(c) The following requirements shall apply to all nurseries:

1. (1) Nurseries shall:

   1. (A) Not be used for any other purpose; and
   2. (B) Never be left unattended when occupied;

2. (2)

   1. (A) Infants born outside the hospital or with proven or potential infections shall be isolated from other infants in the nursery.
   2. (B) Infants with infections, skin rash, or diarrhea shall be immediately separated and isolated;

3. (3)

   1. (A) Isolettes shall not serve as a sole means of isolation.
   2. (B) Provisions for isolation shall be provided;

4. (4) The following equipment shall be provided in nurseries:

   1. (A)

(i) Individual approved-type hospital bassinets.

1. (ii) Wicker-type or woven-type bassinets shall not be used;

   1. (B)

      1. (i) Metal or approved plastic diaper and waste containers.
      2. (ii) The lids on these containers shall be operated by a foot control or equivalent device;
   2. (C) Infant scales;
   3. (D) Blankets and linen;
   4. (E) Suction equipment; and
   5. (F) Incubators suitable for the care of premature infants provided in the ratio of at least one (1) incubator to twenty (20) bassinets;

2. (5) Infant emergency supplies:

   1. (A) Emergency medications approved by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee;
   2. (B) Infant laryngoscope;
   3. (C) Suction catheters;
   4. (D) Endotracheal tubes;
   5. (E) Stylets; and
   6. (F) Infant airways and IV supplies;

3. (6)

   1. (A) Newborn testing for critical congenital heart defects shall include the performance of pulse oximetry testing all newborns before discharge.
   2. (B) See Arkansas Code § 20-9-103.
   3. (C) Performance of a pulse oximetry test on a newborn is not required if the parent or legal guardian of the newborn object to the testing on medical, religious, or philosophical grounds;

4. (7) Newborn testing for genetic illnesses shall be in accordance with:

   1. (A) Rules Pertaining to Testing of Newborn Infants, 20 CAR pt. 107; and
   2. (B) Arkansas Code § 20-15-302;

5. (8) Newborn testing for early detection of hearing loss shall be in accordance with:

   1. (A) Rules for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, Tracking, and Intervention Program and Advisory Board, 20 CAR pt. 11; and
   2. (B) Arkansas Code § 20-15-1105;

6. (9)

   1. (A) Strict hand hygiene techniques shall be maintained by all personnel.
   2. (B) A clean barrier shall be used by anyone handling the infant;

7. (10)

   1. (A) Infant clothing shall be furnished by the hospital.
   2. (B) However, if the mother wishes to provide clothing for the infant, hospital personnel shall examine the clothing to make sure it meets hospital requirements.
   3. (C) Diapers shall be available in necessary quantities;

8. (11) Formula feedings.

   1. (A) Any individually packaged, presterilized formula delivered by an outside source shall be approved by the facility.
   2. (B) There shall be an adequate supply of sterile disposable ready-to-use formula bottles available.
   3. (C) Formulas shall be stored in enclosed cabinets.
   4. (D) The expiration date shall be checked on each bottle prior to infant feeding.
   5. (E) Policies and procedures shall be developed in conjunction with the Infection Prevention and Control Committee regarding the handling, labeling, and storing separately of breastmilk.
   6. (F) Individual nipple shields and breast pumps used in infant feeding shall be cleaned according to hospital infection prevention and control policies and procedures.

   7. (G) If the facility has a breastmilk bank, the policies and procedures shall be submitted to and approved by the:

      1. (i) Department of Health; and
      2. (ii) Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Committee; and
9. (12) Rooming-in service. Hospitals providing a newborn nursery may provide rooming in for infants on an intermittent or twenty-four-hour basis based on the mother’s request.