Alex Padilla: “I rise to introduce the bipartisan Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act. This…”

“I rise to introduce the bipartisan Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act. This legislation would improve patient care and increase nurse retention by setting mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. The bill would require hospitals to annually develop safe staffing plans that meet the bill's mandated minimum registered nurse staffing ratios and provide for additional staffing based on individual patient care needs. Further, the bill requires hospitals to post notices on minimum ratios and maintain records on registered nurse and other staffing. The bill would also provide whistleblower protections, including administrative complaint process and cause of action, for nurses who speak out against assignments that are unsafe for the patient or nurse. For each additional surgical patient in registered nurse's workload above the baseline nurse-to-patient ratio of 1 to 4, the likelihood of patient death within 30 days increases by 7 percent. Studies have also found that registered nurse staffing levels in hospitals that serve communities of color are often lower, contributing to disparities in care. Setting a single standard of nursing care across hospitals will improve outcomes for patients of color, including reduced readmission rates, increased satisfaction, and better obstetrical outcomes. There are no Federal regulations on the number of patients a registered nurse can care for at one time in U.S.…”