Massachusetts Health & Accident Insurance Practice Exam

What characterizes Skilled Nursing Care?

1. It can be done at home

2. It requires physician supervision and around-the-clock care

3. It is non-medical assistance for daily living

4. It is only for patients recovering from surgery

The correct answer is: It requires physician supervision and around-the-clock care

Skilled nursing care is characterized by the need for professional medical help performed by registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs). This level of care is typically required when a patient has complex medical needs, which necessitates physician supervision and its provision often requires consistent monitoring, assessments, and interventions, reflecting the intensity and complexity of the medical care required. Round-the-clock care can be necessary to ensure the patient’s health and safety—this could involve administering medications, managing medical equipment, or providing rehabilitation services. The other options do not accurately reflect the nature of skilled nursing care. While skilled nursing can indeed take place in various settings, including a home environment, it fundamentally requires the oversight of a physician and skilled professionals, which distinguishes it from other levels of care. Non-medical assistance for daily living refers to custodial care, not skilled nursing, and while many patients receiving skilled nursing care may be recovering from surgery, it is not exclusive to this situation and is applicable for various health conditions necessitating medically skilled assistance.