HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05111999 - D2 D.2
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Date: May 11, 1999 Matter of Record
Subject: Public Comment
On this date, the Board of Supervisors heard comments from:
'warren Smith, 1100 Bailey Road, Pittsburg, commented on administrative
relief; the following people commented on proposed legislation AB394: Kathy
Rayl, 1311 Rosemary Lane, Concord, California Nurses Association; Claudine
'Phomas, 1463 Date Street, Martinez, California Nurses Association; Francisco
Ugarte, California Nurses Association.
THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY
NO BOARD ACTION WAS TAKEN
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April, 1999 OWDt3FUPERVISUI
LIDSTA CO.
An Open Letter to Hospital Administration
Re: AB 394
As Registered Nurses who provide the highest quality care to our patients, and as
advocates for our patients, we urge you to support AB 394, the CNA-sponsored safe
staffing hill.
We believe that our patients would benefit from the provisions of AB 394 that would
establish enforceable minitnum nurse-to-patients ratios and appropriate definition, of the
role of Unlicensed Assistive Personnel. Ratios in the intensive care units have been an
important protection for patients for over 24 years. Moreover, the recent BRN survey
shows Higher levels of job satisfaction among critical care RN's, where ratios are defined
in code.
Despite the revisions in Title 22 in December 1996, too often budget, rather than patient
acuity, determines staffing levels and skill rnix. RNs on medical-surgical units in
hospitals across the state are routinely expected to care for far more than the six (6)
patients outlined in this bill as the absolute maximum. As you know, a variety of studies
have documented a direct correlation between safe RN staffing levels on lower mortality
rags and other positive patient outcornes.
Our hospital, as in others, has seen ar. increase in acuity levels, a reduction in length of
stays, and fewer RN's where ratios are not currently mandated. This type of restructuring
undennines our ability to provide high quality patient care. To the extent AB 394 creates
a level playing field for all hospitals, ratios would relieve the pressure to race to to
bottom levels of RNI staffing.
AB 394 will strengthen the hospital's provision of quality care and will benefit our
patients. We urge you to support this vital reform.
Sincerely
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