(a) A licensed nursing facility may:

1. (1) Engage the services of direct care staff and other personnel on a full-time or part-time basis and through employment, contracting, and staffing agencies, or any combination thereof;

2. (2) Use:

   1. (A) Fixed schedules;
   2. (B) Flex-time;
   3. (C) Rotating shifts;
   4. (D) Split shifts;
   5. (E) Compressed workweeks; and
   6. (F) Other alternative staffing schedules; and

3. (3) Use the universal worker model and assign other tasks to some or all certified nurse aides (such as food service, laundry, and housekeeping) in addition to their direct care responsibilities:

   1. (A) The universal worker option applies to both traditional and home-style type nursing facilities; and
   2. (B) For certified nurse aides serving as universal workers, the facility must ensure that direct care and nondirect care hours are properly differentiated for:

(i) Monthly reports under 20 CAR §§ 400-1404 and 400-1405; and

1. (ii) Quarterly reporting to the federal direct care data system.