Ask the Nursing Expert – State vs Federal Staffing Minimums

Q: If we meet state-level staffing minimums, will we have sufficient staff under F725, Sufficient Nursing Staff?

A: Meeting state minimums does not guarantee compliance with federal staffing standards.

States with minimums require a specific number of staff, while the federal rule is more dynamic; more nursing staff may be necessary to meet federal mandates.

Each surveyor will observe and interview to consider nurse staffing; if they find issues, surveyors then investigate further. These investigations may uncover resident care or safety issues linked to insufficient nurse staffing.

State surveyors also use the Payroll Based Journal system to examine staffing, so ensure PBJ data is submitted timely and accurately.