To amend the Social Security Act to require skilled and other nursing facilities under the medicare and medicaid programs to provide the services of a registered nurse for 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to require skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Act to provide the services of a registered nurse for 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive such requirement with respect to facilities which have been unable to employ qualified registered nurses and whose residents do not require registered nursing services during the period in which such services are unavailable.