Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-17.7.1-2 § 23-17.7.1-2. Definitions

(a) “Director” means the director of the state department of health.

(b) “Licensing agency” means the state department of health.

(c) “Nursing assistant” is defined as a nursing, orderly, or home health aide who is a paraprofessional trained to give personal care and related health care and assistance based on his or her level of preparation to individuals who are sick, disabled, dependent, or infirmed.  The director of the department of health may by regulation establish different levels of nursing assistants.

(d) “Nursing service agency” is defined as any person, firm, partnership, or corporation doing business within the state that supplies, on a temporary basis, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, or nursing assistants to a hospital, nursing home, or other facility requiring the services of those persons, with the exception of hospitals, home nursing care providers, home care providers, and hospices licensed in this state.  For all purposes a nursing service agency shall be considered an employer and those persons that it supplies on a temporary basis shall be considered employees and not independent contractors, and the nursing service agency shall be subject to all state and federal laws which govern employer-employee relations.

(e) “Service record” means the written entire entries documenting service rendered by the nursing service agency.