Illinois | National Nurses United

Large group of nurses hold banner "Safe Staffing Ratios Save Lives""

Legislation updates

Illinois Safe Patient Limits Act Fact Sheet

Illinois has no law limiting the number of patients a registered nurse can care for at one time. As a result, registered nurses are consistently required to care for more patients than is safe, compromising patient care and negatively impacting patient outcomes.

The Safe Patient Limits Act requires hospitals to annually develop safe staffing plans that meet the bill’s RN patient limits and provide for additional staffing based on individual patient care needs. Learn more by reading our fact sheet »

Nurse Licensure Compact Legislation — Opposition Fact Sheet

NNOC-Illinois/National Nurses United urges you to oppose H.B. 1338, H.B. 1652, H.B. 1706, H.B. 2614, S.B. 102, and any other Nurse Licensure Compact or Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses (Compact) legislation introduced this session. Learn why by reading our fact sheet »

Press releases

Nurses holding press conference holding signs "Nurse Solidarity"

Chicago nurses demand an end to VA staffing cuts

Chicago-based registered nurses from the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, VA Hines Health Care, and Captain James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center will join Cook County nurses for a rally at Jesse Brown on March 28 to demand an end to staffing cuts. The VA secretary has confirmed what was first reported in a leaked memo, that the administration is looking to cut between 72,000 to 80,000 workers from the VA.

National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United

March 26, 2025

Nurses with raised fists

Ingalls nurses among dozens of Illinois RNs meeting with lawmakers to demand safe staffing legislation

Registered nurses from UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Chicago will be among dozens of nurses meeting with lawmakers on Thursday, March 20 to demand the passage of the Safe Patient Limits Act, which would mandate safe staffing laws in all hospitals across Illinois.

National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United

March 18, 2025

UChicago nurses gather with signs in support of safe staffing.

RNs at UChicago Medicine vote overwhelmingly to ratify new four-year agreement

Registered nurses at UChicago Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, voted overwhelmingly to approve a new four-year agreement that addresses numerous patient safety concerns.

National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United

March 15, 2024

University of Chicago nurses on info picket

University of Chicago nurses’ strike averted

RNs at UChicago Medicine in Chicago, Ill., will not move forward with a planned March 14 strike, as nurses have reached a tentative agreement with management on a new union contract.

National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United

March 11, 2024

UChicago nurses hold up signs in support of safe staffing.

UChicago nurses to hold one-day strike for safe staffing

Nurses at UChicago Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, will hold a one-day strike on March 14 to protest the administration’s refusal to address RNs’ demand to improve safe staffing at their facility.

National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United

March 4, 2024

Nurses walking outside hospital with raised fists

Never Giving Up

Cook County nurses fight to win back pay and bonuses

By Chuleenan Svetvilas

December 20, 2024

Group of nurses smiling and holding raised fists

Chicago nurses score contract victory

Registered nurses at UChicago Medicine in Chicago, Ill., voted overwhelmingly in March to approve a new four-year agreement that addresses numerous patient safety concerns. In February the nurses voted 97 percent in favor of authorizing their nurse bargaining committee to call a one-day strike if management did not address their chronic staffing concerns.

June 5, 2024

Group of nurses picketing outside of hospital, dressed for cold weather

UChicago nurses rally for safe staffing

Registered nurses at UChicago Medicine in February authorized a strike after holding an informational picket and rally to demand the university address their patient safety concerns and settle their contract in a timely manner. National Nurses Organizing Committee represents 2,800 nurses at UChicago Medicine.

March 29, 2024

Group of nurses sitting at table with microphone for legislative hearing

Nurses fight for state safe staffing law

Registered nurses with National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United joined labor allies on Oct. 3 at a legislative hearing to rebuke industry efforts to reduce staffing in health care systems and nursing homes.

January 12, 2024

Three nurses outside smiling holding signs calling for safe staffing and workplace violence prevention

Veterans Affairs nurses keep up the fight for patient safety

Veterans Affairs nurses have been speaking out about patient safety and the nurse staffing crisis throughout the VA, holding pickets, rallies, and other actions.

January 12, 2024