In the face of heavy-handed opposition by the $1.2 billion District of Columbia hospital industry, a broad cross section of DC registered nurses, patients, and other community leaders today made a compelling case for safer care in DC hospitals.
More than 150 Washington DC nurses, backed by many others, packed a hearing today of the DC Council Health Committee to demand the Council act to improve public safety and protect vulnerable hospital patients by enacting the Patient Protection Act.
The bill would set specific limits on the number of patients RNs can care for (nurse-to-patient ratios), with additional staffing required based on individual need, similar to limits on class sizes or minimum standards for clean air and water.
Indeed, as a society, we regularly demand minimum standards in areas of public safety. For example, Veda Shook, president of the Association of Flight Attendants (Communication Workers of America) testified that “there can be no less than 1 flight attendant for every 50 passenger seats on a plane.”
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