Senate act for minimum nurse to patient ratios.

Published

Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.

Senator Barbara Boxer introduced an act (S.864) on March 15 2015 and is pending consideration by the committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions called "National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act. I received this information from Sen. Diane Fienstein and she urges us to call her office in Washingto DC. (202) 224-3841 with questions and comments.

It will require hospitals to create and implement a staffing plan of minimum nurse to patient ratios. It gives hospitals incentives to do so including giving permission to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to increase Medicare reimbursement to hospitals for increased costs related to the new staffing ratios. The act also includes other issues that I am sure we all will appreciate.

Check it out.

Here is our chance to get this done nationally. Please support this and give your voice to it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I'm confused. Shouldn't this limit hospitals a maximum nurse to patient ratio? Like a nurse may take a maximum of 4 patients, for example?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Where, for all practical purposes it is going to die, as congress is only slated to be in session for 20 days between now and the end of the year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

What about SNFs? They desperately need a minimum staffing law.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.
What about SNFs? They desperately need a minimum staffing law.

Absolutely agree SNFs are.under staffed as well.

Not sure but, I would think they are included. I haven't read the act word for word, but my understanding is that it includes all facilities where nurses are assigned patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion