WHAT:

The Coalition to Protect Massachusetts Patients - www.protectmasspatients.org – will be attending a legislative hearing on Tuesday November 3 at the Massachusetts State House.

Registered Nurses in Massachusetts’ hospitals are being forced to care for too many patients at once, and patients are suffering the consequences in the form of preventable errors, avoidable complications, increased lengths of stay, and readmissions.

The Patient Safety Act - HB3912/SB890 - would dramatically improve hospital care by setting a safe limit on the number of patients assigned to a nurse. The Department of Public Health would set the safe limits and adjust them based on patient needs. The Act would reduce errors caused by fatigue and overwork by prohibiting mandatory overtime, such as forcing RNs to work extra hours or double shifts. It would also provide initiatives to increase nursing faculty and nurse recruitment. To see what the Bill does click here.

WHERE:

The State House, Room A-1

Boston, MA

WHEN:

November 3, 2009

10:00 am

CONTACT:

If you wish to submit written testimony, contact Andi Mullin, Mass. Nurses Assn. (MNA), 800-882-2056 x716, amullin@mnarn.org.