National Nurses United

MAINE MAINE RNS ARE laying the groundwork and gearing up to again introduce in 2009 a patient protection act which includes mandated, numerical RN-to-patient ratios for hospitals and greater rights for registered nurses to act as patient advocates and whistle-blowers of unsafe staffing. The legislature failed to pass a ratio bill, LD 1538, in May 2007, but the need now is no less great. ILLINOIS RNS ARE FIRED UP over HB 392, a bill introduced by Rep. Mary Flowers and sponsored by CNA/NNOC that would require at all times minimum direct-care RN-to-patient ratios that consider patient acuity. The legislation has a companion bill, SB 605, in the state senate, introduced by Sen. Iris Martinez. In addition to ratios, the bill would give direct-care nurses the mandate to advocate for patients, provide whistle-blower protections for nurses, and allow for enforcement of the ratios against noncompliant hospitals. OHIO Nurses are determined to undo the damage caused by SB 867, a "do-nothing" bill passed in 2007 by the Illinois Hospital Association and Illinois Nurses Association to block real progress toward ratios. The bill mainly required hospitals to write down and review staffing plans and create committees to talk about ratios—all without actually establishing minimum, enforceable numbers. In fact, existing Illinois laws and regulations already required much of what the bill purported to accomplish. TEXAS REGISTERED NURSES organizing with CNA/NNOC in Texas have been stumping for patient protection legislation at political offices across the state, gathering ardent supporters of nurseto-patient ratios along the way. In early January, RNs from the newly formed Corpus Christi NNOC Metropolitan Committee paid legislative visits to local lawmakers, winning Reps. Solomon Ortiz and Abel Herrero as two new cosponsors for the legislation's introduction in 2009. One eyewitness put it simply: "Corpus Christi nurses rock… [they were] hitting their points, staying on message, and their credibility was undeniable!" In Fort Worth, RN power helped elect Dan Barrett to the position of state representative. MARCH 2008 After meeting with Barrett to discuss nursing and health issues, CNA/NNOC RNs were able to secure his unconditional support for ratios legislation and volunteered on his campaign. "It was easy," the newly elected Barrett said of supporting the ratios. "I thought, how could I not support it?" Barrett's opponent, a medical doctor supported by the Texas Medical Association and the Texas Nurses Association, refused to speak with CNA/ NNOC RNs. State Rep. Dora Olivo, from the Fort Bend area, also showed her support for nurse-to-patient ratios. "It's important that all Texans stand side by side with RNs to mandate safe staffing, based on patient acuity and recognize direct-care nurses' duty MICHELLE MAHON, RN remembers the night she became a nurse activist for ratios. She had nine patient assignments, but one was a mentally handicapped boy who essentially needed oneto-one care. As Mahon was running down the hallway with a bag of blood in her hand, one of her other patients, a confused elderly woman, called for her help to use the bathroom. Mahon is still heartbroken today to recall how she responded, "I had to tell her to wet herself and I would come back and clean her up." Mahon, who now works as a legal nurse consultant, is joining with hundreds of CNA/NNOC nurses in Ohio devoting their time and energy to passing a real ratio law in the Buckeye State. "I think every state needs a mandate," said Mahon. "Despite plans and committees, staffing is unsafe. People are dying. We simply cannot trust the hospital to self regulate. Why would they?" But that's exactly what proponents of a watered-down bill proposed by the Ohio Hospital Association are recommending. Intended as a preemptive strike against CNA/NNOC's forthcoming patient protection bill, HB 346 will do nothing more than require hospitals to write down their staffing plans and give out copies of their staffing plans if people ask for them. Ohio CNA/NNOC members testified in January against this weak bill, and have been busy pursuing a legislative sponsor for their bill, receiving enthusiastic responses from members of both the state House and the Senate. and right to be a patient's advocate." Olivo was a sponsor of the bill in 2007 and will sponsor it again in 2009. Texas nurses, like all nurses nationwide, are in sore need of ratios in the face of an intense work atmosphere that compromises the quality of care and chases some from the nursing profession. "There was a night shift recently at our hospital that worked on short staffing— they had ten patients each!" One RN from Kilgore told NNOC. "The 'reward' for our 'hard work' is usually a few pizzas." W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G REGISTERED NURSE 7

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