Fewer patients means more time for quality care
"One less patient makes a big difference. The fewer patients you have, the more
time you have to spend with a patient. And if you're the patient, you want your
nurse to give you all the care you need."
— Shirley Toy, RN
University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
More than 1,500 RNs packed the California Department of Health Services hearing on the plan to
make emergency regulations a permanent rule change. CNA also delivers 11,000 letters from RNs
opposing the new rules.
A California Superior Court judge finds that the governor broke the law and failed to present any
evidence of the pretexts he used for the emergency regulation.
Gov. Schwarzenegger drops his fight against the ratios. All told, tens of thousands of nurses joined
together and led 107 protests in 371 days throughout California and several states.
Final step of implementation sees ratios drop to 1:3 in step-down and 1:4 in telemetry and specialty units.
Safe staffing ratios result in an increase of 100,000 new active licensed RNs in California.
University of Pennsylvania research study documents that California ratios save thousands of patient lives
compared to similar states.
California Hospital Association, working with a local union, proposes to suspend ratio requirements when
RNs are on meal and rest breaks. CNA/NNU RNs react strongly and quickly. No legislator agrees to carry
bill and state labor federation opposes proposal.
2005
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2012
