Rally for National Nurse-Patient Ratios

Published

  1. Describe your level of involvement

    • 2
      I will spread the word.
    • 1
      I will be spreading the word and have intentions of attending rally.
    • 10
      I would like to attend but am unable to do so.
    • 1
      I don't believe mandatory staffing impacts quality of care.

14 members have participated

Nurses please mark your calendars to make a change. Nurses are planning to rally Washington, D.C. on May 12, 2016 for national safe nurse to patient ratios. I urge all nurses and interested members of the public and anyone who wants to make hospitals safer to make an attempt to attend this rally. We must stand united and have our voices heard. No one is immune from the dangers of short staffing in hospitals. Please spread the word.

#nursesunite #nursestakedc

Specializes in TELE, CVU, ICU.
I think you missed the point. Maybe "unnecessary tasks" wasn't the best way to put it.

To make up for having to employ more nurses, they may employ fewer non-nurses. Nurses may find themselves doing more CNA tasks, transporting patients, cleaning, stocking, etc.

I have been a nurse in California since before there were ratios. What you are suggesting did not happen here after ratios were passed (in 2004) and fully implemented (in 2008).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in TELE, CVU, ICU.
It's not actually a rally for national patient ratios, it's just for ratios within the District of Columbia. I'm all for legally mandated workload limits for nurses, but I don't think simple ratios are the best way to do it. While it's great to be limited to 4 patients to one nurse on a tele unit for instance, it doesn't really help if you have no UC, no CNA's, no housekeeping, you have to prepare the patient's meals, etc.

The DC rally is for national nurse to patient ratios. I have been a part of this initiative since it began.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in TELE, CVU, ICU.

I would appreciate if more information on this even were provided. For example, the location (Corner of First St NE and Constitution Ave

Permit area 9 http://www.uscapitolpolice.gov/special_events/map.pdf), the purpose (Support of S. 864: National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act & H.R. 1602: Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act). I do not think people realize this is a legit event.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Cath Lab/IR CCRN. SRNA Class 2026.

Considering a lot of hospitals are piling up more unnecessary task on us with unsafe ratios... I will advocate for set patient ratios.

I don't get secretaries or CNAs now... so...I choose set ratio's.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Cath Lab/IR CCRN. SRNA Class 2026.
It's not actually a rally for national patient ratios, it's just for ratios within the District of Columbia. I'm all for legally mandated workload limits for nurses, but I don't think simple ratios are the best way to do it. While it's great to be limited to 4 patients to one nurse on a tele unit for instance, it doesn't really help if you have no UC, no CNA's, no housekeeping, you have to prepare the patient's meals, etc.

You obviously do not know what your talking about.

We are having a rally for safe staffing and NATIONAL set patient ratio's. The only thing that our rally has to do with the District of Columbia is where it is being held. Hospitals in California, who abide by the states mandated ratios do still employ all of the support staff you mention.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED/Trauma/Field Case Manager.
The DC rally is for national nurse to patient ratios. I have been a part of this initiative since it began.

Gypsyd8,

Are there groups leaving out of Southeastern NC that will be going to this Rally in May? I'd love to go but would prefer to go with an organized group. How can I find out if there are any organized caravans going from my area. Thanks!

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Cath Lab/IR CCRN. SRNA Class 2026.

Rally information page on FB, look up SMYS For Change South Carolina Chapter

We have partnered with SMYS and that organization has formed state groups. I am not sure if SC has any planned trips but you can go to the FB page and find out more state information in regard to the rally.

Gypsyd8,

Are there groups leaving out of Southeastern NC that will be going to this Rally in May? I'd love to go but would prefer to go with an organized group. How can I find out if there are any organized caravans going from my area. Thanks!

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We want to continue, widen, blow-open the conversation about staffing. The good, the bad, the ugly. How does it affect your daily nursing practice? How have the changes in nursing changed staffing needs? Has staffing in your organization kept up with these changes?

We want to hear from other nurses how staffing has affected your nursing career. Not just the horror stories, though we know there are many. We would also like to hear and share ideas about how your leadership and organization have supported safe staffing and ut patients first.

People from all over the country are coming to Washington on 05/12/2016 to demand Safe Staffing for nurses across the country. If you can't make it to D.C., check your local chapter. There are going to be many rallies at the local level at the same time.

May 12, 2016

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

Here is a news article that includes the rally:

MultiBrief: Nurses plan DC rally to promote proper staffing

Here is the Senate bill:

Text - S.864 - 114th Congress (2

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It would be nice if this got as much attention from nurses as the whole The View fiasco.

spread the word!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in TELE, CVU, ICU.
Here is a news article that includes the rally:

MultiBrief: Nurses plan DC rally to promote proper staffing

Here is the Senate bill:

Text - S.864 - 114th Congress (215-216): National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

The organizers of the rally promote a House bill that does NOT include specific numerical minimum ratios. It only requires a committee. I thinkn it would be a waste of time working for this legislation:

Text - H.R.1821 - 113th Congress (213-214): Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 213 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

I think this House Bill is worth working for:

Text - H.R.162 - 114th Congress (215-216): Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 215 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Sorry you are incorrect. The organizers of the rally are promoting two bills, S.864 and HR 1602. They specify numerical minimum ratios by unit.

(b)Minimum direct care registered nurse-to-Patient ratios

(1)In general

Except as otherwise provided in this section, a hospital's staffing plan shall provide that, at all times during each shift within a unit of the hospital, a direct care registered nurse shall be assigned to not more than the following number of patients in that unit, subject to paragraph (4):

(A)One patient in trauma emergency units. (B)One patient in operating room units, provided that a minimum of 1 additional person serves as a scrub assistant in such unit.

©Two patients in critical care units, including neonatal intensive care units, emergency critical care and intensive care units, labor and delivery units, coronary care units, acute respiratory care units, postanesthesia units, and burn units. (D)Three patients in emergency room units, stepdown units, pediatrics units, telemetry units, antepartum units, and combined labor, delivery, and postpartum units. (E)Four patients in medical-surgical units, intermediate care nursery units, psychiatric units, and other specialty care units. (F)Five patients in rehabilitation units, and skilled nursing units. (G) Six patients in well-baby nursery units and postpartum (3 couplets) units.

The text of the bills can be found here:

National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act (S. 864) - GovTrack.us

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr1602

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
Sorry you are incorrect. The organizers of the rally are promoting two bills, S.864 and HR 1602. They specify numerical minimum ratios by unit.

(b)Minimum direct care registered nurse-to-Patient ratios

(1)In general

Except as otherwise provided in this section, a hospital's staffing plan shall provide that, at all times during each shift within a unit of the hospital, a direct care registered nurse shall be assigned to not more than the following number of patients in that unit, subject to paragraph (4):

(A)One patient in trauma emergency units. (B)One patient in operating room units, provided that a minimum of 1 additional person serves as a scrub assistant in such unit.

©Two patients in critical care units, including neonatal intensive care units, emergency critical care and intensive care units, labor and delivery units, coronary care units, acute respiratory care units, postanesthesia units, and burn units. (D)Three patients in emergency room units, stepdown units, pediatrics units, telemetry units, antepartum units, and combined labor, delivery, and postpartum units. (E)Four patients in medical-surgical units, intermediate care nursery units, psychiatric units, and other specialty care units. (F)Five patients in rehabilitation units, and skilled nursing units. (G) Six patients in well-baby nursery units and postpartum (3 couplets) units.

The text of the bills can be found here:

National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act (S. 864) - GovTrack.us

Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion