Nurse client ratios solution!

[jamistlc]

greetings all nurses,

happy 4th of july!

on this day of our countries independence i thought through out the night about our deteriating standards of care and the the biggest factor that causes this to occur. it is client to nurse ratios! if we as a group can not come togather in support for each other and change individual institution policy concerning this issue then we could try to advocate to our nursing boards to legislate this number for us based upon committee suggestions.

i would like to know what other nurses think! i mean the nurse practice act mandates who can practice, what they may practice, and for whom. why not for how many? i think there could be a maximun standard for each type of setting, ie acute care, ambulatory, step down, critical care/icu, med/surg, teterairy care, sub acute, skilled, maturnity, and long term.

any thoughts on the idea? would you be willing to start this committee as a ad hoc type in your state? any additions or ammendments to this thought? since we can not come togather with a collective bargining force to make this change, mybe we can come togather in smaller groups to send something to our boards to make these changes occur from a different perspective, on an old problem that is stuck going nowhere quick.

i tried to put this in lpn corner it would not let me!

for our section of this board lets start where alot of lpn's work long term care centers and nursing homes.

and what is the max. number that is safe by your standards? please take the poll and tell us what you think these should be!