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In an effort to derail mandated RN-to-patient ratio laws, the hospital industry along with
its allies have pushed for passage of inferior "staffing" bills. When analyzing the merits of
a particular bill, be suspicious when a bill has any of the following markers.
Is it a real ratios law or a fake, weakened "staffing" plan?
n
Voluntary and/or "permissive" ratios
These laws may provide specific numeric ratios, however they also include loopholes giving employers
the right to staff as they please. One of the loopholes allows employers to interchange RNs for "other
healthcare personnel."
n
No public disclosure
n
No enforcement
n
No rights for the RN as patient advocate, no whistle-blower protection
n
LVN/LPN and RN interchangeability
n
Staffing based solely on patient classification systems without ratios as a minimum
safety standard
These approaches make vague and undefined references to "appropriate" staffing levels without
providing specific ratio numbers. Acuity-based staffing — using tools developed by hospital industry
consultants — is presented as an alternative to mandated minimum ratios. All of these "plans" are
designed to prevent the implementation of real, enforceable, RN-to-patient ratios.
The Half-Measures
Beware of "staffing" bills masquerading as ratios
