FOR
MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carol Feuss, Director of Communication
(517) 349-5640 ext 39 or (cell) (517) 230-4086
carol.feuss@minurses.org
NEWS RELEASE
MICHIGAN NURSES ASSOCIATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday,
February 3, 2005
Michigan
Nurses support Safe Patient Care legislation
(Lansing, Michigan) The Michigan Nurses Association, the state's
largest nurses union and the leading voice for Michigan's 117,000
Registered Nurses, today announced support for legislation
introduced by State Senator Bruce Patterson (R-Canton) known as
Safe Patient Care legislation. Senate Bill 169 requires
hospitals to meet minimum registered nurse-patient staffing ratios
and places limits on mandatory overtime for nurses.
"Senator Patterson has been a proven leader in helping make
Michigan safer for patients and nurses," said Cheryl Johnson, RN,
and President of the Michigan Nurses Association. "Safe
Patient Care legislation will save lives and save money.
Patients and nurses face unsafe conditions in hospitals today and
Michigan must work to eliminate mandatory overtime for nurses and
establish minimum nurse-patient staffing ratios."
Senator Patterson's Safe Patient Care legislation amends
the Public Health Code to prohibit the practice of mandatory
overtime which forces exhausted nurses in short-staffed facilities
to work long consecutive hours. The bill also requires hospitals
to develop staffing plans and implement minimum nurse-to-patient
ratios to promote the safe care of patients throughout Michigan
hospitals.
Senator Patterson serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Health Policy
Committee. Patterson's wife Phyllis is a Registered Nurse who
works at the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers
in Ann Arbor.
Governor Jennifer Granholm created the State Commission on Patient
Safety this fall in response to growing concerns about patient
safety. Members of the Michigan Health and Safety Coalition were
asked to serve on the Governor's Patient Safety Commission. The
Commission held three public hearings throughout the state in
2004.
"Nurses throughout Michigan have rallied to support this
legislation," said Tom Bissonnette, RN, and Executive Director of
the Michigan Nurses Association and a member of the Governor's
State Commission on Patient Safety. "We need to enact Safe
Patient Care legislation now."
#####
| The
Michigan Nurses Association, nurses’ voice for 100
years, is the largest nurses’ union in the State of
Michigan. The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) promotes
the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace,
fosters high standards of nursing practice, and lobbies
the legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues
affecting nurses and recipients of nursing services. MNA
is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association
and the United American Nurses, as well as an affiliate
of the AFL-CIO. |
----- Back to top ---
Go to Press Releases
--- Go to MNA News -----
|
