# 38 C.F.R. § 51.130 (2026): Nursing services

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_130

## Section

- **Citation:** 38 C.F.R. § 51.130 (2026)
- **Heading:** Nursing services
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Title 38 CFR: Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief / Chapter I: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS / Part 51: PER DIEM FOR NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, OR ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE OF VETERANS IN STATE HOMES / Subpart D: Standards Applicable to the Payment of Per Diem for Nursing Home Care. / § 51.130: § 51.130   Nursing services.

## Text

The facility management must provide an organized nursing service with a sufficient number of qualified nursing personnel to meet the total nursing care needs, as determined by resident assessment and individualized comprehensive plans of care, of all patients within the facility 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(a) The nursing service must be under the direction of a full-time registered nurse who is currently licensed by the State and has, in writing, administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability for the functions, activities, and training of the nursing services staff.
(b) The facility management must provide registered nurses 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
(c) The director of nursing service must designate a registered nurse as a supervising nurse for each tour of duty.
(1) Based on the application and results of the case mix and staffing methodology, the director of nursing may serve in a dual role as director and as an onsite-supervising nurse only when the facility has an average daily occupancy of 60 or fewer residents in nursing home.
(2) Based on the application and results of the case mix and staffing methodology, the evening or night supervising nurse may serve in a dual role as supervising nurse as well as provides direct patient care only when the facility has an average daily occupancy of 60 or fewer residents in nursing home.
(d) The facility management must provide nursing services to ensure that there is direct care nurse staffing of no less than 2.5 hours per patient per 24 hours, 7 days per week in the portion of any building providing nursing home care.
(e) Nurse staffing must be based on a staffing methodology that applies case mix and is adequate for meeting the standards of this part.
(The Office of Management and Budget has approved the information collection requirements in this section under control number 2900-0160)
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101, 501, 1710, 1741-1743)
[65 FR 968, Jan. 6, 2000, as amended at 74 FR 19434, Apr. 29, 2009]

## Nearby sections

- [38 C.F.R. § 51.60 (2026) § 51.60   Standards applicable for payment of per diem.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_60.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.70 (2026) § 51.70   Resident rights.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_70.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.80 (2026) § 51.80   Admission, transfer and discharge rights.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_80.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.90 (2026) § 51.90   Resident behavior and facility practices.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_90.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.100 (2026) § 51.100   Quality of life.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_100.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.110 (2026) § 51.110   Resident assessment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_110.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.120 (2026) § 51.120   Quality of care.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_120.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.130 (2026) § 51.130   Nursing services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_130.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.140 (2026) § 51.140   Dietary services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_140.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.150 (2026) § 51.150   Physician services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_150.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.160 (2026) § 51.160   Specialized rehabilitative services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_160.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.170 (2026) § 51.170   Dental services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_170.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.180 (2026) § 51.180   Pharmacy services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_180.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 51.190 (2026) § 51.190   Infection control.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_190.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P51_S51_130. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
