Albany, NY – Today, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows) announced the passage of legislation she sponsors that would enact the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act to ensure there are enough nurses in hospitals and nursing homes. The legislation establishes nurse-to-patient ratios to improve working conditions for nurses as well as ensure patients receive the best care possible.

“Right now, many nurses are overworked and assigned too many patients often leading to an unsafe situation that does not benefit the nurses or the people they care for,” said Rozic. “Because the number of nurses and the quality of care they are able to provide can mean the difference between life and death, this legislation sets nurse-to-patient ratios to ensure nurses can dedicate the time they need to ensure their patients are properly cared for.”

The Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act would mandate that hospitals and other acute care facilities submit staffing plans that meet minimum requirements for nurse-to-patient ratios as well as staff hours of care per resident per day. Requiring these minimums would help ensure patients receive quality care. The bill also outlines minimum staffing levels for residential health care facilities.

While hospitals would see some increase in staffing costs, implementing these policies would ultimately save money, noted Rozic. Research has shown that increasing the number of nurses reduces costly mistakes, improves overall health outcomes and saves lives. Hospitals will also see less turnover in staff as nurses will experience greater job satisfaction.