; (ii) by striking patient abuse prevention training, and inserting patient abuse prevention training), ; and (iii) by striking 75 hours and inserting 120 hours ; and (C) in clause (ii)— (i) by striking requirement relating to and inserting requirements relating to (I) ; (ii) by inserting after care of cognitively impaired residents, the following: care of older adults, ; and (iii) by striking and procedures and inserting (II) minimum hours of initial and ongoing training and retraining (including not less than 120 hours in the case of initial training), and (III) procedures . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section take effect on the date of enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs, nurse aide competency evaluation programs, and nurse orientations conducted on or after the date that is one year after such date of enactment. 6. Whistleblower and resident protections (a) Medicare Section 1819 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395i–3 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (k) Whistleblower and resident protections (1) Statement regarding professional obligation and rights All nurses employed by a skilled nursing facility have a duty and right to act based on their professional judgment in accordance with the nursing laws and regulations of the State in which such facility is located, to provide nursing care in the exclusive interests of the residents of the facility, and to act as the residents’ advocate. (2) Objection to or refusal of work assignment A nurse may object to, or refuse to participate in, any activity, policy, practice, assignment, or task (referred to in this subsection as a work assignment ) if— (A) the nurse reasonably believes such work assignment to be in violation of the minimum nurse staffing requirements of clause (ii) of subsection (b)(4)(C)