Spread the word: Safe RN Staffing Saves Lives

[-jt]

Spread the Word: Safe RN Staffing Saves Lives

by Nancy Webber

New York State Nurses Association Report

Across New York state, NYSNA members are gearing up to spread the message: "Safe RN staffing is a matter of life and death."

More than 50 research studies have connected inadequate staffing with adverse patient outcomes and mortality. Registered Nurses are telling the public - and their elected officials - that now is the time to enact staffing ratios to protect the public health.

NYSNA begins postcard campaign

To help nurses inform friends and family members about the need for safe staffing, NYSNA has developed a colorful flyer with some of the compelling statistics related to staffing:

- Each additional patient per RN increases that patient's chance of dying in the hospital by 7%.

- Nurse staffing levels have been a factor in one out of every four unanticipated events resulting in death, injury, or permanent loss of function reported to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

- Patients who receive a higher number of hours of care per day from RNs have significantly lower rates of complications.

The flyer includes a tear-off postcard urging NY Gov. George Pataki to support NYSNA's proposal to establish RN-to-patient ratios in acute-care facilities. A bill written by NYSNA has been introduced in the State Legislature (see below).

Copies of the postcard flyer are available from NYSNA nursing representatives at facilities where NYSNA represents nurses for collective bargaining and from NYSNA's Practice and Governmental Affairs Program. Copies also have been distributed to local district nurses associations. Non-members may contact NYSNA to purchase copies.

New booklet describes current staffing information

In the absence of comprehensive staffing legislation, RNs need to know a patchwork of laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards related to staffing in various care settings.

NYSNA has compiled much of this information in an easy-to-use booklet, Staffing in Healthcare Settings.

Based on extensive research by NYSNA staff, the booklet provides a synopsis of staffing requirements or recommendations for each acute and non-acute care setting. Citations are provided for relevant state and federal laws and regulations to make it easier for nurses to "go to the source" for more detailed information.

The 36-page booklet was first distributed at NYSNA's annual Convention in October. NYSNA members may get one copy free of charge. The booklet is available to non-members at a cost of just $10.00, plus a shipping and handling fee.

To order the postcard flyer or staffing booklet, contact the NYSNA Practice and Governmental Affairs Program at 1-800-724-NYRN, ext. 282. When you call, state clearly which publication you would like, and give your name, complete address, and phone number.

NYSNA Safe Staffing State Legislation

NYSNA has introduced legislation that would establish minimum, upwardly adjustable RN-to-patient staffing ratios in hospitals. The following ratios are included in the bill, along with a process for involving staff nurses in increasing the number of RNs if needed. Further ratios would be developed by the state Department of Health with assistance from a nurse advisory committee.

Behavioral Health 1:4

Critical Care 1:1

Emergency trauma patients 1:1

Emergency non-critical care 1:3 (triage must be done by an RN, but that nurse and any supervising nurse would not be included in the ratio, even if they provide direct patient care)

Perioperative Care 1:1 in the operating room (not including RNs serving as circulating nurses or first assistants)

Post-anesthesia 1:2

Maternal/Child Care 1:1 in second or third stages of labor, 1:2 in first stage of labor

Med/surg telemetry patients 1:3

Med/surg step-down units 1:3

Med/surg general, 1:4

pediatrics 1:4

Newborns/intermediate care nursery 1:3

Non-critical antepartum patients 1:4

Postpartum mother/baby couplets 1:3

Postpartum well-baby care 1:6

Rehabilitation care 1:5

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[glascow]

These nurse pt ratios are better than California!

Do they really think they can get that, or are they just starting with those numbers so they have room to negotiate?

[-jt]

Thats the bill as written and its been sponsored into the legislature as such. Of course there is a legislative process for it to go thru but safe ratios are safe ratios & those numbers cant possibly be changed all that much. Point to remember - these are RN-only ratios. The CA ratios include LPNs assignment load which also have to be divided among the RNs covering those LPNs. Maybe that has something to do with why they look different.