Hospitals rail against nurse-patient ratio

June 13, 2008

More than 100 hospital officials and nurse administrators have been pressing lawmakers to oppose a mandatory nurse-patient ratio at hospitals, enshrined in a bill they expect to be debated by the state Legislature.

The officials said capping the ratio at four patients for every nurse denies hospitals the flexibility they need in a constantly changing environment. Under the current system, a nurse may take on more than four patients while another nurse tends to one or two sicker patients who need more attention.

Nurse executives also argued that the bill would set off an intense competition for available nurses, leaving some hospitals with inadequate staff and facing the possibility of closure.

The issue is familiar to Beacon Hill, where versions of mandatory staffing levels have been proposed for almost a decade.

Proponents say approving quotas would require a minimum staffing level at Massachusetts hospitals and that the bill would require that sicker patients receive more attention than those with minor health problems.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association supports the bill, which would likely help the nurses’ union grow its membership by requiring hospitals to hire more nurses.