Legislation

The reason nurses hate their jobs is due to the nurse to patient ratios!! Do you know that statistics show that for every 1 patient over 4 you have a 50% chance of injuring or killing.!! This is frightening!! Hospitals give 7-10 & seriously put nurses @ risk!! California has a LAW that the ratio is 1:4 period!! We need to pass laws nationwide!!!! Instead nurses PUT UP WITH IT!!! The reason we have a shortage is that as soon as one nurse gets in a hospital she is wanting to quit shortly afterward!!! It's time to pass some laws!!!

I know this is a bit of a troll post, but to be honest mandating ratios across the board isn't what is best for every situation. If I had 4:1 on my floor I would be bored off my gourd. Our patients are complicated but I more than comfortable with 5:1 and 6:1 depending on acuity.

I do agree that people need to become more active in their legislation, but I feel that the California example is not showing the nurses getting their say, but more the state passing a law that looks good on paper but is very unrealistic.

In my opinion, I believe nurses need to start pushing for acuity based staffing, not black and white ratios. Why give up our freedom and flexibility to someone else?

Just a thought, I know this issue has floated these boards more than once.

Tait

The reason there NEEDS to be a LEGAL MANDATE requiring ratios is because nursing and hospital administration will CONTINUE TO PUSH RN'S TO THE LIMIT using acutiy as an out! With a law it is followed or there are consequences from an outside source with some clout! If some nuresess are bored because an assignment is not difficult enough it may be a great time to help coworkers; plan an inservice for colleagues; do some research on nursing related issues; read some nursing related research artcles; talk with and REALLY teach patients and families etc. There are MILLIONS of things RN's can do with their down time when acutiy is lower!