[herring_RN]

Call your legislators this week!
Here is how - http://www.protectmasspatients.org/how.htm
[quote]

…The "Patient Safety Act" calls upon DPH to set a safe limit on the number of patients a nurse is assigned at one time.

In addition, the bill calls for staffing ratios to be adjusted based on patient needs. It also bans mandatory overtime, and includes initiatives to increase nursing faculty and nurse recruitment….

http://www.protectmasspatients.org/nurse_stories.htm

On May 22, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Patient Safety Act. Now the bill is before the Senate, and we need your help in getting the Senate to pass it. We need you to call your State Senator about this today.

• When you call, you should ask to speak to someone about the Patient Safety Act.
• Let them know that the Patient Safety Act has been voted in the House by an overwhelming majority and you need the Senator to vote YES on HB 4783.

This bill will set a limit on the number of hospital patients a nurse has to care for at once. If passed, HB 4783 would stop hospitals from relentlessly continuing to increase nursing patient loads.

• • The most important thing to do today is to call, (not email your State Senator and ask him/her to vote "YES" on this bill.
  • Senate switchboard: 617.722.1455
  • House switchboard: 617.722.2000

The MNA site - http://www.massnurses.org/leg/call_your_senator_2008.htm

Healthy kids in daycare have a ratio. Why not sick kids in the hospital?
Even dogs in a kennel have a ratio.

[Briah]

Thanks for the info. I remember reading about this a while back but really didn't know how to contact someone who matters!

[herring_RN]

Wrong thread, sorry.

I do hope you get safe staffing!