Legislation to require minimum staffing of nurses in hospitals and curb mandatory overtime was introduced Thursday in Michigan, a new poll indicates a majority of voters would support such a measure. John Armelagos, registered nurse and President of the Michigan Nurses Association, says that the Safe Patient Care Act would require hospitals to institute a staffing plan for each unit that follows minimum nurse to patient ratios based on national professional standards. He says it would also limit mandatory overtime for nurses to cases of extreme emergency.
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Some hospital officials have claimed mandated staffing would impact costs and hospital financial viability. California has a law specifying required minimum nurse to patient ratios, and Massachusetts passed a law for specific nurse to patient ratios in intensive care units.
