimate of the minimum daily direct-care staffing for an 80-bed facility with 48 skilled-care residents and 22 intermediate care residents?

1. 304 direct care hours

2. 266 direct care hours

3. 24 registered nurse hours

4. 60 registered nurse hours

The correct answer is: 266 direct care hours

In determining the best estimate for the minimum daily direct-care staffing in a nursing facility, several factors must be considered, including the types of residents and their care requirements. For an 80-bed facility with both skilled and intermediate care residents, a common method of calculating minimum staffing requirements involves using a standard formula based on the types of care provided. In general, skilled care residents typically require more direct care hours than intermediate care residents due to the complexity of their medical needs. A commonly used estimate is that skilled-care residents may require around 4.1 hours of direct care per resident per day, while intermediate-care residents might require approximately 2.0 hours per day. To find the total direct-care hours needed, the calculation would be: - For skilled care: 48 residents x 4.1 hours = 196.8 hours - For intermediate care: 22 residents x 2.0 hours = 44.0 hours Adding these together gives: 196.8 hours + 44.0 hours = 240.8 hours This total indicates the amount of direct care needed in a day for all residents. For regulatory purposes, however, there may be recommended minimums that suggest staffing levels might be a bit higher to ensure