Safe Staffing Legislation Passes in Washington State

The Safe Nurse Staffing Legislation (House Bill 3123) passed the Legislature with near unanimous votes, and Governor Gregoire has signed the bill into law. Highlights of the new law include:

• Each hospital, by September 2008, must establish a nurse staffing committee composed at least half direct care nurses. This committee will develop, oversee and evaluate a nurse staffing plan for each unit and shift of the hospital based on patient care needs, appropriate skill mix of registered nurses and other nursing personnel, layout of the unit, and national standards/recommendations on nurse staffing.
  
• If the staffing plan developed by the staffing committee is not adopted by the hospital, the CEO must provide a written explanation of the reasons why to the committee. 
  
• The staffing information must be posted in a public area and must include the nurse staffing plan and the nurse staffing schedule, as well as the clinical staffing relevant to that unit. It must be updated at least once every shift and made available to patients and visitors upon request.
  

For more info: www.wsna.org.