State Mandated Patient/Nurse Ratios.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

One of my instructors this week kept mentioning the "fact" that the state of Texas was going to have state mandated patient/nurse ratios at the end of 2009.

I know it's been widely debated, but was not aware that any mandates had been passed into law in Texas. Did I miss it, or was he overstating the situation?

Apparently, they're going to mirror the ratios in CA.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

:typing

texas hospital patient protection act of 2009

cna/ nnoc have put together proposed legislation and held rallys ----gee you missed our coverage:

texas nurses push legislature for changes , say patient ratios ...

i checked texas legislative lookup: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/billnumber.aspx and do not see any legislation listed under above title ---unable to find any bill sponsors in my online search

........ so think this legislation has a long way to go to even be considered as a bill.

seperate legislation introduced hb 591 sb 476

an act relating to staffing, overtime, and other employment protectionsfor nurses

establishes a staffing committee to direct policy and devise a staffing plan for each unit, with one half of the membership required to be direct care nurses. included are provisions for prohibiting mandatory overtime and whistleblower protections.

nnoc not satisfied as no teeth without ratios.

only took pa 8 years of repetative bills being introduced every 2 yr legislative cycle before we got mandatory overtime legislation passed in 08. now, moving onto safe staffing: here is a look at pa's house bill 171 which did get introduced in 07 and will be reintroduced this year that would establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios.

pasnap had good article http://www.pennanurses.org/pac/

see national efforts:

nurse staffing laws: should you worry? - 16th apr, 11:34 am ...

american nurses association - nurse staffing plans and ratios

over the past 20+ years involved in rallys for healthcare legislation, it's sometimes easier to get in the door with broader type bill: nurse led staffing committess then come back few yrs later to say "gee this legislation is not being followed or meeting it's intended goal, we need stronger protection for our citizens"

good luck in your journey...

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

Thanks for the info!

[oramar]

:typing

texas hospital patient protection act of 2009

cna/ nnoc have put together proposed legislation and held rallys ----gee you missed our coverage:

texas nurses push legislature for changes , say patient ratios ...

i checked texas legislative lookup: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/billnumber.aspx and do not see any legislation listed under above title ---unable to find any bill sponsors in my online search

........ so think this legislation has a long way to go to even be considered as a bill.

seperate legislation introduced hb 591 sb 476

establishes a staffing committee to direct policy and devise a staffing plan for each unit, with one half of the membership required to be direct care nurses. included are provisions for prohibiting mandatory overtime and whistleblower protections.

nnoc not satisfied as no teeth without ratios.

only took pa 8 years of repetative bills being introduced every 2 yr legislative cycle before we got mandatory overtime legislation passed in 08. now, moving onto safe staffing: here is a look at pa's house bill 171 which did get introduced in 07 and will be reintroduced this year that would establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios.

pasnap had good article http://www.pennanurses.org/pac/

see national efforts:

nurse staffing laws: should you worry? - 16th apr, 11:34 am ...

american nurses association - nurse staffing plans and ratios

over the past 20+ years involved in rallys for healthcare legislation, it's sometimes easier to get in the door with broader type bill: nurse led staffing committess then come back few yrs later to say "gee this legislation is not being followed or meeting it's intended goal, we need stronger protection for our citizens"

good luck in your journey...

yup, now that pa has banned mandatory overtime it is time for ratios.