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Federal Legislation Would Establish Inpatient Nurse Staffing Ratios

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) has introduced legislation that would amend the Public Health Service Act to mandate national inpatient nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, AHA News Now reports. Under the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2009, hospitals would be required to implement staffing plans that adhere to minimum direct care nurse-to-patient ratios and adjust nurse staffing levels based on patient acuity and additional factors, within two years of the bill's enactment. Commenting on the legislation, the United American Nurses president says the proposed bill would improve care quality, noting that studies have linked insufficient nurse staffing levels to poor patient outcomes. Moreover, she adds that minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios would help alleviate stress and fatigue that can lead to nurse burnout and attrition. Reps. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Don Young (R-Ark.), Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), James McGovern (D-Mass.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) are co-sponsoring the bill, which has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees for further consideration (AHA News Now, 5/7/09; United American Nurses release, 5/7/09).

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