Valley nurses lobby at Capitol for bill on work conditions

By Casey Newton
Arizona Republic
February 13, 2009

Valley nurses hit the Capitol on Thursday to ask for mandated nurse-to-patient ratios that they say would increase patient safety.

About 60 RNs lobbied for House Bill 2186, which would ensure a nurse was not assigned to more than five patients anywhere in the hospital as well as establish protections for whistle-blowers who expose unsafe conditions.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Phil Lopes, said the legislation would improve patient care.

"We've got way too many people going to the hospital and getting sick from things they did not come to the hospital with," said Lopes, a Tucson Democrat. "That's got to stop."

Nurse Debbie Rice said the bill would improve care for the newborns she cares for in a neonatal intensive-care unit.

"I love what I do, but right now, I don't love the conditions under which I'm being asked to do it," Rice said, saying the newborns lacked adequate supervision at some points during the day.

"That's why this legislation is so important."

The bill has been assigned to four committees but is not scheduled for a hearing in any of them.