Bill Text: NJ A241 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires all direct patient care staff in general hospitals to wear identification badges.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [A241 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A241-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CHARLOTTE VANDERVALK
District 39 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Camden)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Requires all direct patient care staff in general hospitals to wear identification badges.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning identification requirements for hospital staff and amending P.L.1997, c.76.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1997, c.76 (C.26:2H-12.8a) is amended to read as follows:
3. A general hospital, licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et al.), shall require a student nurse or facility staff member to wear an identifying badge [that], which includes the person's name, job title and licensure status, at all times while on duty, and, if appropriate, to verbally identify himself by name and licensure status to the patient and to any guardian or other responsible party when necessary, prior to examining, observing or treating the patient.
As used in this section, "facility staff member" means a physician, nurse or other person employed by, or affiliated with, the hospital who provides direct patient care at that facility.
(cf: P.L.1997, c.76, s.3)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill is designed to strengthen existing statutory requirements for the identification of general hospital staff.
Specifically, the bill amends N.J.S.A.26:2H-12.8a to provide that the identification badge that a student nurse or facility staff member at a general hospital is required to wear pursuant to that statute is to:
-- include the person's job title, as well as name and licensure status; and
-- be worn by that person at all times while on duty.
In addition, the bill clarifies the definition of "facility staff member" in the above statute to include a physician, nurse, or other person employed by, or affiliated with, the hospital who provides direct patient care at that facility.
