To: Representative Robert Wittman

From: Kelley Jenkins, RN

Date: April 1, 2020
Subject: H.R.2581 – Nursing Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety Quality Care Act of
2019

Nurses are the heartbeat of healthcare because they are involved in nearly every aspect of a
patient’s healthcare experience. As such, they have rightfully been named the most trusted
profession 18 years in a row (Brusie, 2020). However, that title is continually being challenged
as the number of nurses is declining and those that remain are expected to do more work, care for
more patients, and are putting their safety and those of their patients at risk by being stretched so
thin. This is why I support H.R.2581 Nursing Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety
Quality Care Act of 2019. Minimum nurse-to-patient ratios should be put in place to protect our
patients but also protect our nurses!

Patient’s deserve dedicated care by nurses who are able to spend adequate time with them to
make sure their needs are being met, physically, emotionally, and mentally. However, hospital
administrators are reducing the number of nurses to cut costs and increase profits, all while
sacrificing the safety of patients and their staff (National Nurses United, n.d.). In addition, nurses
feel as though they are practicing in unsafe conditions and are leaving the profession all together.
This bill will ensure that nurses are protected by limiting them to care for a set number of
patients based on their unit specialty. Therefore, nurse retention will increase, patients will
receive better, safer care, and patient outcomes will improve.

 Increased RN staffing accomplished by set nurse-to-patient ratios reduces mortality odds

by 9% in ICUs, 16% in surgical units, and 6% in medical patients (Kane et al., 2007).
 In ICUs alone, decreasing the nurse-to-patient ratios was associated with reduced risk of
nosocomial sepsis by 43%, cardiac arrest by 34%, medical complications by 41%, and
respiratory failure by 60% (Kane et al., 2007).
 Higher staffing levels are positively associated with patient experience and hospital
reimbursement hinges on patient satisfaction (Oppel & Young, 2018).

Recommendation: Vote to pass bill H.R.2581 Nursing Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient
Safety Quality Care Act of 2019. While the initial investment of increasing the number of nurses
staffed at hospitals will be costly, the reward of safer patient care, retention of qualified and
caring nurses, and better patient outcomes will be far more valuable and lucrative for healthcare
as a whole. Nurses should be able to go to work and feel like they can give the care that patients
deserve by practicing with safe ratios, and this bill will ensure that happens.

We need to protect nurses so that they can protect patients. Give them a fighting chance by
voting H.R.2581 Nursing Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety Quality Care Act of
2019 into law.
 References

Brusie, C. (2020). Nurses Ranked Most Honest Profession 18 Years in a Row. Retrieved from

https://nurse.org/articles/nursing-ranked-most-honest-profession/

Kane, R., Shamliyan, T., Mueller, C., Duval, S., & Wilt, T. (2007). The Association of

Registered Nurse Staffing Levels and Patient Outcomes. Medical Care, 45(12). doi:

10.1097/MLR.0b013e3181468ca3

National Nurses United. (n.d.). National Campaign for Safe RN-to-Patient Staffing Ratios.

Retrieved from https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/ratios

Oppel, E.-M., & Young, G. (2018). Nurse Staffing Patterns and Patient Experience of Care: An

Empirical Analysis of U.S. Hospitals. Health Research and Educational Trust, 53(3). doi:

10.1111/1475-6773.12756