Connecticut Secured Nurse Staffing Legislation
Connecticut also succeeded in securing safe nurse staffing legislation for its patients and nurses through staffing plans in 2008.
Now, seven states (CT, IL, NV, OH, OR, TX and WA) require hospital-wide staffing plans, created by a committee with membership comprised of at least 50% direct care RNs. (TX requirement is in regulations)
Connecticut’s nurse staffing legislation requires each hospital to establish a hospital staffing committee to assist in a nurse staffing plan in which not less than 50% direct care RNs will be included (or) said goal may be achieved through an existing committee. The plan shall include the minimum professional skill mix for each patient care unit in the hospital; identify the hospital’s employment practices concerning the use of temporary and traveling nurses; set forth the level of administrative staffing in each patient care unit that ensures direct care staff are not utilized for administrative functions; establish a process for review of the staffing plan; and include a mechanism for obtaining input from direct care staff and other member’s of the patient care team in the development of the staffing plan. On or after July 1, 2009, each licensed hospital will make available to the Department of Public Health written clarification that the nurse staffing plan is sufficient to provide adequate and appropriate delivery of health care services to patients.