Making the nursing profession safer is a long-standing challenge and one that continues to impact patient safety and nurse satisfaction levels. 

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 Making the nursing profession safer is a long-standing challenge and one
 that continues to impact patient safety and nurse satisfaction levels. In
 fact, in our latest Nurses Week study, nurse respondents named &ldquo;make
 it safer&rdquo; as the second biggest thing they would change about the
 nursing profession, followed by &ldquo;solve the nursing shortage.&rdquo;
 

 
 In truth, nurses have been calling for safer staffing ratios to make the
 workplace safer for decades. Reduced nursing budgets, the growing nursing
 shortage and an aging population are all resulting in a low staff-to-patient
 ratio in most healthcare facilities. As a result, more nurses are putting in
 longer work hours and overtime to compensate for staff shortages.
 

 In recent studies, the American Nurses Association reports:

 <ul>
 <li>
 
 50% of all nurse&rsquo;s state they have insufficient time with their
 patients.
 
 </li>
 <li>
 43% report increased overtime
 </li>
 <li>
 54% report excessive workloads
 </li>
 <li>
 96% of nurses start a shift fatigued
 </li>
 <li>
 
 33% say they experience inadequately staffed units for patient acuity
 levels
 
 </li>
 </ul>

 
 Furthermore, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices says nurses who
 work longer hours are at increased risk for medication errors and failure to
 notice changes in their patients&rsquo; clinical condition.
 

 Hope on the Horizon

 
 One of the most promising solutions to making it safer for nurses and
 patients is the enactment of mandated staffing ratios legislation. While
 progress has been small and slow, there are two national bills set to appear
 before the Senate and the House that appear encouraging.
 

 
 Nursing Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care
 Act (<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1063"
 >S.1063</a
 >)
 

 
 This bill seeks to mandate nurse to patient ratios, especially in acute care
 situations. The act also seeks to empower nurses by obligating RNs to act in
 the best interest of the patient and advocate for patients without regard to
 bureaucratic and budgetary concerns or fear of being reprimanded for putting
 the patient first.
 

 
 Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act
 (<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2392?r=9"
 >H.R.2392</a
 >)
 

 
 This proposed bill also recognizes the fact that nurses are often put in
 difficult situations where they are pressured to care for too many patients,
 which results in poorer care overall. The bill seeks to remove these
 external pressures and allow nurses and patients to benefit from safe care
 ratios. In addition, the bill is designed to clearly dictate that nurses
 should always put the well-being of the patient above all other concerns.
 

 
 Nurses have the potential to lead the way in improving healthcare for all,
 but it requires a work environment that is safe, empowering and satisfying.
 If you are interested in advocating for nurse to patient staffing ratios and
 legislation, you can check out this
 <a href="https://nurse.org/articles/federal-staffing-ratios/#email-cta"
 >Nurse.org Safe Staffing Action Kit</a
 >.
 
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The Link Between Staffing and Safety in Nursing