The federal government and nurses unions have recently increased their focus on nurse-to-patient ratios and providing nurses – and nurses’ unions – with greater influence on nurse staffing levels. Earlier this month a federal agency used its website to advocate increasing hospital nurse-to-patient ratios. Nurses unions also have been rallying, striking, and marching on Washington to push for nurse-staffing legislation and provisions in collective bargaining agreements. Concurrent with these efforts, legislation was introduced in both the House and Senate this week that would require Medicare-participating hospitals to establish staffing plans for nursing services, provide certain whistleblower protections for employees and patients, and subject employers in violation of the bill to monetary penalties.  Continue reading this entry at Littler's Healthcare Employment Counsel blog.

Photo credit:  SmithMaxfield