Safe Nurse Staffing FB Live Video #2 - How to Influence Your Legislators

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

In this second of a series of Facebook Live Events about nurse staffing, Beth Hawkes and Keith Carlson talk more about bills that are in the House and Senate calling for mandated nurse-patient ratios and how you can be an advocate for safer staffing ratios and quality patient care. The ratios under discussion are similar to what is already in effect in California. Patient acuity is a consideration, however, there is a minimum nurse-patient ratio to ensure safer patient care.

Beth and Keith provide more information about:

The Bills

HR 2392 - Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2017

Sponsor: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. (Introduced in House 05/04/2017)

S 1063 - Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2017

Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod (Introduced in Senate 05/04/2017)

Bill Summary

These bills in the House and the Senate state that "nurses have a duty and a right to act based on their professional judgment and provide care in the exclusive interests of patients. Nurses may object to, or refuse to participate in, an assignment if it would violate minimum ratios or if they are not prepared by education or experience to fulfill the assignment without compromising the safety of a patient or jeopardizing their nurse's license. Hospitals may not: (1) take specified actions against a nurse based on the nurse's refusal to accept an assignment for such a reason; or (2) discriminate against individuals for good faith complaints relating to the care, services, or conditions of the hospital or related facilities. HHS must publish the names of hospitals penalized for violating the requirements in this bill."

Ways to Influence Your Legislators - How to Advocate

1. Call your legislators - before or after the rally
2. Face-to-face meeting with your legislators at the rally or at local state office
3. Write a letter
4. Send an email
5. Sign a petition

Please add your comments and questions below. We want to hear from you. Beth and Keith will try to answer your questions here or in an upcoming Facebook live event. There are many readers who are very knowledgeable about the issues. Hopefully, they will post here as well.

Are you planning to attend the rally? Please let us know. We (Beth, Keith, and the allnurses team) would love to meet you.

[video=youtube_share;QL2daRJySN8]

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Safe Nurse/Pt ratios have been proven to save lives.