16
"California's ratios are failing. There is a nursing
shortage so it doesn't matter if you get a union;
we don't have enough RNs. There is no proof
that ratios improve care."
• In 1999, the year ratios passed, there were 106,264 RNs working
in hospitals (65,955 full-time and 40,309 part-time).
• In 2004, the year ratios were implemented, there were 121,923
RNs working in hospitals (76,315 full-time and 45,608 part-time).
• In 2009, five years after ratios were implemented, there were
147,261 RNs working in hospitals (98,905 full-time and 48,356
part-time).
• In 2014, 10 years after ratios were implemented, there were
164,235 RNs working in hospitals (108,875 full-time and 55,360
part-time).
• Since the passage of ratios, the number of RNs working in hospitals
has increased almost 58,000 (57,971) or an increase of 54.6%.
Source: American Hospital Association's AHA Hospital Statistics,
appropriate years
In fact, after ratios were introduced, California increased the
number of all actively licensed RNs by more than 120,000 RNs
— tripling the average annual increase prior to its enactment. The
total amount of RNs in California in April 2010 was 357,209 com-
pared with 246,068 in 1999. This increase in numbers was seven
times more than the total number state health officials said would
be needed to fulfill the ratios for general medical/surgical units.
Myth #6
Truth:
