This bill addresses the need for changes in staffing requirements in nursing homes in order to provide the residents of these care facilities with adequate care. Higher nurse to patient ratios can prevent many complications associated with the chronic and debilitating illnesses experienced by those residing in these facilities. Providing nurses more time to care for clients' physical and psychosocial needs will ensure better care and lifestyle outcomes among this patient population.
This bill proposes the following changes to House Bill 1046:
- By July 1, 2008 the minimum of 3.5 hours of direct care by certified nursing assistants, LPNs, licensed vocational nurses, or RNs per 24 hour period.
- By July 1, 2012 a minimum of 3.9 hours of direct care by certified nursing assistants, LPNs, licensed vocational nurses, or RNs per 24 hour period.
- By July 1, 2014 or upon adoption by Congress, whichever may be sooner, a minimum of 4.1 hours of direct care by certified nursing assistants, LPNs, licensed vocational nurses, or RNs per 24 hour period.
- Any facility that fails to maintain staffing levels sufficient to provide at least 3 hours of direct care per patient by July 1, 2008, shall be ineligible to accept new patients.
- Any facility that fails to maintain staffing levels sufficient to provide at least 3.3 hours of direct care per patient by July 1, 2014, shall be ineligible to accept new patients.
- Total staffing hours shall be determined based on payroll information reported to the internal revenue service for positions identified.
5 comments:
I think that this bill has potential to go far. I like how it's taking the nursing staffing crisis as a whole and narrowing it specifically to nursing homes. This bill is a small step in the answer to this crisis. With the passing of this bill, more changes will be made in all areas of our health care system and we will continually see improvements in our patient care and outcomes.
Great job on supporting this bill!
This bill is definitely something we have needed for a while, but I am glad it is finally in the making. Having experienced a few nursing homes as both a visitor and a nursing student, I can vouch for the need for more nursing staff to adequately care for patients. If there were enough nurses and CNAs, there would be far less injuries and much better patient care. Also, there would be better retention among employees. I like the fact that this bill specifies the number of nursing hours per each patient; we need more specific guidleines like this to ensure that a change is made. Thanks for information!
This definitely addresses the nursing shortage and the need to have adequate nursing staff. As Laura said, it is a small step that has a potential to solve the nursing shortage as a whole. With adequate nursing staff and by enforcing a minimum amount of hours of care, patient's needs would be met much more efficiently, there would be less injuries or complications, and it would generally ensure better care and outcomes for the patient.
This bill is extremely important to everyone. We are all aging and will be considering nursing homes for ourselves and or for loved ones (family/friends) at some point in our lives. Nursing home standards should be raised with a larger patient/nurse ratio. Also, many elderly patients in nursing homes are without family, so nurses should spend more time with the clients especially with their older age becasue so many are lonely. This bill would definitely help to solve these problems and improve the patient care. Also, less medical errors would occur and there would be better rapport among the staff and patients. This bill has the potential to affect us all at some time in our lives and it is important to address these issues soon. The elderly are living longer and having greater needs as time goes on which is why this bill is so crucial.
I think that this bill is extremely important, especially since there is a large aging population in our country today. Alot of people have negative connotations towards nursing homes, and this is mostly because of the lack of care related to the nursing shortage. This bill would help nurses deliver better care to the aging, as well as give the elderly in nursing homes a better quality of life.
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