Bridgewater DTC Endorses Yes on 1 Campaign for Safe Patient Limits

Patients in Massachusetts hospitals are sharing their nurse with too many other patients. This practice is dangerous - under such conditions mistakes and preventable errors become more likely to occur.

Unfortunately, outside of intensive care units, there is NO LAW that limits the number of patients that can be assigned to a nurse at one time nor are patients aware of what a safe patient limit assignment should be. Under this proposed ballot question, a safe maximum limit for the number of patients a nurse can care for in all areas of the hospital will be implemented to ensure that patients receive the level of professional nursing care and attention they need when they enter a Massachusetts hospital. The ballot initiative also provides maximum flexibility by requiring hospitals to adjust RN staffing levels based on the actual needs of the patients and does so without reducing other members of the health care workforce assigned to such patients. The urgent need to regulate RN-to_patient limits has been substantiated by numerous research studies and reports. Strong scientific evidence for this measure has been provided by some of the most respected medical/health care researchers. The evidence also makes clear that poor staffing conditions in Massachusetts hospitals are causing a critical situation for patients' safety in hospital. Success of this ballot question is essential to improving care for patients and to creating conditions that will retain and recruit the nurses needed to provide safe patient care.

This Ballot Initiative will establish safe patient limits for nurses to ensure quality patient care for all. Therefore, the Bridgewater Democratic Town Committee supports and endorses the ballot initiative An Act Ensuring Patient Safety and Hospital Transparency and encourages all voters in Bridgewater to vote Yes on 1 in November!