ANA-supported Safe Staffing legislation was reintroduced in the House of Representatives on March 2nd. Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Steven LaTourette (R-OH) dropped the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act (H.R. 876), which would hold hospitals accountable for the development of valid, reliable unit-by-unit nurse staffing plans. These plans would be established by direct care registered nurses (RNs) in coordination with nursing leadership and based on each unit’s unique characteristics and needs. ANA needs your help to educate members of Congress and build support for this important legislation!

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A new study that evaluates hospital nurse staffing by each shift and unit shows that inadequate staffing is tied to higher patient mortality rates — a conclusion that reinforces the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) principles that call for nurse staffing to be flexible and continually adjusted based on patients’ needs and other factors.

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On June 16, just in time for ANA’s Lobby Day, ANA-supported Safe Staffing legislation was introduced in the House and Senate. The Senate sponsor, Sen. Daniel Inouye, and House sponsors, Reps Lois Capps (D-CA), Steven LaTourette (R-OH) and Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) introduced the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act (H.R. 5527/ S. 3491), which would hold hospitals accountable for the development of valid, reliable unit-by-unit nurse staffing plans. These plans would be developed in coordination with direct care registered nurses (RNs) and based on each unit’s unique characteristics and needs. ANA needs your help to educate members of congress and build support for this important legislation.

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In September, New York joined 11 other states in having a staffing law when the Governor signed disclosure legislation. The new law requires health care facilities make available to the public, information on nurse staffing and patient outcomes as specified by the Health Commissioner in rules and regulations.

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