For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Genovese, 518.782.9400, ext. 353
OLEAN, Nov. 14, 2012 – Will a registered nurse be there when you need one?
RNs from Western New York want to make sure this is a question their patients will never have to ask. This is why they’re seeking the community’s support for the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act – state legislation to limit the number of patients a nurse can be forced to care for at one time.
To show state officials in Albany how important it is to have safe staffing, nurses, along with advocates from other local organizations that support quality healthcare, will hold a rally from 3:00 to 5:30 PM, Friday, Nov. 16 in Lincoln Park. The nurses are inviting the community to attend. Participants are encouraged to wear red t-shirts or sweatshirts.
Both Republicans and Democrats in Albany are proposing the legislation for the upcoming session because the need has never been more urgent. Nurses in many hospitals throughout New York state report they’re being forced to care for 10 or more patients at a time. This is far too many, according to the New York State Nurses Association, which represents the interests of the state’s 200,000 registered nurses.
Research has shown that when there aren’t enough nurses, patients pay the price – in more falls, infections, even death.1 Studies say the law could actually help hospitals and nursing homes save money – by cutting down on falls, re-admissions, infections, and deaths.2
The Nurses Association believes limits on RN-to-patient staffing are important because they can save patient’s lives. Patients deserve a guarantee that when they need a nurse, they’ll get one.
Sources:
1 “Nurse staffing and inpatient mortality.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 2011.
2 “Hospital nurse staffing and quality of care.” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2004.
The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is New York’s largest professional association and union for registered nurses. The association represents registered nurses, and some all-professional bargaining units, in New York and New Jersey. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.
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