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To: Elaine Luria

From: Chrystal Allard RN, CMSRN


Date: July 4, 2019
Subject: H.R. 2581- Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act
of 2019.
As you may know patient is a top priority for all healthcare facilities. With the shortage of
nursing staff in hospitals the nurse to patient ratio has become an issue. Nurses are having to care
for double the number of patients which puts patients at risk for errors and nurses at risk for
experiencing burnout. As a Registered Nurse I proudly support H.R. 2581- Nurse Staffing
Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019.
The issue with higher patient acuity (scale to which nursing assignments are made) is that nurses
have less time to give direct care to their patients. The focus of patient care went from quality of
care to quantity of care. The increase in patient acuity has put patients at risk for medical errors,
infection, falls, and even death (Blitchok, A. 2018). This problem not only affects patients but
nurses as well. (Votroubek, W. 2017) states that higher nurse to patient ratios increase nurse
burnouts, chronic fatigue, insomnia, depression and suicide. It also creates a decrease in nurse
retention and recruitment rates. If bill H.R. 2581 passes this could increase the quality of care for
our patients and increase nursing satisfaction will increase retention and recruitment rates. The
(DPE 2016) states that hospitals can save an average of $231million per year with increased
productivity from minimum nurse to patient ratio. This is due to better direct care and decreased
hospital stays.
Recommendation: Vote to pass bill H.R.2581- Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient
Safety and Quality care Act of 2019. This bill will make hospital stays much safer for patients
and increase the quality of care they receive. It will decrease healthcare cost by decreasing
hospital stays and readmission rates. Nurse retention and recruitments rates will increase and
solve staffing issues in hospitals. Bill H.R. 2581 will create a safer environment for patients and
nurses.
Patient care should be about quality and safety not about quantity. I will continue to support bill
H.R. 2681- Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019.
References:
Blitchok, A. (2018). Proposed federal RN ratios- What can you do about it. Retrieved from:
https://nurse.org/articles/federal-staffing-ratios/

Department for Professional Employee. (2019). Safe staffing: Critical for patients and nurses.
Retrieved from: https://dpeaflcio.org/programs-publications/issue-fact-sheets/safe-staffing-
ratios-benefiting-nurses-and-patients/

Votroubek, W. (2017). The pros and cons of required minimum nurse to patient ratios.
Retrieved from: https://www.legalnursepdx.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-required-minimum-nurse-
to-patient-ratios/

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