The California Nurses Association (CNA) has proposed a law requiring all state hospitals to implement staffing ratios for nurses. The ratios would be one nurse to every five patients in medical-surgical units, one nurse to every four patients in step-down units, and one nurse to every three patients in critical care units (Gastón, 2022). The CNA has argued that these ratios would improve patient care and safety and help reduce the high turnover rate among nurses. Under the proposed law, all hospitals would be required to maintain a certain number of nurses on staff based on the number of patients being treated. For example, a hospital with 100 patients must have at least ten nurses on staff at all times. This would ensure that nurses are not overworked and that patients receive the care they need. The CNA believes staffing ratios are the best way to improve nurses’ patient care and working conditions. However, some hospitals oppose the idea, arguing that it would be too expensive to implement and would not improve care (Gastón, 2022). The CNA continues to push for the law, and it remains to be seen whether it will be passed. However, the California Hospital Association (CHA) has opposed the proposed law, arguing that it would be too expensive for hospitals to implement and would result in a shortage of nurses.
The California Nurses Association’s law is an example of a law that has been proposed but not enacted in California. It would significantly impact hospitals if enacted, and lawmakers and interest groups are currently debating it. The implementation would mean that a certain number of nurses will be required to be on staff at all times, depending on the number of patients being treated. This could lead to more job opportunities for nurses in California, as well as better working conditions and pay. However, it is also possible that implementing staffing ratios could lead to hospitals cutting costs in other areas, such as benefits or training, to meet the new requirements. Overall, the impact of this law on the nursing field in California is uncertain. However, it is possible that it could lead to some positive changes for nurses in the state.
Reference
Gastón, P. (2022). Moralizing the strike: Nurses associations and the justification of workplace conflict in California hospitals. American Journal of Sociology, 128(1), 47–93. Web.