Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/971007
8 Nurses from coast-to-coast campaign for state-based legislation modeled after the success of the California law District of Columbia "Patients in our nation's capital deserve world-class care. Unfortunately, hospital corporations continue to place an emphasis on the bottom line, and care suffers. As patient advocates, nurses in the District of Colum- bia fight daily battles with hospital management to ensure that there are enough nurses to care for patients. Management consistently opposes our efforts to win better staffing for our patients. It's time for a legislative solution; it's time for statutorily enforced RN-to-patient ratios." — Lori Marlowe, RN, Washington, D.C. Florida The Florida Hospital Patient Protection Act has been introduced in the Florida legislature every year since 2009. It would mandate RN-to-patient ratios at all times, guarantee the right of patient advocacy, and provide whistle-blower protection. Over 3,000 community supporters have signed pledges to support the legislation and 22 municipalities have passed resolutions calling on their legislative delegations to pass this important life-saving law. "When patients are denied access to a medically-appropriate level of nursing care, their outcomes suffer. It's that simple, and it is totally preventable. Many hospitals understaff their units, denying access to RNs, and undermining patient safety in the name of hospital profits. The Florida Hospital Patient Protection Act will extend to my patients the level of care they deserve." — Barbra Rivera, RN, St. Petersburg, Florida Missouri "It is the hope and dream of hospital RNs across Missouri to have safe staffing levels so that when you need one of us, we can be there for you. Our NNOC/NNU campaign for RN-to-p atient ratios in Missouri continues. When we set limits on how many patients RNs are required to care for, patients have better outcomes and receive the safe, therapeutic care that we all expect in a hospital. When a call light goes on, medications are needed, and very personal questions need to be answered. We want the time to be there." — Cathy Stephenson, RN, Kansas City, Missouri