Safe Staffing Ratios

Large group of nurses hold signs "Safe Staffing Saves Lives"

NNU’s proposal for minimum, mandated, nurse-to-patient staffing ratios protect our patients’ right to nursing care. We know that every patient deserves a single standard of high-quality care. Safe staffing ratios, coupled with nurses’ powerful voice of advocacy secured in collective bargaining, protect our patients from complications that arise from missed care such as medical errors, health care disparities, infections, and so much more. Read more »

Safe Staffing Saves Lives

Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act fact sheet

Read our fact sheet on legislation that would protect patients and improve health care by setting mandated, minimum, registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.

Group of nurses inside hospital hold sign "Staff Up for Sage Care"

RN Staffing Ratios: A Necessary Solution to the Patient Safety Crisis in U.S. Hospitals

NNU stands ready to help you bring ratios to your state. Read our booklet to learn more.

About safe staffing ratios

Group of nurses inside hospital hold signs "Safe Staffing Saves Lives"

Protecting Our Front Line: Ending the Shortage of Good Nursing Jobs and the Industry-created Unsafe Staffing Crisis

In this report, National Nurses United describes how the hospital industry has driven registered nurses from the bedside.

Graphic of recommended nurse to patient ratios by unit

The science of ratios

Decades of studies have shown that more nurses equate to lives saved and fewer complications. Researchers have been focusing on what exactly is the mediating link between increasing RN staffing and improved outcomes.

Learning from the California experience

In 1999, the registered nurses of the California Nurses Association successfully sponsored and lobbied the California Legislature to pass A.B. 394, the historic bill that made minimum, specific numerical staffing ratios the golden standard in the Golden State.

What does the California ratios law actually require?

The CNA-sponsored safe staffing law, has multiple provisions designed to remedy unsafe staffing in acute-care facilities.

RN Staffing Ratios Whitepaper

Learn more by reading NNU's staffing ratios whitepaper.

We need your help to get the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act passed to improve working conditions for nurses and to protect patients. Take action by urging your elected officials to support this critical legislation.

Videos

Safe staffing ratios protect patients and nurses

Safe RN ratios have been proven to improve the quality of care and nurse recruitment and retention in California hospitals.

Join our fight for safe staffing

We need a national nurse-to-patient staffing ratios law now more than ever.

All staffing ratios videos

Join our Safe Staffing Rapid Response Team to be part of a dedicated team of online volunteers. Members of the team will get first notice about developments and news regarding safe staffing  and will be ready to take action both online and in their communities.

Articles

Nurses outside holding signs "VA Nurses: Protecting America's Heroes"

VA nurses speak out for safe staffing

This spring Veterans Administration nurses from Georgia to Ohio have been rallying, protesting, and picketing for patient safety and safe staffing.
Group of nurses standing outside in cold weather holding banner "Bedside Nurses Support Ratios"

Maine nurses press on for ratios bill

Maine nurses recently moved safe staffing legislation the farthest a state bill has progressed in the past 20 years. Pine Tree State RNs applauded the Maine Senate for passing L.D. 1639, The Maine Quality Care Act on March 27 but unfortunately did not make it to a vote in the House before the legislative session ended on April 17. Nurses vow to keep fighting for ratios.
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.

Press releases

Large group of nurses outside HCA Florida Largo Hospital holding signs "Hey HCA Put Patients Over Profits" and more.

Nurses will rally in Largo to protest HCA contract proposals that endanger patient care

Nurses from three HCA Florida hospitals will rally at HCA Florida Largo Hospital in Largo, Fla., on Tuesday, July 2, to protest HCA’s failure to seriously address nurses’ concerns in contract negotiations, especially around safe staffing and patient care.
Large group of nurses in blue scrubs outside hospital holding signs "HCA Put Patients Over Profits"

Orlando-area nurses to rally against HCA contract proposals that endanger patient care

Nurses at two HCA Florida hospitals in the Orlando area will hold rallies this week to protest HCA’s failure to seriously address their staffing and nurse retention crises in contract negotiations.
Large group of nurses in blue scrubs outside hospital holding signs "HCA Put Patients Over Profits"

El Paso nurses to rally against HCA contract proposals that endanger patient care

Nurses from HCA-owned Las Palmas Medical Center and Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, will hold a rally on Wednesday, June 26, at Las Palmas to protest HCA’s failure to seriously address their staffing and nurse retention crises in contract negotiations.
Four nurses standing outside hospital holding signs "Staff Up for Safe Patient Care"

Torrance nurses to demand safe patient care at informational picket

Registered nurses at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance in Torrance, Calif., will hold an informational picket on Thursday, June 20, to protest the administration’s refusal to address issues of patient safety and unsafe staffing.
All staffing ratios press releases