Joint Commission’s new nursing requirements effective January 2026

Effective January 1, 2026, Joint Commission will accredit healthcare institutions using new National Performance Goals (NPGs) replacing former National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) for Hospital and Critical Access Hospital accreditation programs. Each of the 14 NPGs include a list of Elements of Performance, many of which are directly tied to Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs).

New nursing requirements

NPG goal 12 requires hospitals be “staffed to meet the needs of the patients it serves” and ensure “staff are competent to provide safe, quality care.” Under this new goal, hospitals will have new nursing requirements including:

1. A nurse executive on the hospital’s leadership team responsible for overseeing nursing services
2. An on-duty registered nurse either directly providing or supervising nursing services provided by other staff available 24/7
3. Adequate staffing levels to ensure a registered nurse is immediately available for any and all patients
4. Policies or procedures for which outpatient departments are not required to have a nurse present

As hospitals have long recognized, nursing professionals are key to better health outcomes, quality care and patient safety. This updated NPG provides a framework for consistent hospital policies and procedures regarding the nurse workforce.

Value of Joint Commission accreditation

Hospitals utilize Joint Commission accreditation to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid payments and ease state licensure requirements. Accreditation confers “deemed status” and demonstrates compliance with the Medicare CoPs (42 C.F.R. § 488.6). This reduces duplicative inspections and administrative burden and ensures consistent, high quality patient care.

Transition to National Performance Goals

This transition is part of Joint Commission’s simplified Accreditation 360 plan to update accreditation manuals, remove more than 700 requirements and introduce a more streamlined process. Hospitals surveyed on or after January 1, 2026 will be held to these NPGs. Therefore, hospitals must update policies and procedures now to ensure compliance. Please contact us with any questions regarding Joint Commission’s accreditation requirements.

Special thanks to law clerk Abel Chacko for assisting in the preparation of this article.