Nursing facilities are licensed to provide which type of care?

• A. Inpatient care for those who need skilled nursing services or supervision
• B. Acute care hospital-level inpatient care
• C. Hospice care
• D. Outpatient rehabilitation

Answer: (B)

Licensing defines the level of care a facility is allowed to provide. Nursing facilities are designed to offer 24-hour inpatient care with skilled nursing services and supervision for residents who need ongoing assistance or rehabilitation. They are not equipped or licensed to deliver acute hospital–level inpatient care, which requires a hospital setting with higher-acuity medical resources. Hospice care is specialized end-of-life care that can be provided in various settings under a separate hospice license, and outpatient rehabilitation involves services without an overnight stay, which isn’t the inpatient scope of a nursing facility.