Congressional Nursing Caucus Briefing

Safe RN Staffing:
States Prove Solutions Are Possible

L to R: Rose Gonzalez, MPS, RN (American Nurses Association); Anne Tan Piazza (Washington State Nurses Association), Sue Clark, RN (Illinois Nurses Association); ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR; Jan Lanier, RN, JD (Ohio Nurses Association)

In conjunction with National Nurses Week, the Congressional Nursing Caucus and the American Nurses Association (ANA) sponsored a luncheon briefing on Thursday, May 8th for congressional health staff to highlight the importance of safe RN staffing and the solutions being developed and implemented in the states.

Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR, President of the American Nurses Association moderated the briefing which featured a panel of expert speakers including:

  • Anne Tan Piazza - Director of Governmental Affairs & Communications
    Washington State Nurses Association
  • Sue Clark, RN - Lobbyist
    Illinois Nurses Association
  • Jan Lanier, RN, JD - Deputy Executive Director
    Ohio Nurses Association

Safe RN Staffing:
Numerous studies have shown that nursing care provided to patients is a key determinate of quality care. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May of 2002 found that higher levels of nursing care correlate with better patient care and outcomes in hospitals. Another study in 2002 by the Joint Commission found that nearly one quarter of all unanticipated events that result in death, injury, or permanent loss of function result from inadequate nurse staffing levels.

Appropriate staffing is the number one concern of nurses today and is critical to the delivery of safe patient care. Proper staffing levels allow nurses the time they need to make patient assessments, complete nursing tasks, respond to health care emergencies, and provide the level of care that their patients deserve. Proper staffing levels also increase nurse satisfaction and reduce staff turnover, an important priority given today's nursing shortage and the projected shortfalls in the future.