Legislative

Colorado

• The Governor's Nurse Workforce and Patient Care Task Force
• Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform; Final Report

  Nurse Staffing Mandates 

  Click here to access Senate Bill 10

   Mandated Nurse Staffing: Issues and Concerns for Colorado’s Hospitals and Nurses

  This is a 13 page “white paper” that explores the nurse staffing mandates issue in depth and offers supporting documentation for CHA’s position.  It is designed to be used for educating hospital staff, physicians, board members, and others who want in depth knowledge about the issue.    

  Colorado Hospitals’ and Staff Awards

  This listing of awards hospitals and their staff received in the past two years about which CHA has information is intended to be an attachment to the white paper.

   OPPOSE Nurse Staffing Mandate:  Senate Bill 10 (one page)

  This one page talking points is for use with legislators or others who want only an overview of the issue.

   Oppose Nurse Staffing Mandate:  Senate Bill 10 (two pages)

  This is a longer list of talking points for use with legislators who want more details, or for presentations to Chambers of Commerce, hospital boards of trustees, business groups and other allies.

   Community Access and Patient Safety Concerns of Senate Bill 10 – Nurse Staffing Mandates

  This one page paper focuses specifically on the anticipated harm to access to care and patient safety from Senate Bill 10. It can be used with community leaders, board members, business organizations, physicians, health plans and other appropriate audiences.

  Senate Bill 10:  Bad for Colorado Business

  This two page document focuses on concerns of particular interest to Colorado business. It is appropriate for any business group, as well as hospital boards of trustees.

  Commitment Form:  Oppose Senate Bill 10

  Also referred to as the Allies Commitment Form, this document for our allies in opposition to the bill to sign, demonstrating their opposition, so CHA can use their names in lobbying efforts. Please use these in your communities to seek a grassroots opposition to SB 10. Be sure to fax a copy back according to the instructions on the form.

  Patients Matter:  Hospitals and Nurses Care  (CHA Board Commitment)

  This is the Commitment to Action by Colorado hospitals to support an effective work environment and patient safety and quality. This is the version for the CHA Board and hospitals overall.

  Patients Matter:  Hospitals and Nurses Care  (Individual Hospital Resolution)

  This is the Commitment to Action by Colorado hospitals to support an effective work environment and patient safety and quality. This is the version for individual hospitals to take to their boards of trustees (directors) for adoption.

  Nurse Staffing Mandates (Senate Bill 10) – Bad for Colorado: The Real Truth

  Also referred to as Myth v. Reality, this document provides responses to many of the claims the proponents of SB 10 use in advocating for it. This is a new piece, added 1/31/07.

National

• Minnesota Nurses Announce Patient Care Law
• AONE releases legislative agenda for 2008

The AONE Board of Directors recently approved the AONE 2008 Legislative Agenda. AONE actively lobbies Capitol Hill leaders on issues related to nursing, such as the need to shore up the nursing educational pipeline and for increased appropriations for critical faculty shortages. For more information, contact Jo Ann Webb, MHA, RN, AONE senior director, federal relations and policy at jwebb@aha.org.

•  OHA-backed nurse staffing bill receives unanimous committee approval

Last week, an Ohio House panel unanimously approved House Bill 346, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hughes (R-Columbus), which requires hospitals to establish evidence-based nurse staffing plans after soliciting and considering input from direct-care nurses. Supported by the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA), the legislation requires hospitals to create a staffing plan, utilizing the input of a hospital-wide nursing care committee, which will include direct care nurses and the hospital's chief nursing officer. The bill also requires that licensed practical nurses (LPNs) be included in the staffing plan for hospitals that employ LPNS and that consideration is made for the amount of nurse time spent on patient education. The bill must be approved by the full House of Representatives before being considered by the Ohio Senate.