DC City Council Committee Passes Safe Staffing Bill

Tuesday, the DC City Council’s Committee on Business, Consumer, and Regulatory Affairs voted to approve a bill supported by National Nurses United and the DC Nurses Association on safe staffings.  After a vote of 4-1 in favor led by Committee Chairman Vincent Orange, the bill now goes to the Committee on Health and Human Services.  The bill would set specific mandatory limits on the number of patients RNs can care for (nurse-to-patient ratios), with additional staffing by members of the health care team required based on individual patient acuity.  Council Chairman Phil Mendelson re-introduced the bill this year, with co-sponsors Councilmembers Orange, Silverman, Allen, and Bonds as B21-0132, the “Safe Working Conditions for Healthcare Workers Amendment Act of 2015.” Photo courtesy of National Nurses United. 

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