Nurses Activism
Published Mar 20, 2008
Just a reminder that you can submit the following letter on safe staffing to the ANA, who will then send it to your Congress people. It's really easy - you can even modify the letter if you like.
http://www.safestaffingsaveslives.org/default.aspx
This is an important issue, and affects all of us.
Although many nurses know that understaffing is fueling the nursing shortage and causing nurses to leave the field, our legislators also need to know.
RN4MERCY
328 Posts
JuliaRN,There was a very long process involved in coming up with the ratio's.
There was a very long process involved in coming up with the ratio's.
Thanks, and you're so right. A twelve year fight, involving thousands of our members who lobbied, wrote letters, and visited their legislators and attended hearings to provide testimony to expose unsafe industry staffing that harms patients; and, about why legal, minimum standards are necessary. Also, it's important to note, that the ratio fight is a collective, dues supported advocacy campaign that altruistically benefits all nurses and all patients.
Here's a link to the timeline:
http://www.calnurses.org/assets/pdf/ratios/ratios_12year_fight_0104.pdf
Julia asked a question in a previous post on this thread, "Does it have to be CNA to be good?" You provided a thoughtful reply, and I would hope that the powers that be in the ANA would make a conscious attempt to avoid being the handmaidens of the healthcare industry. Hopefully they'll consider the constructive criticisms you've posted and recognize the fundamental flaws in their (UAN/SEIU) bill. Patients and direct care registered nurses will derive no real benefit from it, as written.
The danger of poorly worded, incremental attempts at reform, such as the ANA/2007 legislation, is that it holds little promise for promoting effective staffing; it merely codifies current practices in hospitals, that gives administrators supreme flexibility to maintain the status quo. As you've pointed out, there are no genuine, enforceable, universal standards.
It may be a well-intentioned attempt to "do something", but the ANA bill is like putting a fresh coat of paint on an old house. It does nothing to repair the delapidated infrastructure, so it remains unsafe for patients, and unsafe for nurses. It delays and hides the need for real repairs. It's like a placebo, a sugar pill that won't be effective in restoring optimum wellness to a diseased system. Individual nurses will continue to be blamed for errors that are the result of this system problem. The ANA's so-called "reform" bill perpetuates, for all intents and purposes, a bottom line driven staffing "system" that increases risks and costs of preventable harm, complications, and death for patients, while maximizing profits for hospitals.
Julia RN
111 Posts
julia asked a question in a previous post on this thread, "does it have to be cna to be good?" you provided a thoughtful reply, and i would hope that the powers that be in the ana would make a conscious attempt to avoid being the handmaidens of the healthcare industry. hopefully they'll consider the constructive criticisms you've posted and recognize the fundamental flaws in their (uan/seiu) bill. patients and direct care registered nurses will derive no real benefit from it, as written.the danger of poorly worded, incremental attempts at reform, such as the ana/2007 legislation, is that it holds little promise for promoting effective staffing; it merely codifies current practices in hospitals, that gives administrators supreme flexibility to maintain the status quo. as you've pointed out, there are no genuine, enforceable, universal standards.it may be a well-intentioned attempt to "do something", but the ana bill is like putting a fresh coat of paint on an old house. it does nothing to repair the delapidated infrastructure, so it remains unsafe for patients, and unsafe for nurses. it delays and hides the need for real repairs. it's like a placebo, a sugar pill that won't be effective in restoring optimum wellness to a diseased system. individual nurses will continue to be blamed for errors that are the result of this system problem. the ana's so-called "reform" bill perpetuates, for all intents and purposes, a bottom line driven staffing "system" that increases risks and costs of preventable harm, complications, and death for patients, while maximizing profits for hospitals.
the danger of poorly worded, incremental attempts at reform, such as the ana/2007 legislation, is that it holds little promise for promoting effective staffing; it merely codifies current practices in hospitals, that gives administrators supreme flexibility to maintain the status quo. as you've pointed out, there are no genuine, enforceable, universal standards.
