Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the
National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act, aimed at improving patient care and addressing the nursing shortage.
The bill would:
- establish minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios;
- invest in nursing mentorship demonstration programs; and
- provide for whistleblower protections to allow nurses to report violations of minimum standards of care without fear of reprisal.
In a statement, Boxer said, “I am proud to introduce legislation that will help save the lives of countless
patients by improving the quality of care in our nation’s hospitals. We must support the nurses who work tirelessly every day to provide
the best possible care to their patients.”
Several INQRI studies (as well as numerous other studies) have established that higher nurse staffing levels improve patient outcomes, including research led by
Mary Blegen and Tom Vaughn, and
Linda Flynn and Dong-Churl Suh.
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