Minimum Staffing Requirements
Definition: Federal and state regulations establishing minimum numbers of nursing staff that must be present in a nursing home. Federal requirements include 24/7 RN coverage and minimum hours per resident day (HPRD) thresholds.
In Practice
CMS's minimum staffing rule requires facilities to provide at least 3.48 total nursing HPRD, including 0.55 RN HPRD and 2.45 nurse aide HPRD. Staffing deficiencies are among the most impactful citations because inadequate staffing affects every aspect of resident care. Staffing levels are reported through the PBJ system and affect Five-Star ratings.