Safe Staffing
We have a disturbing crisis in Massachusetts hospitals. Registered nurses are being forced to care for too many patients at once, and patients are suffering the consequences in the form of preventable errors, avoidable complications, increased lengths of stay and readmissions. The Patient Safety Act calls upon DPH to set a safe limit on the number of hospital patients a nurse is assigned at one time. In addition, the bill calls for staffing limits to be adjusted based on patient needs. It also bans mandatory overtime and includes initiatives to increase nursing faculty and nurse recruitment.
In both 2006 and 2008, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the Patient Safety Act by overwhelming margins. We are continuing to fight to get this important legislation passed in the Senate. Visit the Coalition to Protect Massachusetts Patients Web site to learn more.
This page contains a wealth of information to assist nurses and other supporters of safe patient care in advocating for the passage of the Patient Safety Act.
Are hospitals putting "Patients First"?
When hospitals don’t feel the immediate threat of legislative action to set a safe limit on how many patients a nurse cares for at a time, are they still putting Patients First? Check out the Patient's First Web site to see what your hospital says about your staffing levels. Let your legislators know if your hospital is being understaffed! To find your legislators visit www.capwiz.com/massnurses. For more information download our Patients First flier.
Full Text of the Patient Safety Act | Supporters and Endorses
Scientific Research Linking Safe RN Staffing to Patient Safety
Safe Staffing News from the MNA
- 04.15.2004 | Survey Shows That Part-Time RNs Already in Massachusetts Hospitals
- 04.14.2004 | Legislators, Health Care Advocates, & Nurses to Release Critical Information on Nurses in Massachusetts Hospitals
- 02.04.2004 | Once again, evidence has surfaced to buttress the arguments of the Coalition to Protect Massachusetts Patients
- 11.19.2003 | Bill to Protect Patients by Establishing RN-to-Patient Ratios in Hospitals Is Approved by Health Care Committee, Clearing Major Hurdle on Path to Passage
- 11.04.2003 | Institute of Medicine Study Links RN Staffing to Patient Safety Calls for Major Changes in Nurse Staffing and Work Environment To Protect Patients
- 11.04.2003 | Public Support for Safe RN Staffing Legislation Grows Legislators' Position on the Issue a Determining Factor for Voters at the Ballot Box
- 10.28.2003 | Department of Public Health Report of 76% Increase in Hospital Injuries and Complaints Echoes View of Front Line Nurses Who Have Reported Similar Safety Problems in Massachusetts Hospitals
- 10.09.2003 | MNA Nurses to Testify at DPH Public Hearing on Lahey Clinic Hospital Expansion Plan
- 09.17.2003 | New Coalition of Healthcare Advocates Unveils "Patient-Safety Checklist" and "Patient-Watch Hotline" at Press Conference Supporting RN-to-Patient Ratios
- 06.18.2003 | One in Three Registered Nurses Report Patient Deaths that are Directly Attributable to RN Understaffing
- 06.16.2003 | More than 500 Nurses and Health Care Advocates Will Converge on the State House for a June 18 Press Conference & Legislative Hearing on a Bill to Regulate RN-to-Patient Ratios in Hospitals
- 05.13.2003 | Coalition to Protect Mass. Patients Formed to Fight for Safe Staffing - 58 organizations endorse MNA’s proposed legislation; Legislation to Provide Safe RN Staffing Wins Broad Support
- 03.28.2003 | America's Staff Nurses Cite Better RN-to-Patient Ratios As Top Solution to Nursing Shortage
- 02.11.2003 | As UMass/Memorial Medical Center Nurses' Contract Talks Stall RNs Express Outrage at Refusal of John O'Brien to Hear Concerns About Staffing, Lack of Appropriate Patient Care Supplies and the Need for a Salary Commensurate With their Skills and Experience
- 12.02.2002 | MNA Files Quality Patient Care/Safe RN Staffing Bill to Regulate RN-to-Patient Ratios in Massachusetts Hospitals
- 10.23.2002 | JAMA Study Shows When RNs Have More Than 4 Patients, Patients' Risk of Death and Complications Increases—Study Supports MNA Call for Safe Staffing Bill
- 10.23.2002 | National Public Radio's excellent coverage of the JAMA study on nurse to patient ratios and patient mortality
- 08.08.2002 | Birmingham challenges Romney on safe nurse staffing
- 08.06.2002 | Mass Nurses Association Critical of Romney/Healey Health Plan For Its Failure to Address Issues on Nursing Shortage and Patient Safety
- 07.19.2002 | Safe Staffing May Soon Be A Reality
- 07.02.2002 | Health Care Industry Report Links RN Staffing & Shortage Issues To Increase in Patient Deaths and Serious Complications in Hospitals
- 06.22.2002 | MNA President, Higgins, in Globe Editorial: Improving the RN-to-patient ratio
- 06.22.2002 | Senate Budget Includes Outside Section Establishing Commission To Recommend Legislation on Nurse-to-Patient Ratios
- 06.22.2002 | Coverage of New England Jounral of Medicine Study on Nurse Staffing: Boston Herald and New York Times—Coverage of New England Journal of Medicine Study on Nurse Staffing and Patient Safety—"Fewer RNs Can Deter Good Health"
- 06.22.2002 | Read the Media Coverage of MNA's Ambulance Caravan Success
- 06.22.2002 | MNA Ambulance Caravan Drive for Safe Staffing Petitions
- 06.22.2002 | New England Journal of Medicine Highlights Publishes Study Demonstrating RN Staffing Levels Directly Impact Patient Health and Survival
- 05.21.2002 | Nurses are right to argue there's safety in numbers
- 03.18.2002 | U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Survey of RNs Shows Critical Shortage Driven by the Exodus of Experienced Nurses, Slowed Recruitment of New Nurses And Job Satisfaction Levels that Rank Nurses Below Nearly All Other Employee/Professional Groups
- 03.17.2002 | Nurses lobby for minimum staffing levels, Boston Globe, 3/17/02
- 03.12.2002 | Mass. Nurses and Seniors Converge on State House on March 12th To Call for Legislation to Ensure Safe Nurse-to-Patient Ratios
- 02.11.2002 | New nursing group divides ANA: AARN piggybacks on CNA's success
- 02.09.2002 | Nurses, seniors lobby lawmakers
- 01.11.2002 | New England Medical Center Nurses Ratify 21 Month Contract Contract Grants Pay Increases Ranging from 18 - 23% Depending on Years of Service
- 01.02.2002 | New National Nurses Organization Takes Shape. Leader of 70,000 RNs Will Press for Staffing, Health Care Reform
- 01.02.2002 | Bush Administration Promotes Careers in Nursing
