Links to all four bills.
H.R.2392 - Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2017
S.1063 - Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2017
H.R.5052 - Safe Staffing for Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2018
S.2446 - Safe Staffing for Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2018
pmabraham said:The one has mandated ratio's the other DOES NOT, and furthermore, it doesn't give the actual bedside nurse performing the care a say. We need mandated ratios!
Mandated ratios are meaningless unless you also develop an acuity rating.
Oregon has new staffing laws that require the hospital create a staffing plan, based on acuity as well as census, preferably using the recommendations of applicable professional organization. I feel very fortunate that women's health already has a very robust and specific staffing recommendation that we can use.
And this is why I do not support the ANA. They do nothing for the nurses at the bedside. In fact they are condescending toward those nurses. But you can bet they want everyone to join so they can rake in the money.
As a general rule I would say that everyone should be a member of their professional association. BUT when that association ignores the rank and file members and makes decisions for them instead of with them I really can't support it.
pmabraham said:The one has mandated ratio's the other DOES NOT, and furthermore, it doesn't give the actual bedside nurse performing the care a say. We need mandated ratios!
With mandated ratios, the bedside nurse wouldn't have any say either. They are going to get the max allowed, regardless of the complexity and need of the patients.
NursesTakeDC
3 Articles; 27 Posts
The legislators may raise the question of another nurse staffing bill nurses are lobbying.
It is very confusing for legislators to navigate WHY these bills are different. You can assist them!
Our RN Ratio bills S. 1063/HR 2392 has the mandatory minimum nurse staffing ratios. The American Nurses Association bills S. 2446/HR 5052 share the importance that patient outcomes are directly affected by numbers of RN staff, but that is where the similarities seem to end.
Bottom line difference is in the ANA bill, no regulatory mandate that the employer to commit to a staffing plan in writing to begin any shift. Look at the Side by Side and you can always read each bill fully to get the flavor of the missing employer commitment to staff even though they agree fully with the research as we do: adequate numbers of nurses and support staff provides the patient with better outcomes.
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~Pam Robbins MSN, RN