Nurses say they want minimum staffing levels to prevent mistakes

describe the image

Democrats in the Michigan Legislature and a nurses’ union are calling for a state law that would require hospitals to maintain staff levels without resorting to mandatory overtime.

Sixteen states currently have rules regarding staff-to-patient ratios.

Right now, California is the only state with a law that sets minimum staffing levels in hospitals.

State Representative Jon Switalski (D-Warren) is about to introduce legislation to set staffing requirements in emergency rooms and other hospital wards.

“Nurse staffing can literally be a life-or-death issue and affects families from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula,” said Switalski.

Scott Nesbit is a registered nurse from Muskegon. He says he and other nurses have experienced mistakes or a “very near miss” caused by short-staffing.

“I don’t think people realize that when your nurse is handling far too many patients, or working a double-shift or been mandated to stay over, it’s probably because the hospital wants it that way,” said Nesbit.

Similar legislation has failed in previous sessions of the Legislature.

The Michigan Health & Hospitals Association opposes the idea.

The group says a law that sets staffing requirements would rob administrators of the flexibility they need to meet different situations. The association says the bigger problem is a shortage of trained nurses.

Source: Michigan Radio

Recent Posts

Disability Pride Month: Honoring History, Empowering Futures
As Nurses, we witness the incredible resilience and unique journeys of individuals every single day. July marks an important occasion: Disability Pride Month. Disability Pride isn't about denying the...
Read More
FNU 2025 Diversity Impact Conference
2025 Diversity Impact Conference Rising Strong: Better Together to Advance Wellness Initiatives for All Join Frontier Nursing University for their 15th annual healthcare workforce conference! This...
Read More
Cultivating Year-Round LGBTQ+ Affirming Care
Pride Month in June is a vibrant and essential time for celebration, advocacy, and raising awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. We see rainbow flags adorning hospitals, clinics, and communities, and...
Read More

Subscribe to Email Our Newsletter

Education_Award_Square