To: Abigail Davis Spanberger

From: Alexandra Jackson

Date: 10/23/19
Subject: H.R. 2581 – Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019
As we all know, there is a shortage in nurses but an overwhelming need due to the decrease in health of
the overall population. As the world ages and changes, health seems to be taking a toll. The importance
of making sure patients are cared for in an adequate setting that provides protection and allows for the
nurse to be safe needs to be examined thoroughly. Nurses with appropriate and proficient skills in turn
lead to shorter patient hospital stays, as well as improved quality care.
I support bill H.R. 2581 – Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of
2019 so that staffing standards can be addressed and assigned depending on the unit and acuity of nursing
needed.

 According to the American Journal of Nursing, better staffing led to increased job satisfaction,
less burnout, and better job retention (Wallis, 2013).
 The National Institutes of Health states that the standard of staffing should also be altered
depending on the level of acuity on the unit, promoting safety and quality care (Harrington,
Schnelle, McGregor, & Simmons, 2016).
 It has been examined that staffing levels were negatively related to total deficiencies, quality of
care deficiencies, and serious deficiencies that may cause harm to residents in that unit (Hyer, et
al., 2011). Another study indicated that as nurse ratios increased, total deficiencies and serious
deficiencies decreased, making practices safer (Hyer, et al., 2011).
 Those states that have laws to determine staffing levels allow for nurses to have a voice in the
process (Wallis, 2013). In other words, these laws encourage nurses involved to be part of the
change, to be experts in what is safest in their care by having a voice to promote changes in
nurse-to-patient ratios.
Recommendation: Vote to pass bill H.R. 2581 – Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety
and Quality Care Act of 2019. As you can see, adequate nursing staff numbers correlates with a positive
and improved quality of care for patients, while inadequate nursing staff numbers correlated with a
negative and deteriorated quality of care. It would be dangerous to continue with staffing levels that
don’t meet the needs of patients in various settings. I recommend that a standardized number of nurses
for each unit be examined to not only improve quality care provided to patients in order to promote
healing, but also to emphasize nurse satisfaction and retention.
I think evaluating these standards would help to benefit all those involved in the healthcare setting, from
the family and patients, to nurses and providers. At the end of the day, the patient’s health and life is
what is most important and keeping those that take care of patients’ day in and day out safe, well
resourced, and encouraged will lead to better patient outcomes every time.
 References
Harrington, C., Schnelle, J. F., McGregor, M., & Simmons, S. F. (2016, April 12). The Need for
Higher Minimum Staffing Standards in U.S. Nursing Homes. Retrieved October 23,
2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4833431/.
Hyer, Kathryn, Thomas, G., L., Harman, S., J., … Robert. (2011, May 20). Influence of Nurse
Staffing Levels on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes. Retrieved October 23, 2019, from
https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/51/5/610/595828.
Wallis, L. (2013, August). Nurse–Patient Staffing Ratios : AJN The American Journal of
Nursing. Retrieved October 23, 2019, from
https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2013/08000/Nurse_Patient_Staffing_Ratios.1
7.aspx.