A handful of states have passed mandated staffing requirements, from set ratios to staffing committees. Studies are supporting patient safety is being affected by high patient to nurse ratios. Healthcare continues to increase in cost and the focus has been redirected to quality and safety. True quality and patient safety can not occur without addressing nurse to patient ratios. Nurses, patients, and the communities are petitioning the government to require staffing committees in hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. The staffing committees will be made of bedside nurses that do not have any hospital administration responsibilities. The petition should be enforced by random audits to promote adherence to the policy. Non adherence would result in fines and publication.
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