National Nurses United

Registered Nurse March 2009

Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/198066

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 11 of 19

Ratios:4 3/18/09 4:09 PM Page 12 EVERYBODY LOVES RATIOS Hospital patients in Kentucky, Florida, or Ohio have just as much of a right to be cared for safely as patients in California. And RNs have the right to work in a sane environment where they don't have to worry about harming someone because they are overloaded with patients. But only California and intensive care units in Arizona currently have laws limiting the maximum number of patients assigned to one RN. To tackle this problem, CNA/NNOC RNs, as well as Massachusetts RNs with the new UAN-NNOC alliance, are sponsoring hospital patient protection acts in many states that would do three main things: establish specific minimum RN-to-patient ratios with more staffing based on acuity, whistle-blower protections for nurses who report understaffing or refuse unsafe assignments, and the right and duty of RNs to act as patient advocates. Here's a briefing on what's in play. Check our websites, nnoc.net or calnurses.org, for updates as bill numbers are still being assigned. Arizona. CNA/NNOC RNs in the Grand Canyon state have long recognized the huge gap in staffing. They tried a ratio bill in 2008, and are trying again in 2009 with HB 2186, sponsored by state Rep. Phil Lopes. Arizona RNs kicked off their push with a large rally in February. "This [bill] will save lives and allow us to provide the care that our fellow Arizonians deserve," said Diane Baker, an RN at Flagstaff Medical Center. Illinois. The Illinois Hospital Patient Protection Act is being reintroduced in the 2009 session by RNs determined to protect the safety of their patients. The state legislature failed to pass a ratio bill in its 2007 session, opting instead to pass a toothless hospital industry bill that reinforced existing, but inadequate, staffing laws. "Illinois needs a law that clearly states that ratios must be mandated at all times, and that they must be RN ratios," said Brenda Langford, an RN at Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County and a CNA/NNOC board member. "I work in a telemetry unit where management changes our staffing grids at will." Massachusetts. RNs with the Massachusetts Nurses Association have steadfastly supported and sponsored ratio legislation for many years, successfully passing a bill through the state House during the last session, but not the Senate. In 2009, they have resubmitted the same bill which, in addition to establishing ratios, bans mandatory overtime, use of unlicensed personnel to substitute for registered nurses, and unsafe floating. "Every day we wait for this law, another patient suffers a preventable complication, health care dollars are wasted in correcting the mistakes caused by understaffing, and another nurse leaves the bedside because they can't take the strain of working under the current horrendous conditions," said Beth Piknick, RN and president of MNA. "We want [what California has] for our nurses and patients in Massachusetts and have the public support and legislative support to get it done in the coming session." Nevada. Understaffing and working conditions, like in other states without ratios, are horrendous in Nevada, and RNs are saying, "No more." With the country's lowest number of RNs per capita, the state's RNs have developed the Nevada Hospital Patient Protection Act and recently rallied at the state capital in Carson City for amendment of an existing 12 REGISTERED NURSE bill, AB 121, to incorporate these provisions. "RNs simply have too many patients," said Fabiola Figer, an RN at University Medical Center in Las Vegas. "Ratios translate into lives saved. We need this legislation in order to provide a higher level of care for our patients and to see nurses return to the profession they love." RNs at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno recently unionized with CNA/NNOC and are already benefiting from the minimum staffing ratios they won as part of their contract. Ohio. Nurses in the Buckeye state are heavily organizing in preparation to introduce the Ohio Hospital Patient Protection Act in 2009. As soon as the hospital industry got wind that Ohio RNs wanted to introduce similar legislation last year, it pushed through passage of a weak staffing planning and disclosure law. This time around, Ohio RNs are building momentum for ratios by securing endorsements from healthcare and labor allies, and collecting data to show why real numerical, enforceable ratios are needed. Pennsylvania. RNs in Pennsylvania with the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals have been busy introducing not one, but two ratio bills. There's HB 147, sponsored by Rep. Tim Solobay, and a Senate bill by Sen. Daylin Leach which is waiting for a bill number. "I hear lots of stories about nurses who are exhausted and overloaded with patients," said Patricia Eakin, an ER RN, PASNAP president, and a CNA/NNOC board member. "They're missing important changes about the patient's condition because they can't be in the room. This bill will also help keep nurses at the bedside." Texas. Everything's hot in Texas, and the battle over ratios here is particularly so. Texas CNA/NNOC RN members are rallying around two ratio bills, HB 1489 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson and SB 1000 by Sen. Mario Gallegos, that would for the first time establish safe RN-to-patient ratios in a state that has one of the worst RNs-percapita rates in the country. But the Texas Hospital Association has proposed legislation to block ratios and only encourages hospitals to publish their staffing plans. "Nurses quit because they just can't tolerate the working conditions," said Beverly Leonard, an RN in Austin. "It is clear to me after 40 years nursing how important safe ratios are. They work. I've seen it. And all of us up here know it." Watch videos of RNs telling in their own words how ratios would save lives. Nevada: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibAR1RUUFA4 Arizona: www.youtube.com/watch?v=okOprgnbBr4 W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G MARCH 2009

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of National Nurses United - Registered Nurse March 2009