In Michigan, Democratic lawmakers are again pursuing legislation that would require hospitals to meet a statewide minimum nurse-to-patient ratio depending on the type of patient, according to an Associated Press/Bloomberg Business Week report.
Similar legislation has been introduced each year since 2004, according to the report, but has not grained enough traction. California remains the only state to have established statewide nurse-to-patient ratios.
The most recent legislation would require Michigan hospitals to develop and implement staffing plans and abide by a staffing ratio depending on patients' acuity and hospital department. For instance, hospitals would be required to have one nurse for each patient in a critical care unit and one nurse for every four patients in a pediatric unit. The legislation would also ban mandatory overtime for nurses, except for emergencies.
The Michigan Health and Hospital Association opposes the legislation and notes that studies on California hospitals found some organizations experienced difficulties associated with the cost of staffing ratios. Chris Mitchell, senior director of advocacy at MHHA, said a state- and nationwide nursing shortage is also a problem and hospitals "simply cannot maintain a supply of nurses that do not exist," according to the report.
Other healthcare researchers have pointed to studies that suggest a link between low nurse staffing levels and higher death rates, as well as patient complications, such as blood stream infections and hospital induced pneumonia. The Michigan Nurses Association supports the legislation, according to the report.
New York Bill Would Require Certain Nurse-to-Patient Ratios in Hospitals
500 Michigan Nurses Protest in Support of Staffing Ratios
Similar legislation has been introduced each year since 2004, according to the report, but has not grained enough traction. California remains the only state to have established statewide nurse-to-patient ratios.
The most recent legislation would require Michigan hospitals to develop and implement staffing plans and abide by a staffing ratio depending on patients' acuity and hospital department. For instance, hospitals would be required to have one nurse for each patient in a critical care unit and one nurse for every four patients in a pediatric unit. The legislation would also ban mandatory overtime for nurses, except for emergencies.
The Michigan Health and Hospital Association opposes the legislation and notes that studies on California hospitals found some organizations experienced difficulties associated with the cost of staffing ratios. Chris Mitchell, senior director of advocacy at MHHA, said a state- and nationwide nursing shortage is also a problem and hospitals "simply cannot maintain a supply of nurses that do not exist," according to the report.
Other healthcare researchers have pointed to studies that suggest a link between low nurse staffing levels and higher death rates, as well as patient complications, such as blood stream infections and hospital induced pneumonia. The Michigan Nurses Association supports the legislation, according to the report.
More Articles on Hospitals and Staffing:
Hospital Leaders Contest Proposed Nurse Staffing Ratio MandateNew York Bill Would Require Certain Nurse-to-Patient Ratios in Hospitals
500 Michigan Nurses Protest in Support of Staffing Ratios