CURRENT LEGISLATION:

National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act (BOXER)
Establishes requirements for acute-care facilities to provide registered nurse staff based on the acuity of patients provided that minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for each unit are met at all times. Registered nurses shall also have the obligation to act in the exclusive interest of their patients, and the right to be patient advocates. Read more > | Get the facts below >

BACKGROUND:

CNA’s historic first in the nation Safe Staffing RN Ratios took 12 years to win and has been in effect since January 2004 despite continued efforts of the hospital industry and Governor Schwarzenegger to have the law overturned or otherwise weakened. When Governor Schwarzenegger decided to roll back CNA's staffing ratios and called nurses a "special interest who don't like me because I'm always kicking their butt," CNA ignited a broad grassroots movement that led to the sweeping November 2005 electoral defeat for the Governor's special election initiatives. Two days later, Schwarzenegger dropped his year-long fight against the ratios.

Safe RN ratios have improved quality of care and nurse recruitment and retention in California hospitals. Ratios continue to improve with a 1:4 ratio in telemetry and specialty units scheduled to take effect in 2008.