Getting Staffing ratio Laws passed for Florida

[namaste_71]

There have been a few attempts at getting staffing ratios laws passed in the state, however most have died in committee. I can't remember the proposed bills off-hand, but the last ones I saw proposed numerical-based ratios, not acuity-based staffing. Also, while there is union presence in Florida, it's a "right to work" state and most hospitals are non-union.

[PediRN*FL]

How do we start again....FLORIDA SO NEEDS ratio laws!!!

[valkyria, BSN, RN]

as stated in response to another statement regarding unions, yes, florida is a right to work state and that means that while your organization may have a union, as is the case here in miami, at jackson health systems, you do not have to belong to the union to enjoy the benefit of the union. that is all that means. on the other hand, there is alot of misunderstanding going around about unions as well. when um acquired cedars, um is not union, cedars was, they merely "renegotiated" contracts and if you chose to stay, you did not belong to the union if you worked for the university of miami. unfortunately, the bottom line will have to be money. it will have to cost the organization enough money before they realize that there has to be fair staffing. yes, patient safety is key and that is the mantra. but, you keep your staff with you and you keep your staff happy if you do not break their will and break their spirit. jackson does not have patient ratios per se but they do have limits and it is based on acuity and they will, and have, gone up the chain of command when the situation warranted and there was not enough staff to cover with a comfortable buffer. on the other hand, joint commission was just here and jackson main took a hit. but jackson north and jackson south and the er did very well, so the organization is a living, breathing entity with growing pains and learning from its mistakes.