Schakowsky Introduces Bill to Improve Patient Care & Curb Nursing Shortage

SCHAKOWSKY INTRODUCES BILL TO IMPROVE
PATIENT CARE & CURB NURSING SHORTAGE

WASHINGTON, DC–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) recently introduced H.R. 2123, the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2007. The bill would greatly improve patient care while helping to curb the nursing shortage that has left hospitals across the country dangerously understaffed. H.R. 2123 coincided with the release of H.R. 2122, Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2007 introduced by Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA). H.R. 2122 limits the amount of mandatory hours nurses are required to work.

"Nurses are leaving the profession at an alarming rate because they are overworked and hospitals are understaffed,... said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky. "In our hospitals today, there are too few nurses caring for too many patients; a dangerous prescription with disastrous side effects. Both of these bills will improve the quality of patient care by providing a national solution to address the crisis of overworked nurses and nurse-flight....

The Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2007 would establish minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios to improve patient safety, quality of care and to address the nursing shortage that has left our nation's hospitals critically understaffed. This legislation would give nurses manageable patient loads, which would allow them to provide better care while also avoiding preventable medical errors. The bill would establish these safe staffing standards in all hospitals, including hospitals that serve Medicare and Medicaid patients and federally operated hospitals.

"Working closely with nurses from across the nation, I am proud to introduce the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2007, said Congresswoman Schakowsky. "The bill is a common sense solution that would improve patient care and address the nursing shortage. Safe staffing levels save lives....

The legislation is currently cosponsored by 9 House members and is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers-Healthcare (AFT); Communications Workers of America (CWA); Service Employees International Union-Nurse Alliance (SEIU); United American Nurses (UAN); United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW); Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA); United Auto Workers (UAW); International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) and Teamsters (IBT).