CAMPAIGN FOR SAFER HOSPITALS - MICHIGAN NURSES ASSOCIATION
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What would MNA's Safe Patient Care Act do?

Safe staffing in every Michigan hospital (RN-to-patient ratios)

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Placing safe limits on forced overtime for hospital nurses

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Hospital transparency (making RN-to-patient ratios public)

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Safe staffing (ratios) in the Safe Patient Care Act

 Under this legislation:
  • A committee of at least 50 percent direct-care RNs plans and monitors staffing levels.
  • Minimum safe RN staffing, based on national evidence-based standards, by unit
  • Hospital must post information about the law and inform patients about how to report violations.
  • State runs a toll-free hotline to receive complaints.
  • ​Additional time for rural hospitals to comply.
  • Fines for non-compliance, to create true accountability
Nurse-to-patient ratios in the Safe Patient Care Act
Emergency Room 1:3 plus one ER nurse for triage
Medical-Surgical 1:4
Pediatrics 1:4

Behavioral Health 1:4
Rehabilitation Care 1:5
Operating Room 1:1 plus one scrub assistant
Post-anesthesia 1:2
 All intensive care units, including ER, neonatal and pediatric 1:1
Stepdown 1:3
Telemetry 1:3

Labor and Delivery
First stages of labor 1:2
2nd and 3rd stages of labor 1:1
Intermediate newborn nursery 1:3
Noncritical antepartum patients 1:4
Postpartum mother-baby couplet 1:3
Postpartum mother or well-baby care 1:6
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Limiting forced RN overtime in the Safe Patient Care Act

Under this legislation:
  • Nurses can’t be ordered to work longer than scheduled.
  • RNs can still volunteer for overtime, if any is needed, if they know they can provide safe care.
  • RNs must have 8 continuous hours off after a shift of 12 hours or more, to rest.
  • Nurses are protected from discipline, firing or losing their license if they refuse unplanned extended shifts.
  • The limits will be suspended during emergency situations or when a nurse is in the middle of a critical patient procedure.
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Hospital transparency in the Safe Patient Care Act

Under this legislation:
  • Hospitals must disclose to the public their actual RN-to-patient ratios, which are closely tied to patient outcomes, so consumers can make informed choices and everyone has real data to evaluate. There is currently no law requiring this transparency.
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Contact us
If you have any questions or want to get involved, ​please contact Dawn Kettinger at the Michigan Nurses Association.
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