Nurse Staffing Standards: Patient Safety and Quality Care Act
This act establishes minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals to enhance patient safety and care quality. Citizens can expect improved care as nurses will have more time per patient, and hospitals must adhere to new staffing rules and disclose staffing levels. The act also protects nurses who report staffing concerns.
Key points
Hospitals must maintain minimum nurse-to-patient ratios based on the unit (e.g., 1 nurse per 1 patient in trauma, 1 per 2 in critical care, 1 per 4 in medical-surgical units).
Nurses gain the right to refuse assignments if they believe it compromises patient safety or their license, without fear of retaliation from the hospital.
Hospitals are required to publicly post actual nurse-to-patient ratios per shift, and citizens can file complaints regarding inadequate staffing.
The act imposes civil penalties for non-compliant hospitals and authorizes funding to help hospitals meet the new requirements.
Scholarship and stipend programs, along with nurse retention grants, are introduced to address nurse shortages and support new nurses.
Expired
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