American Nurses Association Advocates For Safe Staffing Legislation To Protect The Public's Safety

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 08 Jul 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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In advance of its House of Delegates meeting which will attract elected delegates from across the country to discuss the systemic issues of the profession, the American Nurses Association is taking its members to the halls of Congress on Tuesday, June 24 to ensure their voices are heard on Capitol Hill.

One of the key issues, as a top concern among nurses and the public they serve, is safe staffing. Proper staffing levels allow nurses the time they need to make patient assessments, complete nursing tasks, respond to health car emergencies and provide the level of care that their patients deserve. Proper staffing levels also increase nurse satisfaction and reduce staff turnover, an important priority given today's nursing shortage and the projected shortfalls in the future.

ANA is a strong advocate for the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act (S. 73/H.R. 4138) which would hold hospitals accountable for the development of valid, reliable unit by unit nurse staffing plans. These plans would be developed in coordination with direct care registered nurses (RNs) and based on each unit's unique characteristics and needs. To support safe staffing, ANA has launched a national campaign to help fight for safe staffing legislation. To find out more about what you can do to advance safe staffing, please visit http://www.safestaffingsaveslives.org. On the site, you will be able to find ANA's "Principles on Safe Staffing", background research on safe staffing, federal and state legislation and ANA's legislative and legal action.

For more information about ANA's Lobby Day please visit this link. If you are interested in signing up, please contact GOVA@ana.org.

American Nurses Association