HOSPITAL NURSES ARE CARING
FOR DANGEROUS NUMBER OF PATIENTS, SURVEY FINDS

First National Survey to Reveal Nurse Staffing Levels

WASHINGTON--More than two-thirds of hospital nurses working on medical/surgical floors said in a nationwide survey released today that they typically care for more than five patients during a shift, a patient load that research has concluded increases significantly the likelihood of patient deaths. This is the first national survey to show actual staffing levels for hospital nurses.

The AFT Healthcare survey was released on the first annual "Patient Care Day," designated by AFT Healthcare to highlight the needs of patients. "Set Limits--Save Lives," the campaign’s slogan, is being echoed by nurses and other healthcare workers at events across the country.

"Nurses are stretched too thin, beyond the reasonable limits of safe and quality healthcare," said Sandra Feldman, president of the American Federation of Teachers and its healthcare division, AFT Healthcare. "The staffing situation has gone from stable to critical and is becoming grave."

The survey, conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates in March 2003, interviewed a nationally representative sample of 601 hospital nurses, including 363 medical/surgical nurses, 130 operating room nurses, and 108 emergency room nurses. Most hospital patients receive treatment and care on medical/surgical units.

Survey results show that medical-surgical nurses care for an average of eight patients during a typical shift, yet most say they should be responsible for no more than five.

AFT Healthcare recommends that states and/or hospitals set limits on the number of patients for whom nurses and other healthcare professionals are responsible. An overwhelming majority of the surveyed hospital nurses, or 82 percent, said they support legislation to establish a maximum number of patients that nurses can be required to care for at one time.

In October 2002, The Journal of the American Medical Association published the research of Linda Aiken, RN, who found that when a hospital nurse is responsible for more than four patients, the likelihood of patient deaths increases significantly.

Around the country, AFT Healthcare nurses and other healthcare workers are holding events on Patient Care Day and during the week to urge lawmakers to set safe staffing levels. For example:

Connecticut: Rally and lobbying state legislators for bills to set safe staffing levels and to ban mandatory overtime.

Missouri: Kansas City Mayor has declared May 5 as Patient Care Day; rally on City Hall steps for safe staffing levels, featuring mayor, legislators, nurses, clergy and area labor leaders.

New Jersey: Press conference and luncheon for legislators to announce re-introduction of staffing legislation and to discuss results of the national survey.

New York City: Two petitions for safe staffing (one for home care and one for acute care in hospitals) will be delivered to the state Legislature.

New York State healthcare employees: Rally and lobbying state legislators for bills to set safe staffing levels and to ban mandatory overtime. Plastic stethoscopes will be given to lawmakers.

Oregon: Nurses to be interviewed on May 5 evening talk radio show on safe staffing levels. On May 6, events acknowledging Kaiser Permanente's staffing language. But also street theater in front of Milwaukie Providence Hospital to demonstrate impact of poor staffing levels on patient care.

Pennsylvania: Postcards for safe staffing levels, signed by nurses, will be delivered to governor.

Rhode Island: Petitions on staffing levels, signed by nurses, will be delivered to state legislators.

Vermont: Successful in getting safe staffing legislation introduced.

Wisconsin: Safe staffing bill will be introduced on Patient Care Day in state Legislature. Press conference and rally will be held in Milwaukee with bill’s sponsors.

Read the entire report here:
"Patient-to-Nurse Staffing Ratios: Perspectives from Hospital Nurses."

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The AFT represents more than 1.3 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school support employees, higher education faculty, nurses and other healthcare workers, and state and local government employees.