[Nursing News]

Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Bill Awaits Illinois State Senate ...
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 12 minutes ago
A Nursing Care Committee, comprised of 50% direct care staff nurses, not only will identify the various staffing options in relation to patient needs and ...


More... Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Bill Awaits Illinois State Senate ... - PR Newswire (press release)

[Ginger35]

I certainly hope it passes! We as a nursing profession have been trying to convince administrators, government leaders et al that staffing needs to be based on patient acuity......

I hope to hear some follow up soon

[NurseguyFL]

This is a step in the right direction, and I'd like to see it spread to every other state. But, I'm curious to know more about how the proposed changes would work. Would changes in patient acuity be determined by the bedside nurses who are providing care, or by management?

[pickledpepperRN]

I think staffing by individual patient acuity with RN ratios as the minimum is best:

Illinois House Bill 392….

http://mywebtimes.com/ottnews/archiv....php?id=293987

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2...ews/124274.txt

[Roy Fokker]

While I am hopeful about a positive outcome, I am also somewhat skeptical.

We've been doing "acuity" for a few months now - but the staffing ratio hasn't seemed to have changed one bit.

'specially on nights

[obme]

This bill is the brainchild of the INA. The INA who until 3/12/07 remained neutral on any staffing ratio bills (HB392 and SB605) in IL. They now oppose any kind of safe staffing ratios as does the Illinois Hospital Association. What a shame an organization who supposedly represents bedside nurses would oppose such a bill. Acuity alone does not work. Hospitals can change, ignore, and talk circles around their acutiy grids. This bill has hollow ring to it. Part of safe staffing legislation is acuity. It states that acuity must be considered when assigning patients, but it more importanly sets a standard for the number of patients nurses on any unit can care for. I'm sorry but the INA bill is just more of the same, and it does nothing to protect quality patient care or improving working conditions of our profession.

[ocankhe]

Does any one have a link to the Bill itself. I am curious as to how it is worded.

[pickledpepperRN]

SB 867 – I think of it as a feel good bill with no teeth: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/full...Sess=&Session=


HB0392 is opposed by the Illinois Hospital Association and the Illinois Nurses Association: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/full...Sess=&Session=

SBo605 -- http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/full...Sess=&Session=

If I were in Illinois I would be calling, writing, and e-mailing my elected officials and asking for them to vote for the last two.

[obme]

go to : www.ilga.gov
INA acuity bill is SB0867
Staffing ratios bills are HB392 and SB605

[nursemary9]

Originally Posted by obme

This bill is the brainchild of the INA. The INA who until 3/12/07 remained neutral on any staffing ratio bills (HB392 and SB605) in IL. They now oppose any kind of safe staffing ratios as does the Illinois Hospital Association. What a shame an organization who supposedly represents bedside nurses would oppose such a bill. Acuity alone does not work. Hospitals can change, ignore, and talk circles around their acutiy grids. This bill has hollow ring to it. Part of safe staffing legislation is acuity. It states that acuity must be considered when assigning patients, but it more importanly sets a standard for the number of patients nurses on any unit can care for. I'm sorry but the INA bill is just more of the same, and it does nothing to protect quality patient care or improving working conditions of our profession.

Hi

Yes, this bill does have a hollow ring to it!! I work in a LARGE Illinois Hospital that is TOTALLY behind this bill. We have been staffing by acuity for a little while now.
I'll tell you right there has been NO change.
If our accuity calls for 5 RN's, we have 3---the same number we always had'; tonite for example--our acuity called for 4 RN's--we had 4 scheduled.
HOWEVER, I floated to a surgical floor b/c there was a call in.
Why didn't they get an Agency or a Registry RN to fill that spot?
No, they again went by numbers--"your floor can do with out one nurse".

No, I don't see this working.
I really think they need mandated staffing.