Your checklist to pass Safe Staffing Legislation

IN ORDER TO PASS SAFE STAFFING LEGISLATION, NURSES FROM ALL OVER THE STATE MUST CONTACT THEIR STATE SENATOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND URGE THEIR SUPPORT AND PASSAGE OF THIS IMPORTANT BILL.  THE MNA HAS PROVIDED A GUIDE AND CHECKLIST FOR YOU:
 

Call your state senator and state representative

Sample Phone Script:

"I am a nurse at __________.  I am calling to express my support for House Bill 1186 – safe staffing legislation.  Each day I see first hand the negative effect that unsafe staffing is having on patient care as well as on the recruitment and retention of nurses.  This is nothing short of a public health crisis.  Passage of House 1186 is a promise to the nursing profession that workplace conditions will improve, patient care will come first, and we will once again be able to do our job properly.

Please contact the chair of the health care committee and urge support of House Bill 1186.  Thank you."
 
 

Write to your state senator and state representative

Sample letter:

The Honorable 
State House, Room 
Boston, MA 02133

Dear Senator _______or Representative _______:

I am a nurse at_______.  I am writing to express my support for House Bill 1186 – safe staffing legislation.  Each day I see first hand the negative effect that unsafe staffing is having on patient care as well as on the recruitment and retention of nurses.  This is nothing short of a public health crisis. 

Current staffing problems are directly related to the reluctance of nurses to work in positions where they are inappropriately rushed through their patient care activities, assigned unsafe patient levels, and confronted by mandatory overtime which is used as an alternative to providing adequate nurse staffing.

-- Insert your personal account and story of how safe staffing would assist you in your job and improve patient care---

Passage of House 1186 is a promise to the nursing profession that workplace conditions will improve, patient care will come first, and we will once again be able to do our job properly.

Please contact the chairmen of the health care committee and urge support of House Bill 1186.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
 
 

Email your state senator and state representative

Sample email:

I am a nurse at _______. I am writing to express my support for House Bill 1186–safe staffing legislation.  Each day I see first hand the negative effect that unsafe staffing is having on patient care as well as on the recruitment and retention of nurses.  This is nothing short of a public health crisis. 

Current staffing problems are directly related to the reluctance of nurses to work in positions where they are inappropriately rushed through their patient care activities, assigned unsafe patient levels, and confronted by mandatory overtime overtime which is used as an alternative to providing adequate nurse staffing.

-- Insert your personal account and story of how safe staffing would assist you in your job and improve patient care---

Passage of House 1186 is a promise to the nursing profession that workplace conditions will improve, patient care will come first, and we will once again be able to do our job properly.

Please contact the chairmen of the health care committee and urge support of House Bill 1186.  Thank you.
Sincerely,
 
 

Send a "letter to the Editor"

Write a short and concise Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper.  Sample letter:

Dear Editor:

I have been a nurse at _______ for __ years.  I am asking our local legislators and the public to support safe staffing legislation – House Bill 1186.  Each day I see first hand the negative effect that unsafe staffing is having on patient care as well as on the recruitment and retention of nurses.  This is nothing short of a public health crisis. 

Current staffing problems are directly related to the reluctance of nurses to work in positions where they are inappropriately rushed through their patient care activities, assigned unsafe patient levels, and confronted by mandatory overtime overtime which is used as an alternative to providing adequate nurse staffing.

-- Insert your personal account and story of how safe staffing would assist you in your job and improve patient care---

Passage of House 1186 is a promise to the nursing profession that workplace conditions will improve, patient care will come first, and we will once again be able to do our job properly.

I urge those concerned about the quality of patient care to call or write their legislators and ask for their support of safe staffing legislation – House bill 1186.

Sincerely,