it may be a well-intentioned attempt to "do something", but the ana bill is like putting a fresh coat of paint on an old house. it does nothing to repair the delapidated infrastructure, so it remains unsafe for patients, and unsafe for nurses. it delays and hides the need for real repairs. it's like a placebo, a sugar pill that won't be effective in restoring optimum wellness to a diseased system. individual nurses will continue to be blamed for errors that are the result of this system problem. the ana's so-called "reform" bill perpetuates, for all intents and purposes, a bottom line driven staffing "system" that increases risks and costs of preventable harm, complications, and death for patients, while maximizing profits for hospitals.
you're talking about two different bills here-
i agree with all your comments concerning the ana staffing bill- s.73/hr.4138. i like to call it the "ana/aha" bill.
i am lobbying for h.r. 2123- which you refer to as the uan/seiu bill. h.r. 2123 is nothing like the ana bill. it has mandated minimum ratios for direct care registered nurses- the numbers are in the bill. ana had nothing to do with this bill and most likely won't have anything to do with it. (perhaps that's part of the story behind their wanting nothing more to do with the uan?)
i appreciated rn power's suggestions and think some of the "perfecting" can take place in either the regulations process or be added for the next congress. my suggestion was that the organizations that believe in real staffing legislation work together to achieve it. much as management dominated organizations have worked together (and are succeeding) at getting their "status quo" staffing legislation in states like washington, oregon and ohio (they left the uan, btw).
there are progressive states and progressive nurses in the ana who have fought for change from within and they have fought us back (a whole other story). some of these states have introduced real staffing legislation- mn, mi, ny and others.
but please, recognize that there are two bills and states within ana that support a different bill than ana does. many nurses fought hard to be able to do this. acknowledge their determination and victory- almost double the co-sponsors of the ana bill!
get more information about h.r. 2123, the safe nurse staffing for patient safety and quality care act of 2007 here:
bill summary and status http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.02123:
bill text http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:h.r.2123:
see also: http://capwiz.com/criticalcare/issue...?bill=10365041
Happy me
2 Posts
I too support this bill and am in the process of writing several of my legislators. I also posted a request to gather stories about what it has been like to work with high patient ratios. I want to use some of these stories to emphasize the need for safe nurse patient ratios. I've only gotten 2 responses and I've been deeply disappointed.
I've read everyone's responses here and I'm very surprised at some of the discussion. Don't you all want a safer work environment? Don't you want to provide the best care possible? Why are we picking apart wording and complaining about what's not in the bill. Some of these things already have their own bills. We are getting off track. Nurses are the largest healthcare professional group and numbers mean power. We need to ban together and fight for safe ratios. I've been a nurse for 14 years and I was very tired of running around the entire shift trying to care for as many as 10 patients at times. We all now that each patient comes with family members that also take up your time. Not to mention juggling doctors, labs, radiology, OR etc etc. for each patient and if one goes bad forget it...the rest might be neglected, heaven help you if 2 go bad at the same time (I've had that happen).
Some of you mentioned California and their ratio law. I currently work in California. This took a long time to implement and we are still working out the kinks but it is sooo much better. I can actually do med pass, treatments etc. on a timely bases, I can spend quality time with my patients and their families. I've been able to see early signs of patients deteriorating and have been able to intervene before things went bad. I'm able to get off work on time, take lunch and yes even go to the bathroom :chuckle. I feel like I can breathe and I don't dread going to work. I'm not saying everyday is perfect but its about 95% better.
This bill is a start. We can always ask for amendments if needed. Instead of being picky about wording and worrying about which group (ANA, CNA SEIU) is backing this bill and their true motives...do this for you! Nursing is hard back breaking work and the new generations are being turned off by what they see us go through now. If we implement safe ratios it can indeed help with the nursing shortage. California is already seeing more nurses come here to work and more students going into nursing.
If you don't like this bill suggest a bill that you do like and write your representatives. I'm not hearing that here. There's a lot of critisim but I'm not hearing solutions. Lets work together to make nursing safer not only for ourselves but for our patients as well. (sorry this is so long...just really suprised and disappointed).
kjack
6 Posts
God bless you for your insight and courage! I am a Licensed Practical
Nurse in the 2009 graduating class for my RN. The patient to nurse
ratio in my long term care facility is 40-1 for myself and the charge
nurse. I will be sending the letter but frankly I must admit I am scared
and discouraged. I loooove nursing but it must get better!
