Grad School Project--Safe Staffing Ratios

[Happy me]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a grad student working on a class project. I need to gather responses from my peers about the bill H.R.4138/S.73 Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Ratios. I would love to hear you comments about how safe staffing can or has made a difference in your practice. I currently work on a tele floor in California where safe staffing ratios are the law. I take care of 4 patients and its much safer than taking care of 7 - 10 patients like I use too--that was a nightmare and I almost quit nursing. You can look up this bill at www.safestaffingsaveslives.com. Please share your stories with me for my project.

Thanks Everyone,

Happy me

[MedSurgeNewbie]

HI What a great project idea! I don’t think anyone can debate that safe staffing is the best situation.. I questions are who is going to establish the ratios.. I think actual working floor nurses need to be listened too heavily in the debate. At my place on 11-7 its not uncommon for me to have a team of 12 me and an LPN this is scary depending on the LPN. I think 6 is ok on nights depending on acuity.. What fries me is when at 11 they send people home knowing full well there are 30 people in the ER there needs to be some kind of model to include acuity as well as anticipation for the next couple of hours so that if there in a swarm of admits there is enough staff to handle it.. ((I work tele too now by the way - keep us updated on what you find!))

[fgoff]

I'm researching these Bills as well, but from a policy issue percective.

I selected this issue because of working places in the past, I would have 6-7 patients with 2-3 admits/discharges during a shift. I total it all up one night some patients got less than 10 minutes of my time face to face.

Most of the time I don't like 'Big Brother' making laws because He can, but strongly feel something has to be done to protect us (nurses) and patients.

fgoff